WOODSFIELD - There's a buzz in the air that this tiny community hasn't felt since 2009, the last time Monroe Central started 5-0. However, that streak stopped there as Magnolia blanked the Seminoles, 13-0, before they went on to finish the regular season 9-1. Monroe Central would fall 52-47 to Wheelersburg in an Ohio Division V, Region 19 playoff encounter.
The two cross-river rivals will square off again Friday night at Monroe Park with the teams headed in opposite directions as the Blue Eagles are winless in three starts while the Seminoles have been throttling their opponents.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Monroe Central is led by do-everything senior Tucker Howell who passed for 252 yards and four touchdowns against Buckeye Local last week in a 42-19 romp. The Seminoles have also beaten Belpre (59-12), Bridgeport (48-0), River (52-6) and Caldwell (42-13).
Magnolia is led by the running of Hunter Oates and Matthew Anderson. It has lost to Wirt County (48-28), River (48-20) and Cameron (52-16).
Monroe Central has won five straight in the series that began in 1908 when Monroe Central was still Woodsfield High School.
Edison (4-1) at Toronto (4-1)
The Wildcats and Red Knights will clash for just the 14th time since 2004, with Toronto holding a slim, 7-6, edge in the all-time series.
The Jefferson County rivals began playing after Edison North and Edison South consolidated. They have played every year since 2015. The Wildcats have won three of the last four meetings, with Toronto prevailing last season, 28-20, in Richmond.
Edison is riding a four-game winning streak after a season-opening shootout setback at Shenandoah (42-30). It has defeated Cameron (30-22), Southern Local (42-24), Oak Glen (51-6) and Caldwell (34-15) in climbing to No. 11 in Ohio Division V, Region 19.
Toronto is No. 6 in Division VI, Region 21. It began the season 3-0 with wins over East Canton (41-0), Lowellville (57-26) and Weir (50-0) before falling at undefeated Newcomerstown (34-6). The Red Knights bounced back last week with a convincing rout of Oak Glen (53-13).
Union Local (5-0) at Beaver Local (2-3)
LISBON - The Jets haven't started 5-0 since 2017 when it won its first six before dropping two of its last five, including a Division V, Region 19 playoff game to Columbus Academy.
Union Local is currently listed at No. 6 in the latest Ohio computer ratings. It has defeated Southern Local (34-20), Buckeye Local (42-21), Indian Creek (27-26), Harrison Central (49-13) and Shenandoah (48-7).
The Beavers dammed up a two-game losing streak last week with a win against Salem (32-25). They had fallen to St. Clairsville (27-21) and East Liverpool (14-9) after dropping their season-opener at Struthers (41-7) and topping Brooke (35-0).
Fairfield Christian (2-3) at Martins Ferry (4-1)
MARTINS FERRY - The Purple Riders bounced back last week with a 49-0 shellacking of host Brownsville, Pa. They fell 55-21 at undefeated St. Clairsville in week 4.
Martins Ferry sits at No. 13 in Division V, Region 17 as it defeated Shadyside (56-7), River (50-14) and Tuscarawas Valley (34-3).
Meanwhile, the Knights lost their first two games to Notre Dame (60-48) and Oak Hill (35-28) in overtime before sandwiching two wins - Federal Hocking (30-0) and Fisher Catholic (40-14) around a blowout loss to Grove City Christian (49-0).
River (1-4) at Bridgeport (2-3)
BROOKSIDE - Both teams are coming off blowout losses to Barnesville (63-0) and Conotton Valley (41-6), respectively, in the last outings, and are saddled with injuries to key performers ahead of the matchup on Perkins Field inside Bill Jobko Stadium.
The Pilots avoided an 0-5 start with a 48-20 win at winless Magnolia. Their losses have come to North Robinson Colonel Crawford (55-13), Martins Ferry (50-14), Monroe Central (5-26) and th4 aforementioned Shamrocks. Those teams are a combined 18-2.
The Bulldogs debuted with a win over Frontier (38-34), but then fell to Monroe Central (48-0) and East Palestine (32-0) before topping Mathews (44-14). They fell last week to the aforementioned Rockets.
Saturday
Indian Creek (4-1) at Bellaire (4-1)
BELLAIRE -- Something has to give at Nelson Field in this noon kickoff as both teams come in flying high and seeking postseason berths.
The Redskins have won two straight after falling at Union Local (27-26). They opened with wins over Cambridge (41-13) and East Liverpool (20-14) and followed the setback by defeating Weir (52-7) and Brooke (30-24). They are currently 15th in Division III, Region 11.
The Big Reds are also 15th in Division V, Region 17 while riding a three-game win streak that includes triumphs over Bishop Tonnos Canada (16-13), Brownsville, Pa. (41-0) and Cambridge (26-6). They beat Buckeye Local in their season opener (38-6) but fell to powerful Barnesville (50-6).
Madonna (3-0) at Steubenville Catholic (4-1)
STEUBENVILLE - In this all-Catholic matchup at Harding Stadium, the Blue Dons will look to remain perfect, while the Crusaders are seeking their fourth straight win after a 34-19 reversal at Strasburg in week 2.
Madonna had defeated Wellsville (30-28), Clay-Battelle (28-8) and Webster County (26-8). Its week 2 game with Trinity Christian was canceled.
Steubenville Catholic owns victories over Wellsville (20-6), Bishop Rosecrans (8-7), St. John School (13-6) and Fairport Harbor Harding (32-22).
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
IN OTHER games involving OVAC schools, Shenandoah at Buckeye Local; Fort Frye at Waterford; East Liverpool at Cambridge; Canfield at Dover; New Philadelphia at Linsly; Hancock, Md. at Hundred; Buckhannon-Upshur at Morgantown; Berkeley Springs at Oak Glen; Valley Christian at Wellsville; Beallsville at Valley; Southern Local at East Palestine; Buck. Trail at Tusky Catholic; Cameron at Tyler Con.; Trinity Chr. at Con. Valley and Frontier at Federal Hocking.