Douglas County will host 3-AAAAAA region opponent East Coweta tonight in a game that is a near must win for both teams.

DC (1-2, 6-2) enters the game tied for fourth in the region with Tri-Cities, who they will play in the final game of the regular season next week.

The Tigers are coming off a loss to region foe Newnan last week, despite a hard fought game on offense and defense. Douglas County fell to the region’s second place team, 21-13.

East Coweta is tied for second in the region with a 2-1 record after losing to 3-AAAAAA’s top team, Langston Hughes, last week, 28-14.

Both teams are struggling this year, with DC putting up a 2-6 overall record, while the Indians are currently at 3-5.

East Coweta is looking to clinch their 16th consecutive state berth this year but they have been plagued by turnovers. Despite that, they are still in prime position thanks to a late start in the region schedule for all teams.

The Indians are led by quarterback Bryce Gemmell, who has completed 87-of-104 passes for 903 yards and five TDs. He has two interceptions.

Gemmell likes to spread the ball around, throwing to two, 200-yard receivers, Markell Boston and Nigel Gay, and two, 100-yard receivers, Demarcus Godfrey and Wyatt Porter

Godfrey is also the team’s running back, and is a solid threat with 90 rushes for 675 yards. He is the leading scorer on the team with eight touchdowns. Welin Orr is also a solid back. He has 418 yards on 92 carries, including three TDs.

Douglas County has also been bit by the turnover bug at times this season. Last week, the team struggled to get the ball out of center, as quarterback Ellis Richardson fell on three fumbled snaps.

Despite that, DC was still in the game late and had a chance to tie it with just over six minutes to play, but the team missed the extra point. With a minute to go, Newnan was able to get one last score to put the game away.

Richardson put up solid numbers, completing 6-of-13 passes for 115 yards, including a 50-plus yard scoring play to running back/receiver Terrell Gibson.

Gibson was the team’s main scoring threat, catching five passes for 147 yards. He also ran for 83-yards.

Both teams have struggled defensively, with East Coweta averaging 22.2 points per game against, and DC averaging 27 points per game against.

Which defense can step up and stop the other team’s player-maker at a crucial time could be the key factor in the winner of tonight’s game.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.