Since Earnest Hill landed in the Camellia City, defense has been the cornerstone on which he’s built the Greenville High School football program.

During last season’s run to the second round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association playoffs, the Tigers allowed just 17.8 points per game.

Hill believes this year’s defensive squad has the talent to be just as good or even better.

“We have a lot of new faces on defense,” Hill said. “We lost a lot of guys, but (this year we’re) a little faster. We still attack and run to the ball.”

Greenville’s defense will certainly be tested Friday night.

The Tigers are set to face off with Class 5A, Region 3 rival Demopolis High School.

Demopolis has proven more than capable when it comes to putting points on the scoreboard.

This season, Demopolis is averaging 40 points per game en route to a perfect 5-0 record, which has the Tigers tied atop the region standings with Jackson High School, which is in its first year competing in Class 5A after winning the Class 4A state championship in 2011.

The Demopolis offense isn’t all Greenville has to worry about. The Demopolis Tigers also have a stout defense, which has allowed just 13.2 points per game this season and will challenge a Greenville offense that has at times struggled to find the end zone this season.

Greenville and Demopolis will face off at 7 p.m. at Greenville’s Tiger Stadium.