Seymour — The Seymour Eagles (4-6, 3-4 in District 2-AAA) know they have their work cut out for them tonight against the state’s No.1-ranked Tennessee High School Vikings.

And that’s just the way the Eagles like it.

“(The team’s mentality) has been great, just like all year,” coach Jim Moore said Thursday evening. “I guess for other teams in other situations it might mean something to be playing the No.1 team in the state, but heck, all year long we’ve been playing ranked teams in the state. This just happens to be the No.1-ranked.”

Coach Moore has confidence in his squad and their ability to play with the big boys.

“Sevier County, CAK, Morristown East, Morristown West, all those teams have been ranked in the state, so this is just another one.”

In all of those contests except CAK, the Eagles were within 11 points, and two — Sevier County and Morristown West — could have gone Seymour’s way had just one play gone differently in the game.

Last week against Morristown West, the Eagles played their always-stingy defense, allowing just eight points, but scored just three themselves.

“Defensively we played really well,” Moore said. “We gave up one touchdown on a pick route, and we had a snapped punt that gave them two points and that was it. Offensively we weren’t consistent, but four of our bigger plays of the night were called back because of penalties.”

Should the Eagles play the same sort of ball game on defense, they may stand a chance with the mighty Vikings.

“They’re a good football team, no real weak spots,” Moore said. “Offense, defense, special teams all three, they’re a very solid football team.

“Offensively they’re something else. They run the ball well, they throw it well, they block well. Good play selection. They mix it up good. They’re just a well-coached football team that’s got some really good athletes. They’ve got a fullback/linebacker that may be the best we’ve seen this year.”

The Vikings are also very good behind center.

“Their quarterback has a very good arm, and it seems like he sits back there and has 10 seconds to throw every ball he throws,” Moore said. “We’ve watched film after film and there’s no pressure on him, and somebody eventually comes open.”

Should the defense get pressure, perhaps the Eagles’ defensive backs — with 12 picks already this year — can add to that total and set up a short field for the offense.

Field position and keeping their vaunted defense off the field for as large chunks of time as possible will be keys to staying with a Tennessee High team that hasn’t allowed an opponent to finish within 15 points of them all season.