They’re already in the playoffs so they don’t have to beat Ennis tonight to continue their football season.

 But the 6-3 Greenville Lions sure would like to do something no other team in District 8-5A-II has done and that’s beat Ennis. The two teams will battle at 7:30 tonight at Lions Memorial Stadium in Ennis.

 The Lions locked down their first playoff berth since 2003 with a 51-3 rout last week over Forney. The win moved them up into a tie for third place in 8-5A-II with Royse City at 5-2. Ennis is alone in first place at 7-0. Corsicana has completed district play at 6-2 after losing 30-21 last week to Ennis.

Ennis, Corsicana and Greenville have locked down playoff spots. Royse City can also join the playoff party with a home win over Terrell tonight. North Forney, at 4-3 has to beat Sulphur Springs and have Royse City lose to Terrell to make it into the playoffs.

 “It’s unusual for both of us (Ennis and Greenville) where the outcome of this game doesn’t affect our seeding,” said Lions coach Darren Duke. “It allows us to go out and play and focus on some things. The no-pressure part allows us to focus on us.”

 The Lions were firing on all cylinders during last week’s win over Forney. They ran for 232 yards, including touchdown runs of 51 yards by Miles Denson and 41 yards by Lester Turner. Turner rushed for 90 yards on 15 carries to up his team-high total to 924 yards and nine touchdowns on 151 carries.

 Denson, the junior wide receiver, had his biggest night as a varsity Lion. Not only did he run for 85 yards on just four carries, he caught four passes for 104 yards, including touchdowns of 61 and 9 yards from quarterback Brandon Stephens and 28 yards from Josh Luna, who received a lateral from Stephens before throwing the touchdown pass.

 Denson escaped nine would-be tacklers on the 61-yard scoring play, shortly after receiving the ball, then Denson cut across the field, nearly getting tripped up before regaining his balance. Denson made his way to the sidelines before getting three defenders to overrun him by stopping and starting again. He completed the touchdown by diving to the end zone.

 Stephens wound up 7-of-9 passing for 133 yards, upping his season passing total to 916 yards and 11 TDs. Stephens is 66-of-142 passing and has also run for 541 yards and four scores.

Defensive back Tyecus Davis also picked off two passes, returning one of them 68 yards for a touchdown. Davis also returned an interception and a kickoff for touchdowns in the Lions’ previous win over Sulphur Springs.

 Jeremiah Abrego also recovered a Forney fumble that was forced by DeGarrious Ford and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown.

 “I think our team speed on defense and our speed skill kids on offense present some challenges to Ennis,” said Duke. “We’re capable of playing with anybody.”

Ennis has a strong tradition. The other Lions have won five state football titles in 1975, 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2013. Four of those titles were with Sam Harrell as head coach. Harrell left Ennis but is back coaching the Lions.

 Quarterback Collin Drake, a 6-1, 195-pound junior, directs the Ennis offense. Drake has rushed for a team-high 612 yards and nine TDs and has passed for 1,705 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s 108-of-172 passing with only four interceptions.

 Devion Beasley has rushed for 557 yards and 11 TDs for Ennis and Jarius Jones, a 6-2, 235-pounder, has bulled his way for 411 yards and six scores.

 Laylon Spencer of Ennis ranks among the state’s top 5A receivers with 43 catches for 983 yards and nine TDs.

 Ennis averages 37 points per game, while giving up a norm of 15 ppg. Greenville averages 31 points and gives up an average of 18.

 “I think we take it just kind of as a challenge,” Duke said of facing Ennis. “We want to see how good we can be. We know they’re a playoff team. Not just a playoff team but a really good team. We’ve shown we’re capable of playing at a high level. And I still feel think we’re one of the best teams in the district and we’re capable of beating everybody.”

 The Lions won’t know until tonight who their bi-district playoff opponent will be. Frisco, Braswell and Lucas Lovejoy are tied for the District 7-5A-II lead with 6-1 records. Duke said if Frisco beats Lovejoy tonight at home, the Lions will face Frisco in the first round of the playoffs.