Trending
VINCENT - The Marietta Tigers got off of the snide last week in a resounding way with a convincing 41-14 win over Point Pleasant.
Friday night the Tigers will look to close out their season on a strong note when they pay a visit to the arch-rival Warren Warriors.
The 2026 campaign has not been a kind one to either second-year coaches Mike Kupfner of Marietta or Jason Gandee of Warren but a win for either team over their rival would do wonders for team morale as they head into the off season.
Marietta broke their eight game-losing streak with last week's win over the Big Blacks in a game that saw the Tigers amass a staggering 430 rushing yards.
Senior running back Braydon Frye led the way with 273 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries.
Quarterback Trenton McVey also passed the century mark as he rushed the ball 16 times for 118 yards and a touchdown.
Daymeon Gulley got in on the act as well as he rushed for 50 yards on just five carries.
Warren struggled last week as they were beaten soundly by the Fort Frye Cadets (34-6).
Warriors quarterback Braylen Murray continued his strong campaign as he rushed for an even 100 yards on 13 carries.
Murray also made his presence felt on defense as he led the Warriors with 13 tackles.
Warren had come into the game on a high note after a dramatic win over Edison and also owns wins in 2026 over Morgan and Hillsboro.
Both teams have been eliminated from post season play so this one will be a battle of pride more than anything else.
Last season at Don Drumm Stadium, the Tigers closed out the season with a 42-14 win over the Warriors.
FOR FRYE (8-1) at LIBERTY UNION (0-9)
BALTIMORE - Regardless of the outcome of Friday's road game at winless Liberty Union, the Fort Frye Cadets have already earned an opportunity for a bye week as well as the right to host a playoff game thanks to conquering a very tough schedule with an 8-1 record.
The Cadets lone loss of the season came at the hands of unbeaten Barnsesville (34-7) back in week number seven.
Since then the Fort has got right back on track by picking up impressive wins over a pair of Washington County schools that are quite a bit larger than them in Marietta and Warren.
The Cadets followed up their 42-0 win over Marietta in week number eight with a 34-6 win last week over the Warriors.
Grady Hesson and Gavin Rauch ran for a pair of touchdowns apiece and Wyatt Erb added another for the Eric Huck-coached Cadets.
Fort Frye pounded the ball on the ground as they ran the ball 50 times from scrimmage for a bruising 314 yards.
The 2026 season has been quite a struggle for the Division VI Lions who come into the game winless including last week’s 40-6 loss to Amanda Clearcreek.
The two did not play in 2025.
BELPRE (4-5) at WATERFORD (7-2)
WATERFORD - The Waterford Wildcats have not given up a single point in an amazing 17 quarters of football.
Friday night the Eric McCutcheon-coached Wildcats will look to stretch their scoreless game streak to five when they welcome the Belpre Golden Eagles in a final tuneup for the postseason.
To say the 'Cats have clicked of late on both sides of the ball would be a major understatement.
After suffering back-to-back losses to Fort Frye and Nelsonville-York mid-way thru the year the Wildcats have reeled off wins over Eastern, Southern, Federal Hocking and Trimble by a combined score of 229-0.
Last week the Wildcats traveled to Glouster and handed the Tomcats a 69-0 loss.
Quarterback Avery Pottmeyer completed an incredible 15-of-16 pass attempts for 224 yards and five touchdowns.
Finn Pennock caught a pair of those touchdown passes while also returning an interception 35-yards for a touchdown while Kam Johnson also hauled in a pair of touchdowns from Pottmeyer
Hayden Jones caught a TD pass, ran for two touchdowns and also threw a 22 yards to Trace Harmon.
The Wildcats have already clinched a playoff berth and are still in position to host a playoff game.
The Brian Hutchinson-coached Golden Eagles have run into a bit of a tough stretch as they have lost three games in a row after beginning the season 4-2.
Last week the Eagles fell to Eastern (41-14) after dropping a pair of TVC games to Southern and Trimble in the two weeks before.
Key players for the Eagles include quarterback Mason Baxter, running back Alex Parker and receivers AJ Copen, Malakai Ensor and Malik Currie.
Last season at home, Belpre was crushed by the Wildcats 57-14.
FRONTIER (5-4) at RIVER (9-0)
HANIBAL - The Frontier Cougars need a win in the worst way Friday night when they renew their annual rivalry with the neighbor River Pilots.
After dropping three games in a row, the Cougars may well need a win over the unbeaten Pilots to qualify for the postseason.
After last week's 33-32 loss to Shenandoah, the Damon Metheney-coached Cougars find themselves clinging to the number 11 spot in the latest D-7, Region 27 rankings.
In the tough loss to the Zeps the Cougars got a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Luke Mendenhall with just over four minutes to play in the game to cut the lead to one but came up empty on a two-point conversion attempt to try and take the lead.
Mendenhall rushed for three touchdowns in the game while also firing a nine-yard touchdown pass to Austyn Kephart.
