Forget Northeast Lauderdale’s two-game winning streak and 4-2 mark overall.

It means nothing come Friday when the Trojans open Region 5-4A play at Quitman.

For all the strides Northeast has made this season, the Trojans are starting over and that is reason enough for coach Steve Nelson to be worried.

“If I knew (we were ready), I wouldn’t be worried too much,” he said. “We’re coming off two wins in a row and seem to be headed in the right direction.

“That 4-2 start is great for a lot of things, but it doesn’t really matter right now, we’re 0-0 just like Quitman. What you really worked for all year really starts over the next five weeks.”

Still, the Panthers (4-2) pose plenty of problems for Nelson to be concerned about, too. Those difficulties begin with senior running back DeAnthony Pickens.

“We’re going to have our hands full with No. 2,” Nelson said. “He’s a good running back, great running back, runs hard and is hard to bring down. We’re going to have to have 11 guys flying to the football to bring him down.”

Quitman, which rebounded from a two-game losing streak with a 12-10 win against Lawrence County last week, also has quarterback Wesley Warren and the versatile Dyar Ealie as running mates for Pickens.

“The quarterback compliments Pickens very well and then as soon as you think you might have those two hemmed in, then you throw in No. 21 and he’s kind of their do-everything return guy,” Nelson added. “And he will get in that old Wildcat formation and just take off and run, and he’s very elusive.

“Like I said, our defense is going to have it’s hands full. But, we’re just going to have to go down there, and that’s why they play the games — to see who the best is.”

Complimenting those offensive threats is a stingy defense. The Panthers are allowing just 14.5 points per game and just twice have allowed more than 20 points.

Northeast, meanwhile, enters with an offense that has averaged more than 30 points per game following a season-opening shutout loss at Morton. Quarterback Marquez Hopson and running backs Jamond Hill and Ben Brooks provide a triple-headed monster in the Trojans’ backfield.

“Well, as long as our guys up front do their jobs, it makes it a lot easier on the skill guys,” Nelson said. “We’ve talked all week that those five guys up front have to have their very best ballgame, because Quitman is athletic on defense, they run and they are very physical. They tackle really well and our guys have to maintain blocks because there is more speed on defense. If we don’t maintain those blocks longer, they will be able to recover and get back in on the play.”