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Football Friday Preview: Big Red Eyes Chance For 10-0 Season; Patriots Take Long Road Trip vs. Talawanda

STEUBENVILLE – Steubenville is seeking to go 10-0 for the 17th time in its storied football history when Long Island Lutheran (4-2) makes the long trek to Reno Field inside Harding Stadium on Friday night.

In three of the aforementioned seasons, Big Red has finished 15-0 as state champions, those coming in 2005, 2006 and 2017. They were also 13-0 and state champions in 1984. Big Red has had three 8-0 campaigns and a like number of 9-0 years.

Six of Steubenville’s victories have come over teams with winning records and from three different states and Canada.

Big Red checks in at No. in the latest Ohio Division III, Region 11 ratings behind Columbus Bishop Watterson. They have clinched a home game in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

The Crusaders, from Brookville, N.Y., started 4-0 but have dropped their last two outings to Delaware Valley (Pa.) and Pennington (N.J.).

Steubenville is also comfortable atop the OVAC Class 5A standings.

Wheeling Park at Talawanda

OXFORD – The Patriots (5-3) will make the 4-hour trip to the home of Miami University to face the Brave (3-6) at Talawanda Stadium.

Wheeling Park is coming off a 47-20 thumping of visiting Butler (Pa.) last week at Island Stadium. Its three losses have come to unbeatens Spring Mills (No. 1 in WV Class AAAA), Steubenville (No. 2 OH Division III and Fairmont Senior (No. 1 in WV Class AAA). Those three are a combined 24-0.

The Patriots are third in W.Va. Class AAAA, but all 16 teams qualify for the playoffs. They close the regular season next week at home against northern panhandle rival John Marshall.

Talawanda has had a rollercoaster of a season. It lost its first four games before winning three in a row. Now it is riding a two-game slide, which includes a 62-42 shootout at Mount Healthy.

St. Clairsville at Cambridge

CAMBRIDGE – The Red Devils, like Big Red, are looking to finish 10-0 for the eighth time in program history when they venture west on I-70 to meet the winless Bobcats at McFarland Stadium.

St. Clairsville has won 23 of its last 25 regular-season games, and are rated atop Ohio Division IV, Region 15, overtaking Indian Valley this week. That assures them of at least two home playoff games. The Red Devils are also comfortably on top of the OVAC Class 4A field.

Cambridge had lost 20 consecutive regular-season games, last winning in 2022. It has only scored in double figures once this season, that coming in an opening-game loss (41-13) to Indian Creek. The Bobcats have been blanked three times, including in back-to-back weeks (97-0) by Martins Ferry and Beaver Local.

Bridgeport (Oh) at Cameron

CAMERON – The Dragons (7-1) have been breathing fire the last seven weeks since a season-opening reversal at Edison, including consecutive shutouts by a combined 93-0 over Valley and Clay-Battelle.

Due to the success, Cameron has vaulted to No. 5 in the latest W.Va. Class A standings.

Bridgeport (3-6) currently holds down the final playoff position (No. 16) in Ohio Division VII, Region 27. However, it has lost four of its last six outings, including two straight at home to Bishop Rosecrans and Shadyside.

Cameron sits in first place in the OVAC Class A standings, as well. The Dragons travel to Pendleton County next week to cap the regular season.

Edison at Indian Creek

WINTERSVILLE – The Wildcats (7-2) and Redskins (7-2) have a lot riding on the “Route 43” rivalry game at Kettlewell Memorial Stadium. Both are ranked in their respective divisions.

Edison checks in at No. 5 in Ohio Division V, Region 17. A win would place it anywhere from third to seventh, while a loss could drop it anywhere from fifth to 11th.

Meanwhile, Indian Creek has more at stake as it sits in the No. 12 spot in Ohio Division III, Region 11. A win would leave it anywhere from seventh to out, while a loss could place it anywhere from 10th to out.

The Redskins hold a 22-9 advantage in the all-time series, which has been contested every year since 1993. However, the Wildcats have won the last three meetings.

Indian Creek last won in 2020 which ended a 12-game winning streak in the series by the Redskins.

Monroe Central at Shadyside

SHADYSIDE – Fleming Field will be abuzz Friday night when the Seminoles (8-1) visit the Tigers (3-6) in a meaningful game for both team’s playoff hopes.

Monroe Central has already clinched a Division VI, Region 23 playoff berth as it is rated No. 11. It will be looking to improve its seeding. A win would leave the Seminoles anywhere from fourth to 12th, while a loss would drop them somewhere between sixth and 13th.

The last time Monroe Central was 9-1 came in 2011.

Shadyside, which controls its own destiny, has a streak of 18 consecutive seasons of making the postseason on the line. The Tigers are currently ninth in Ohio Division VII, Region 27, but a win could propel them to anywhere between No. 5 and No. 10. However, a loss could send them to somewhere between No. 8 and out.

Both teams are coming off wins last week.

Frontier at River

HANNIBAL – The Pilots (4-5) late-season run has powered it to a potential home playoff game in Ohio Division VII, Region 27 when they welcome the Cougars (3-6) to Martin Flannery Field.

River is No. 11 and could move anywhere from No. 7 to out with a win, while it could fall anywhere from No. 8 to out with a loss.

The Pilots started 0-3 but have prevailed in four of their last six contests, including winning the last two against Shenandoah and Buckeye Local.

Frontier sits in 14th spot in the same region. It has dropped three in a row and four of its last five.

Buckeye Local at Harrison Central

CADIZ – The Panthers (2-7) and Huskies (1-8) renew acquaintances in the annual V.A.L.E.S. Game at Wagner Field.

Both teams are struggling through the season as Harrison Central has lost eight straight since opening the season with a win at Claymont. Meanwhile, Buckeye Local has won just once in its last six outings and is riding a three-game losing streak.

IN OTHER games on Friday, John Marshall welcomes Lancaster Fairfield Union to Monarch Stadium in Moundsville; Clay-Battelle treks to Dave Cladwell Field in Beallsville; Madonna heads to Bowerston to face Conotton Valley; Caldwell visits Sarahsville to meet Shenandoah; East Liverpool hosts Oak Glen at Patterson Field; Valley visits Hundred; Fort Frye travels to Point Pleasant (W.Va.); Brooke is on the road at Sharon (Pa.) and Weir hosts Albert Gallatin (Pa.) at Jimmy Carey Stadium.

All games have 7 o’clock kickoffs.

On Saturday, Linsly (0-7) hosts Parkersburg South (4-3) at Fawcett Field inside Lockhart Alumni Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.

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