The Bulloch Academy Gators finally got a little bit of break from their gauntlet of a schedule last week, having an easy time with Robert Toombs and improving to 5-1 with a 56-0 victory in Lyons.

Head coach Aaron Phillips believes his team is continuing to grow regardless of the opponent, but still sees room for improvement.

“We got to play a bunch of kids and a lot of guys got to be in and see what they can do on a Friday night,” Phillips said. “We talked to our older guys about how it was their responsibility to do what they were supposed to, so that the younger guys that help you in practice, got their opportunity to play under the Friday night lights.

“Offensively we were able to kind of do what we wanted to do running the ball and had some big explosive plays. Defensively, we put ourselves in some bad situations with the two muffed punts, but we were able to control the game and keep them out of the end zone.”

The tough schedule returns Friday when the Gators hit the road again, heading to Locust Grove to take on the 5-1 Strong Rock Christian Patriots.

Strong Rock’s lone loss came in a tight contest with Westfield. Aside from that, they have had no problems with their opponents, averaging over 34 points per game, while holding opponents to just over a touchdown per contest.

“They are physical and like to run the ball downhill,” Phillips said. “They do a good job with that, so it's a challenge. We think that we're pretty good at stopping the run and that’s what they like to do. Our kids have got to come to play.”

Phillips said the biggest key to the game is finding a way to slow down Patriot running back Jake Johnson, who is averaging more than 180 yards rushing per game and already has passed 1,000 yards and 19 touchdowns.

“The Johnson kid is the challenge,” Phillips said. “They're going to give it to him 45 times in a game. There's no secret to what they want to do. That's their game plan and it doesn't matter if they're losing or up big, that's just what they are.

"The ball's going to go through his hands and their quarterback does a decent job of doing a few of the other things they ask him to do when he's not handing it off to number seven.”

Bulloch Academy and Strong Rock are set for a 7:30 start Friday night in Locust Grove.