It had been a long time since the Auburn football team lost a regular-season game.

Last Friday, however, for the first time in 27 regular-season contests, the Trojans were defeated. Auburn, undone by turnovers, dropped a 19-7 decision to rival Kentwood in South Puget Sound League North 4A action at French Field.

This week, the No. 9 Trojans (4-1 league, 4-1 overall) will look to bounce back with a nonleague road game against undefeated and second-ranked Curtis (5-0 SPSL South 4A, 5-0 league). Kickoff is 7 p.m. today at University Place.

According to Auburn coach Gordon Elliott, his team already has put the loss to Kentwood behind it and is looking forward to tonight’s challenge.

“You’re always disappointed, but they bounce back,” Elliott said. “I think the kids bounce back better than the adults do. The coaches probably took it harder than the kids.”

Against the Conquerors, the Trojans were stymied by five turnovers, three of which resulted in Kentwood touchdowns.

“They know we shot ourselves in the foot enough times, and you can’t do that against an excellent team like Kentwood,” Elliott said. “But it was us. We didn’t perform at the level we’re capable of performing at. They’re a good team. They’re going to get their (points). You can’t give it to them on a silver platter.”

Tonight, the Trojans will look to protect the ball and do what they do best.

“We need to move the football and control the football,” Elliott said. “We did that in the first half (against Kentwood), and that’s why we were ahead. We basically did what we needed to do in the first half, but came out in the second and gave the ball away. You can’t do that against a good team.”

And Curtis is definitely a good team this season, stocked with playmakers like wide receiver Rahmel Dockery, who has scored touchdowns in just about every manner possible.

Dockery, who leads the SPSL South 4A in all-purpose yards, has scored five times receiving, twice rushing, once on a kickoff return and another on a punt return. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound senior also has thrown two touchdowns. He reached the end zone five times against Spanaway Lake.

“Curtis is a good team,” Elliott said. “We’ve got to make them earn what they get, and we have to try and keep it away from the excellent skills players that they’ve got.”

In addition to Dockery, the Trojans will have to contend with quarterback Tyler Jamison, who has passed for nine touchdowns, and several playmakers who have helped the Vikings outscore opponents 210-40 while averaging more than 400 yards in total offense per game.

Curtis also is deadly on defense, forcing 13 turnovers in its first four games, a cause for concern for the Trojans who have fumbled 10 times this season and thrown three interceptions.

As usual, Auburn will look to run the ball often, with seniors Alphonse Wade (92 yards-per-game average) and Austin Embody (106 yards per game) shouldering the load.

According to Elliott, the game is another chance to see how the team handles a big game against a tough opponent on the road.

“It’s nonleague game, but it’s against a playoff-caliber opponent,” he said. “It’s an away game, so it gives us all the things we’re going to have to do in the playoffs against a team like this.

“There is still pressure because we need to win and keep winning, so we have a good spot in the playoffs,” Elliot added. “There is always pressure because they’re keeping score.

“Right now, what we have to do is concentrate on us and get better so we can be the kind of playoff team we want to be.”