John Boggs learned from last year’s loss to Abbeville. Sure, there were some typical X and O changes the Walhalla coach took note of for this week’s matchup. But ultimately, Boggs and the Razorbacks learned one important pre-game priority: don’t put too much stock in this week.

For the second straight year, Walhalla (3-3, 1-0) has a chance to send shockwaves through the Skyline region — and the rest of the state — with an upset over the undefeated Panthers (6-0, 1-0), an increasingly popular pick to schedule an early December trip to Death Valley.

Despite an improved running game, the Hogs were turned one-dimensional last year in a 24-7 loss. The problem with Walhalla’s upset hopes was then-junior Meeshon Thompson was shut down, rushing for a mere four yards. As a team, the Hogs were anything but balanced offensively, netting 35 yards on the ground.

Almost exactly like last year, Thompson is shredding defenses again. A year after averaging 4.4 yards per rush entering this game a year ago, Thompson is toting the ball at a 7.8 yards per carry clip.

“Breaking some tackles, not as easy to bring down,” Boggs said, adding that Thompson has improved his speed from 4.9 seconds in the 40-yard dash, to 4.65.

Thompson also leads the team in yards per catch (17.6).

So while the ingredients are there for an upset, especially with mounting momentum following two straight wins, Boggs is not all in against the Panthers.

“We all have to keep things in perspective, coming in last year we put a little too much into that game,” Boggs said. “We played a great game against them. The lingering effects of that game, we put too much into it and had a little bit of an emotional let down. You have five region games and every one counts the same. It’s a big game, and we don’t want to get too crazy win or lose.”

Boggs may be using a precautionary message to prevent a repeat of last year’s stretch run. Following the Abbeville loss, Walhalla dropped four of its last five and missed the playoffs.

With a logjam forming for third place in the Skyline region, Boggs realizes his three remaining games, especially against Pendleton, will have as much a bearing on playoff positioning, and a potential home playoff game, as tonight.

After studying Abbeville, Boggs is aware of the Panthers’ expanded passing attack. Although rarely needed, it provides junior quarterback Jimmy Thackson with a surplus of talents to burn defenses.

“It doesn’t appear that they have any weaknesses,” Boggs said. “They’re so well-equipped to handle anything anybody tries to do them. They’re perfectly capable of changing their game plan to something else.”

It’s ironic that each team has made a concerted effort to expand the other half of its offense, despite the overwhelming success they have with passing (Walhalla) and rushing (Abbeville).

Perhaps the outcome, like last year, will be decided by how each team defends the other’s secondary part of the offense.