From left to right, Marietta High captains Braiden Plaugher, Owen Riley, Teddy Bauer and Kobe Alexander stand at midfield for the coin toss prior to a game against Morgan earlier this season at Don Drumm Stadium. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

URICHSVILLE — The 2025 season so far has been a bit of a struggle for first-year Marietta head coach Mike Kupfner and his Tigers.

The Tigers will try once again to notch that elusive first win of the season when they make the trip up north to take on a former conference foe in the Claymont Mustangs.

Last week the Tigers spotted the Athens Bulldogs a 20-point lead before clawing their way back into by scoring three, third quarter touchdowns.

That comeback bid would not be enough as the Tigers fell to Athens 33-21.

Will Tornes and Kobe Alexander scored rushing touchdowns for Marietta while defensive back Owen Riley returned a fumble 53-yards for a third quarter touchdown.

Marietta lost to Morgan (31-16) and John Marshall (23-21) in their first two games. The Mustangs come into the game winners of two of their first three games including last weeks 7-6 win over Fairless.

Nolan McMorrow’s 49-yard second half touchdown provided the Mustangs with their only touchdown of the game.

Other key players to watch include quarterback Drevon Searcy and running back Mason Bailey.

Claymont opened their season with a 34-14 win over Harrison Central before falling to Smithville (27-12) in week number two.

Last season at Don Drumm Stadium, the Tigers downed Claymont 28-13.

INDEPENDENCE (2-0) at WARREN (1-2)

VINCENT – The Warren Warriors picked up their first win under first-year head coach Jason Gandee last Friday night with a thrilling 27-21 overtime win over the Logan Chieftains.

Friday night the Warriors will look to make it two in a row when they welcome the unbeaten Independence Patriots.

Warren had came up on the short end of competitive games against Circleville (16-15) and Morgan (28-13) before finally breaking thru against the Chieftains coached by former Warrior head man Jimmy Peyton.

Quarterback Tanner Pepper’s 20-yard run in overtime sealed the deal for the Warriors.

The touchdown was the third of the game for Pepper, who took over at quarterback after week one for the injured Braylen Murray.

Pepper rushed for 71 yards on 19 carries while senior Eric Carr led Warren with 140 yards on 19 touches of his own.

The Warriors put the ball in the air just four times with Pepper completing three passes for 21 yards all going to Jude Daly.

Independence comes into the game on the heels of a 35-14 win over Martins Ferry, one week after their season-opening 37-34 win over Herbert Hoover.

Quarterback Brock Green had a huge game against Martins Ferry as he passed for 188 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for another.

Running back Sylas Nelson will be someone else the Warriors will need to stop after he rambled for 157 yards and a touchdown.

The two teams did not meet in 2024.

FRONTIER (1-2) at SHADYSIDE (1-2)

SHADYSIDE –The Frontier Cougars will look to get back on track Friday night when they travel to Shadyside to take on a Tiger team with an identical 1-2 record.

Frontier got out of the gates strong with a 36-13 win over Bridgeport before falling to Miller (20-14) and then Clay-Battelle (42-20) last Friday night.

Senior Levi Hayes came up with a 48-yard interception return to get the Cougars on the board last week and quarterback Avery Powell completed nine-of-17 pass attempts for 141 yards and a touchdown to Austyn Kephart.

In addition to the 34-yard touchdown reception, Kephart also returned a kick-off 80-yards for a touchdown for the other Frontier score.

The Tigers lost their season opener to Palestine (40-7) before rebounding in week number two with a 36-22 win over Southern.

Last week the Tigers dropped a heart-breaking 20-14 game in overtime to Buckeye Local.

Key players on offense for Shadyside include quarterback Jayden Johnson and running back Ace Nelson.

Defensively Bryce Sloan and Michael Hendershot are a pair of key performers who both came up with an interception last week against Buckeye Local.

Last season at home the Cougars rolled to a 35-18 win over Shadyside.

BELPRE (1-2) at OAK GLEN (2-0)

NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. — The Belpre Eagle’s task to get their record back to even may well be a tall one Friday night when they travel deep into West Virginia to take on the unbeaten Oak Glen Golden Bears.

