Port Gibson has already cemented its best start in 18 years. Friday, it can move into even rarer territory.

Port Gibson (5-2, 1-0) can move into first place in Region 7-4A — and get a leg up in the playoff race — by beating No. 5 North Pike (6-1, 1-0) at home on Friday. Port Gibson hasn’t won more than five games in a season since 1992, and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2004. Its five wins this season are more than it totaled from 2005-08.

“I live for this,” Port Gibson coach Lynn Lang said. “We win one more and we’re in the playoffs. We win two more and we may get to host in the first round.

To inch closer to a playoff berth, Port Gibson will need to win the matchup of the region’s top two quarterbacks, North Pike’s Revis Butler and the Blue Waves’ Silento Sayles.

Butler has completed 40 of 73 passes for 813 yards and seven touchdowns, and run for another 565 yards and six scores. Sayles, a sophomore, is 57-of-89 passing for 962 yards and 12 TDs.