After a two-game skid, the Demopolis High soccer team (5-2, 3-0) got back on track Friday night with a pair of region wins over Central-Tuscaloosa, taking the first game 7-1 and the second 5-0.

“We just had a great practice (Thursday) night and we worked on a lot of ball control and a lot of combination play and it really helped,” head coach Peter Keen said. “I pulled my forwards and midfielders and we spent about 45 minutes working on shooting. I think that really helped.”

In the first game, Demopolis got a pair of hat tricks as Cameron Fendley and Tyler Howerton each scored three goals. Jarvis Lawson added another goal off an assist by midfielder Rem Keen.

The Tigers had to turn to defender Gray Scarborough to fill in at goalie in the second game as starter Rachel Tucker sustained an injury in the first contest. Scarborough pitched the shutout. Maria Brooker and Spence Overstreet, who have each spent the bulk of their playing time on the defensive end, also stood out in different environments as each scored a goal.

“It helps out tremendously,” Keen said of his team’s versatility. “And Cameron (Fendley) is a great defender. To be able to pull him back on defense and not have to worry about anything is huge.”

Brooker moved up to the midfield for the second match, a position she has played in the past.

“She distributes the ball so well and she is so aggressive and strong with the ball that she makes a big impact up there,” Keen said of Brooker.

The decision to move Fendley to defense for the second game was based on Keen’s desire to give his forward a bit of a break against a team as a aggressive as Central rather than a reflection on his performance.

“He’s done well,” Keen said of Fendley’s rapid development on the offensive end. “This was an aggressive and big team and he had a little bit of a problem getting through. But he’s doing fine up there.”

Howerton continued his success in the second game, scoring two more goals in the match.

“He’s been doing well up top, consistent with his play,” Keen said of Howerton. “And that is what I like.”

Rem Keen added a goal on a penalty kick to round out the team’s scoring. The win gives Demopolis its fifth of the season, tying the mark that it had for the entire season last year.

“What’s nice about it is that we’ve already won the games that we won last year,” Keen said. “It’s promising.”

His team will look to add to its win total Saturday when it hosts its first ever tournament. Demopolis will play Alma Bryant at 1 p.m. and Holy Spirit at 4 p.m.

“Hopefully it will grow from this point,” Keen said of the landmark day for the DHS program.