Oak Glen opened their season with a 32-14 win over Weir before routing the St. Marys Blue Devils 53-18 last week.

Belpre fell to Alexander (49-6) last week, one week after picking up a convincing 34-6 win over the Federal Hocking Lancers.

The Eagles, who opened the season with a 47-12 loss to Fisher Catholic will likely feature running backs Alex Parker and Carson Woodford.

Quarterback Malik Currie and receiver Malik Ensor have connected on three touchdown passes through the first three games.

The two teams did not play one another last season.

MONROE CENTRAL (1-2) at CALDWELL (1-2)

CALDWELL — The 2025 season has not gone as planned at all for either the Monroe Central Seminoles or the Caldwell Redskins.

In a key early match-up the Redskins will host the Seminoles with hopes that a return to their brand new field will allow them to snap their two-game losing skid and get back to even.

The Redskins looked great in their opener with a 38-0 win over Buckeye trail but have struggled since as they lost on the road to Waterford (21-6) and Tuslaw (43-20).

Key players for the Chance Rucker-coached Redskins include quarterback Izic Cool, running back Gavin Leake and linebacker Jonah Moracco.

The Seminoles struggled in their first two games of the season with losses to Liberty Union (21-20) and Bellaire (44-27) before scoring a come-from behind 21-14 win last Friday over River.

The Jonathan Calder-coached ‘Noles spotted River a 14-point lead before scoring the final 21 points of the game in the second half to notch their first win of the season.

Cooper Howell quarterbacks the Seminoles who rolled to a 42-13 win over the Redskins last season.

BUCKEYE TRAIL (0-3) at SHENANDOAH (0-3)

SARAHSVILLE — Either Buckeye Trail or Shenandoah will get off of the schneid Friday night when a pair of teams looking for their first win tangle in Sarahsville.

Trail’s three losses have come at the hands of Caldwell (38-0), Crooksville (30-6) and Newark Catholic (32-28).

The Mac McLean-coached Zeps lost to Edison (35-14) in their opener and to Bridgeport (22-20) in week number two.

Last week the Zeps were blanked by an impressive Waterford Wildcat team 49-0.

Shenandoah accumulated just 94 yards of offense against the Wildcats.

Key players for Shenandoah include Cole and CadeVanfossen, quarterback Brody Brown and lineman Ayden McPeek.

Last season in a good one in Lore City, the Warriors came away with a 30-27 win.

MORGAN (2-1) at TRI-VALLEY (2-1)

DRESDEN — After suffering their first loss of the season last week, Morgan will look to rebound when they pay a visit to the Tri Valley Scotties.

Both teams come into the game winners of two of their first three games to begin the 2025 season.

The Scotties downed Meadowbrook (48-28) in their season opener before falling to Granville (30-21) in week number two.

Last week the Scotties rolled to a 35-0 win over Clinton-Massie.

Running back Leevi Wade rushed the ball 28 times for an impressive 268 yards and four touchdowns.

Michael Maxwell will also get his share of attempts out of the Scottie back field.

The Seth Brown-coached Raiders got off to an outstanding start with wins over Marietta (31-16) and Warren (28-13) before falling to New Lexington (33-14) last week to open MVL play.

Key players for the Raiders include quarterback Haiden Pauley, running back Tanner Bankes and all-purpose back McGwire Winner.

Last season in McConnelville it was all Scotties as they rolled to a 65-0.

FEDERAL HOCKING (1-2) at EASTERN (2-1)

REEDSVILLE – The Eastern Eagles will look to rebound from a disappointing 22-21 overtime loss they suffered last Friday night to South Gallia when they host the Lancers of Federal Hocking.

That loss is the only blemish on the schedule so far for the Jason Jackson-led Eagles who downed Meigs (23-19) and Wirt County (47-13) in their first two games.

Key players for the Eagles include Isiah Arms and Jacob White as well as quarterback Gunnar Cleland.

Federal Hocking got off to a great start with a 58-26 win over Green but has fallen on tough times since with losses to Belpre (34-6) and Millersport (33-0).

The Lancers have been without injured starting quarterback Brody Rutter who has he has been replaced by Tristyn Bowers.

Running back Gabe Bray will be a player to watch for Federal Hocking.

The two teams did not battle in 2024.