photo by: Kim North

River’s Michael Schultheis (67) and Isaac Meadows (70) close in on Cameron running back Marshall Holland during their recent game. The Pilots navigate their way north on Ohio 7 Friday night to face Shadyside at Fleming Field.

SHADYSIDE – A pair of riverside rivals located a little more than a half-an-hour apart on Ohio 7 will renew acquaintances Friday night on the artificial surface at Fleming Field when River heads north to meet Shadyside.

The Tigers (2-4) and Pilots (4-2) will be meeting for the 58th time, with Shadyside holding a 36-21 advantage, including a 20-0 win last year at Martin Flannery Field in Hannibal. They began playing in 1963 and played yearly until 2007. After not playing from 2008-15, the rivalry resumed in 2016 and has been played since.

River won back-to-back in 2022 and 2023, but the Tigers prevailed 15 of 16 times from 2000-07 and 2017-21. They won twice in 2005, 2007, 2020 and 2021, with the second matchup in each season coming in the playoffs.

The scoring differential in the first 57 meetings is closer than one would expect, with the Tigers holding a 1,111 to 1,002 edge.

The Pilots rebounded from a week 5 loss to Cameron (46-15) to blast visiting Federal Hocking (62-12) last week on Homecoming. They also have victories over Perry Traditional Academy (36-12), Buckeye Local (21-12) and Magnolia (42-0). Their other setback came to Monroe Central (21-14).

Shadyside, meanwhile, have dropped two straight on the road to Portsmouth Notre Dame (45-7) and Shenandoah (30-12). They also lost to East Palestine (40-7) and Buckeye Local (20-14) in overtime. They have wins over Southern Local (36-22) and Frontier (13-6).

This contest could prove to be a must for both squads’ playoff hopes. It’s also the first of three straight home games for Shadyside. River checks in at No. 13 in Division VII, Region 27, while the Tigers are on the outside looking in at No. 18. The top 16 make the postseason this season.

Union Local at Cambridge

CAMBRIDGE – This is a matchup of programs headed in entirely different directions when they clash at McFarland Stadium in Guernsey County. The visiting Jets have developed quite a winning attitude over the past several seasons, including playoff appearances in the last five. Meanwhile, the Bobcats (0-6) have dropped 27 straight since losing 40-39 in the 2022 playoffs to Logan Elm.

Union Local (4-2) is riding a three-game winning streak – at Harrison Central (28-3), Warren Local (35-0) and Beaver Local (33-14) – since back-to-back losses at Wheeling Central (25-19) and Indian Creek (23-15). They debuted with a rout of visiting Warren JFK (42-12).

Junior Brody Perzanowski set a program record for career yards rushing with his 189-yard output last week against the Beavers. He broke the old mark of Jaksan Price.

Tyler Consolidated at Magnolia

NEW MARTINSVILLE – The Silver Knights (2-3) will look to continue their momentum Friday night when they visit Alumni Field at Bill Stewart Memorial Stadium to meet the Blue Eagles (0-4). It will mark the 32nd time the two programs have met, with Magnolia holding a 23-8 advantage.

Tyler Consolidated went to Cameron and knocked off the W.Va. Class A top-ranked Dragons (14-12) last week. That halted a three-game losing skid to Wahama (28-13), Doddridge County (47-8) and Petersburg (28-13).

The Silver Knights opened with a win over Ritchie County (38-14).

Magnolia has been outscored 178-42 in losses to Wirt County, River, Bridgeport and Monroe Central.

These two rivals have met every season since 1993, with the exception of 2022. Tyler Consolidated has won the last three meetings and four of the last five.

Valley at Bridgeport

BROOKSIDE – The Bulldogs (2-4) welcome the Lumberjacks (0-4) to Perkins Field inside Bill Jobko Stadium for Homecoming.

It will be the sixth all-time meeting, with Bridgeport holding a slim, 3-2, advantage.

The two haven’t met since 2015 when Valley prevailed. In fact, the Lumberjacks won back-to-back games against the Bulldogs, having won in 2014 as well. Bridgeport won the first three clashes in 2007-09.

Bridgeport, which sits in 15th place in the Division VII, Region 23 ratings, owns victories over Shenandoah (22-20) and Magnolia (42-18), while dropping contests with Frontier (36-13), East Palestine (28-21), Steubenville Catholic (22-13) and Conotton Valley (40-23).

The Lumberjacks have lost to Tygarts Valley (54-13), Clay-Battelle (48-6), Frontier (52-8) and Meadow Bridge (55-12).

Kickoff is set for 75:30 p.m.

John Marshall at Warren Local

VINCENT – The Monarchs (3-1) were handed their first loss of the season last week but will look to rebound with another lengthy road trip to meet the Warriors (1-5).

John Marshall lost 41-14 to previously winless Parkersburg South but will encounter a Warren team that has dropped three games in a row by a combined score of 114-7. Those three opponents, however, are a combined 15-2.

The Monarchs started the season with wins over Marietta (23-21), Weir (42-12) and Bellaire (34-26) before a week off.

Warren Local’s lone win came in overtime (27-21) against winless Logan (0-6). It has also lost to Circleville and Morgan.

John Marshall leads the all-time series 4-1, with the lone loss coming last year, 24-12.

Indian Creek at Harrison Central

CADIZ – The undefeated Redskins (6-0) head west on US 22 to face the vastly improving Huskies (2-4) on the artificial surface at Wagner Field. Indian Creek is fourth in the most recent Division IV, Region 15 ratings and sits atop the OVAC Class 4A standings.

Indian Creek holds a slim 8-7 advantage in the all-time series after a 46-14 victory last season.

However, Harrison Central has prevailed in three of the last four meetings.

The Redskins have only defeated a team with a winning record once – that coming against Union Local (23-15). Their other wins are over Cambridge (35-6), East Liverpool (37-19), Weir (46-22), Brooke (41-14) and Bellaire (52-32). Those teams are a combined 7-20.

Harrison Central has reeled off consecutive victories over Akron North (41-8) and Weir (30-14) after starting the campaign with four straight setbacks to Claymont (34-14), Newcomerstown (28-21), Malvern (34-15) and Union Local (28-3).

IN OTHER games of interest, Shenandoah (3-3) and Monroe Central (2-4) will clash for 60th time at Monroe Park in Woodsfield. The Seminoles lead the all-time series, 43-14-2; Steubenville (3-2) puts its three-game win streak on the line when Farrell, Pa. (4-1) visits Reno Field inside Harding Stadium; and East Liverpool (2-4) treks to Wellsburg to meet Brooke (2-3) on Paul “Bud” Billiard Field inside Brooke Memorial Stadium.