DAPHNE, Ala. – What a difference a year (and a new assistant coach) makes.

After four weeks of football last season, the Daphne Trojans had limped to a 1-3 start. The Trojans were giving up 24.5 points per game while scoring just 18.25.

Things are different this season.

With the addition of former Prattville assistant Bart Sessions as defensive coordinator, No. 8 Daphne is off to a 4-0 start with a defense that is giving up just 7.8 points per game. That ranks Daphne third in Class 6A in scoring defense behind Hoover and Hewitt-Trussville. Daphne's offense is scoring a lot of points, too. DHS has averaged 31.8 points in its first four games of 2010.

If that doesn't prove what kind of a coach Sessions is, look at the school he left. Prattville finished 12-3 as the 6A runner up last season. The Lions gave up just 11 points per game and surrendered less than 10 points in nine games last season. Through the first four games of 2010 without Sessions, the Lions are giving up 20.3 points per game and are 2-2 overall. They have given up more than 10 points in three of their first four games.

It helps that Daphne has some experience this season. Quarterback Russ Mosley is in his second season as a starter, while running back T.J. Yeldon and wide receiver Israel Lamprakes gained starting experience last year.

While three of Daphne's first four games were against teams with a combined record of 2-10, the Trojans held Foley (3-1, 2-1) to just 13 points, 16 points below the Lions' season average of 29.

Daphne hosts Theodore (3-1) in a Region 1 vs. 2 showdown Friday night, and the Bobcats are no slouch on defense. Theodore gives up just 8.8 points per game and scores 29.3. On paper, these two are about as evenly matched as you can get.

If Daphne can get by Theodore, the Trojans should be unbeaten at 7-0 when rival Fairhope comes to town on October 15.

Eric Mann is the Sports Coordinator for Gulf Coast Newspapers. Reach him at emann@gulfcoastnewspapers.com