ELLAVILLE — A big win and a big letdown.

That was Schley County on Sept. 12 and 19. The Wildcats blitzed Chattahoochee County for 53 points and then lost 21-20 at home to Greenville.

They will try to avoid deja vu all over again this week. A week after scoring 54 points against Taylor County, Schley hosts upset-minded Pacelli on Friday for homecoming.

“We can’t slip up like we did against Greenville,” said Schley senior quarterback Andy Miller, who completed 12 of 15 passes for 230 yards and four touchdowns last week. “This week it’s going to ride on the seniors to get everybody up. That week, it didn’t seem like we were all mentally ready. If we do that, I think we’ve got a really good chance of winning.”

Schley (3-2, 3-1 in 4-A) has won big on the road this season, winning all three games by an average of 18 points. But at home, the Wildcats are 0-2. They have split the last two games with the Vikings, with each team winning at home.

Schley won two years ago 28-26 in overtime on homecoming, and former Pacelli coach Jeff Battles told his team all the way up to last year’s rematch to remember that game and how they felt. The Vikings got payback, winning 43-13.

Wildcats coach Jim McFather said they are trying to follow the same tactics.

“We’ve talked about (both games) and the importance of this ball game,” he said. “I think it will boil down to who wants it the most. If you don’t execute, you may look back and this game haunts you. It’s certainly not for all the marbles, but to get a collection of marbles you have to get this one or you might not make (the playoffs).”

It could be said Pacelli may be a bit down compared with years past. At 2-3 (2-2 in 4-A), the Vikings were picked to finish fifth whereas they would be first or second the last several years. Pacelli coach Bryan Eason was unavailable for comment, but McFather said they have been working to reach the status the Vikings have had the past five years where they won at least eight games four times.

“This will be a feather in their cap right now,” he said. “They don’t want to lose to us. Schley’s been a doormat for a long time, and people don’t like to lose, especially to a lower-tier team. The last couple of years we’ve worked hard to change that. They’ve been good for about the last four years, we’ve been good for about two years.”

McFather wants to see his team play at home as it has on the road. The offensive line has blocked better the past two to three weeks, and the Wildcats’ offense appears to be getting back into its explosive ways.

Deondrick Pina scored three touchdowns (two receiving, one kickoff), and the offense had 400 total yards. Add that with a defense that forced that three turnovers, Miller likes their chances.

“We don’t want to dwell on last year, but use it for motivation,” said Miller. “They don’t have a lot to lose. Their season could ride on this game, and they’ve got to come out and play. We do, too. We’ve to fight tooth and nail and be ready to play in a tight game.”

McFather said the Vikings will be after the Wildcats to stay in the playoff hunt like battles in the westerns.

“These guys are coming to town, and like an old western, to do some harm. They’re not coming to shake your hand and pull hair, they’re coming to gun you down,” he said.