Bellaire’s Mac Pettigrew returns a kickoff during a game from earlier this season. He is a threat to go the distance any time he touches the ball. The Big Reds host Ohio 7 rival Martins Ferry in the 120th meeting on Saturday at noon at Nelson Field.

BELLAIRE – Two of Ohio’s oldest rivals – Bellaire and Martins Ferry – will tee the football up for the 120th time Saturday at high noon on the natural grass surface at Nelson Field with the coveted S.P.A.R.K.Y. Trophy up for grabs. The acronym stands for Sportsmanship. Participation. Achievement. Rivalry. Knowledge. Youth.

The Big Reds hold a slim 58-54 margin in the all-time series, which, according to wikipedia, is the fifth longest in the Buckeye State behind Massillon Washington-Canton McKinley, Dover-New Philadelphia, Ironton-Portsmouth West and Troy-Piqua. There have been seven ties.

However, the Purple Riders (5-4) have dominated the all-series, which dates back to 1905, since the 2000 season. They have won 17 of the 24 contests, with two occurring in the playoffs (2004, 2018). The Big Reds have won the last two meetings – 35-6 in 2000 and 39-8 last season.

Both towns are excited about the much-anticipated contest because Martins Ferry has already clinched a Division VI, Region 23 postseason berth with its No. 5 rating, while Bellaire (4-5) controls its own destiny at No. 12 With a win, according to Joe Eitel’s website, the Purple Riders could move as high as fourth or drop to as low as eighth. A loss sends them anywhere from fifth to 13th. The Big Reds can go as high as No. 5 with a win and as low as 14th, but a loss leaves them anywhere from ninth to outside the top 16.

Martins Ferry head coach Justin Kropka grew up and played in the rivalry.

“This week is always different from the first nine because it is Bellaire week. If I have to motivate my kids in any way this week, they shouldn’t be playing football any way,” he stressed. “If the kids are distracted from anything but focusing on Saturday afternoon, then they probably shouldn’t be playing. I don’t care what kind of circus is going on.

“This game is why you play football at Martins Ferry or Bellaire.”

Bellaire head coach Mark Bonar has been around the rivalry, as well.”I never worry about the playoffs. I never do. I don’t want to know anything about them,” Bellaire head coach Mark Bonar said. “We go out and play every game one week at a time. That’s what you have to do. Every week is an opportunity for these kids to do something they love, and that’s play football.

“We worry about ourselves first. We’ve got some things that we need to clean up and fix, and that’s what we will do. We’ve got some issues and we’ll handle those,” Bonar added. “Then we worry about the other team.”

With Bellaire’s rugged schedule, week 10 is just another week on the schedule.

“To me every week is a playoff (game). It should be like that,” Bonar noted. “If you win good things happen to you later and that’s the approach we take. If we win, then someone will tell us when and where we play again.”

Both teams enter the game following losses. In fact, Martins Ferry has dropped two straight since a four-game winning stretch in the middle of the season. Meanwhile, Bellaire has sandwiched losses (St. Clairsville 34-14 and Union Local 20-14) around a week 8 win against East Liverpool.

“There’s a chance we could meet Bellaire again in the playoffs,” Kropka noted. “If you would’ve asked me early in the year – when we had 18 new starters and lost one of the best players (Baron Lucey) in the Ohio Valley before he ever got to take a snap – and we’d be sitting where we are, I would’ve laughed at you. We’ve had some nice surprises and we’ve had some things go our way. Right now this is playing with other people’s money. We have nothing to lose.”

Junior quarterback Ayden Ludolph keys the Purple attack with his arm and legs. Classmate Tev’n Williams is an explosive tailback and Alex Reese, another junior, is a lanky wideout and menacing defensive end at 6-6.

“Experience is the toughest teacher because it gives you the test first and then the lesson,” Kropka said. “I really believe in that.”

Bellaire has been paced by its run game that set a new single-game record earlier this season with nearly 600 yards against Cambridge. The Big Reds have a two-headed monster in the back field in seniors Drew White and Mac Mac Pettigrew, who is a threat every time he touches the football. Junior quarterback Luke Heatherington has had his ups-and-downs in his first year under center.

Line play could be a factor, especially if the weatherman doesn’t cooperate. Bellaire is big and experienced, while Martins Ferry is undersized and inexperienced.

“We’ve been getting better and better,” Kropka said. “We played really well against a good Weir team for three quarters before falling off and we jumped out on Wheeling Central 16-0 but couldn’t hang on. Losses like those can be learning tools for the kids.”

The contest will also be a part of the Great American Rivalry Series, now in its 20th anniversary season, and shines the spotlight on top high school football rivalries across the nation. Since 2004, the series has covered more than 1,000 elite high school football rivalry games across 44 states, soon to be 46, highlighting exceptional athletes and decades of competition. The series is honored to have the United States Marine Corps as our presenting partner for this milestone season.

The winning team earns year-long bragging rights and will take home the Great American Rivalry Series Champions Trophy, presented by the Marines. The game’s Most Valuable Player will be recognized after the game as part of the series. A college scholarship will be awarded to the senior scholar-athlete on each team with the highest academic standing.

When asked about nerves in a big-game atmosphere, the two coaches differed on their opinions.

“I don’t think nerves will be a problem. Most of our kids have played in a lot of big games in their careers, so I don’t think that will affect us,” Bonar said. “Sometimes the biggest distractions are the things that go on during school all week that make it special. It is special.”

“Most of my kids are underclassmen and for most of them this will be their first time playing in the rivalry,” Kropka said. “I’m worried about it a little, but I think my kids will handle themselves alright.”