• WHAT: Frostproof Bulldogs (3-2) at Hardee Wildcats (5-0).

• WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m. kickoff, Wauchula.

• KEY PLAYERS: It’s slim pickings for Frostproof, what with injuries, illness and suspensions. Some bodies from an undefeated junior varsity squad can’t come quickly enough. A couple will come up this week, however, and allow for some of the Bulldogs two-way workhorses like Tyron Hamilton, Jake Smith and others to take an occasional breather. Hardee has a lot of good athletes in the likes of Andrew Hooks and Ledarius Simpson, just to name a couple. There are more.

• THE SKINNY: Not that there would be a good time to face one of the area’s toughest programs in Hardee, but this is a particularly difficult week to do so. The Wildcats are 5-0, and have outscored their opponents 166 to 47 so far this season. In four of their five wins, they’ve allowed just one touchdown. They defeated Fort Meade 21-7 in the regular season opener back in early September, and just hung a 35-6 loss on Mulberry last week. Oh, and they’re rested too as they are coming off their bye week. The goal for Frostproof is to get through relatively unscathed — although as always expect the effort to be there — and aim for their two remaining district games against solid but not Hardee-like Lakeland Christian and Cardinal Mooney. A tough week in Bulldog land, but the playoff goal isn’t out of reach just because of last week’s loss to Fort Meade. When at least close to full strength, the Bulldogs are still as good as anyone left in the district.