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WINNSBORO — Richard Winn Academy looks to continue its winning ways Friday night against the Bobcats of Carolina Academy. This is the Eagles’ homecoming game and coach Kenny Atkerson expects them to be fired up and ready to show that last week’s inaugural victory of 2012 was no fluke.

Going into the game Atkerson said he has a full complement of players available for the contest. They will need to be clicking on all cylinders to compete against an undefeated Carolina Academy team that Atkerson says is strong in all three phases of the game.

The Bobcats are a physical bunch who line up in the I-formation and run straight at opponents. On defense they have a stout four-man front that is their calling card. That front causes havoc against rival offenses.

Last week Richard Winn had good push up front, recording ten sacks in the contest. Atkerson said the team needs to get better at its tackling and at defending the pass. Those attributes could loom large in the Carolina Academy game because he said they have a balanced attack that mixes the run and the play action pass well.

The Eagle offense will have to get creative to find ways to move the ball against a team that defends the pass and the run well, but last week’s team effort has the players confident they can be successful.

Last week ten players carried the ball and nine different players scored.

“It was good to get so many players involved,” Atkerson said. “Everyone played early and often.”

The depth that was developed when some key players were injured earlier this season is starting to pay off for this bunch. The head coach credits the attitude of his players and the team chemistry for helping that positive emerge in what has been a trying season at times.

Atkerson thinks his group will be ready for the game, but no matter what he wants them to keep the feeling associated with winning close to mind during their pregame preparations and in-game adjustments.

The resilient Eagles are hoping to get into a groove through the second half of their schedule and give their plans plenty to cheer about, especially alumni in town for the homecoming celebration.

“We have a big game this week-homecoming-and we are playing a good football team that is well-coached and hits hard,” he said. “This should be a great game for fans to come watch.”

Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. Friday night at Richard Winn.