The Frontier junior quarterback completed 11-of-16 pass attempts for 159 yards while Caden Barrows caught 10 passes for a team-high 165 yards.
The Pilots got a bit of a scare last week as they were forced to hold off Caldwell 26-20 to remain perfect on the season.
River has been tested a few times of late, beating Shadyside (22-13) and Cameron (25-20) in relatively close ball games.
The Mike Flannery-coached Pilots are currently ranked No. 3 in the latest D-6 Region 23 rankings and have clinched a home playoff game.
Last week Wyatt Stalder continued his outstanding season by carrying the ball 22 times for 169 yards and three touchdowns.
Other key contributors for River include quarterback Cam Abbott and running back Trey Larrick.
Last year the Cougars picked up a 32-21 win over the Pilots.
CALDWELL (2-7) at SHENANDOAH (5-4)
SARAHSVILLE - Despite both teams being eliminated from the postseason prior to Friday night’s annual Noble County Super Bowl, expect a good one when the Shenandoah Zeps host the Caldwell Redskins.
The Zeps played the role of spoiler last week with a thrilling 33-32 win over the Frontier Cougars while the Redskins attempt at doing the same against River came up six points short in a 26-20 loss.
The young Redskins have shown signs of improvement as the season has went along despite their 2-7 record.
Last week against River the Chance Rucker-led Redskins got a big 80-yard kick off return from freshman D.J. Carver as well as a touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Blayz Abbott to senior Parker Neff.
The Mac McLean-coached Zeps moved one game over the .500 mark with last weeks win over Frontier, a game that saw Davyn Kunkle rush for 247 yards and three touchdowns.
Kunkle also caught two passes for 101 yards giving the Zeps senior 358 total yards in the game.
Quarterback Brody Brown threw an 8-yard first quarter touchdown pass to Jamison Archer as well as an 81-yard touchdown pass to Kunkle late in the third quarter.
Last year in Caldwell, the Redskins edged Shenandoah 19-14.
MONROE CENTRAL (6-3) at SHADYSIDE (8-1)
SHADYSIDE - Any coach will tell you that you that you want to be peaking and playing your very best football towards the end of the season.
After picking up their third consecutive win last Friday over Cameron (13-8) the Monroe Central Seminoles seem to be clicking on all cylinders at the right time.
The 'Noles will get tested once again Friday night when they visit the Shadyside Tigers.
Last week's win over Cameron followed a pair of solid Seminole wins the two weeks before against Shenandoah (34-0) and Toronto (39-0).
The Jonathan Calder-coached Seminoles are currently seeded fifth in the latest D-6, Region 23 standings and have clinched a playoff berth.
A win over Shadyside should at least clinch a home playoff game for Monroe Central and could also lead to a first round bye should the cards fall in their favor.
In their win over Cameron, quarterback Cooper Howell scored the game-winning touchdown on a 5-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Howell also connected with Jett Kaiser on a second quarter 10-yard touchdown pass for the Seminoles other score.
The Tigers have put together a strong 2026 campaign with their only blemish a 22-13 loss to undefeated River.
Shadyside has already clinched a home playoff game and they are ranked fourth in the latest D-7, Region 27 standings.
Key players for Shadyside include quarterback Jayden Johnson and running backs Ace Nelson and Colt Cook.
Last season in Woodsfield, Monroe Central demolished the Tigers 54-0.
MORGAN (2-7) at CROOKSVILLE (4-5)
CROOKSVILLE - So you’re saying there's a chance?
Despite winning just twice so far in 2026, the Morgan Raiders are not yet mathematically eliminated from the postseason as they prepare to visit the Crooksville Ceramics Friday night.
Of course it would take a win by Morgan and a loss by just about everyone in front of them for the Raiders to make it.
The season has been an injury-marred one for the Seth Brown-coached Raiders who own wins over Marietta and Meadowbrook.
Last week Morgan was beaten soundly by unbeaten New Lexington 43-6.
Tyson Orwig scored the lone Raider touchdown last week with a 57-yard reception.
Despite winning two more games than the Raiders have, the Ceramics have been eliminated from the playoffs.
Last week Crooksville fell to Meadowbrook 26-21.
Morgan edged the Ceramics 21-18 last season at home.
SOUTHERN (5-4) at EASTERN (7-2)
REEDSVILLE - Despite coming off of back-to-back lopsided shutout victories over Belpre and Federal Hocking the visiting Southern Tornadoes will need a win over Eastern Friday night as well as a whole bunch of help to slide into the 12-team playoffs.
Southern is currently seeded in the number 16 spot in the latest D-7, Region 27 rankings and a win over Eastern would have them in the mix for certain.
Eastern comes into the game on a three-game winning streak after convincing wins the past three weeks over Federal Hocking (48-0), Trimble (55-30) and Belpre (41-14).
The Eagles have several weapons on offense including Kyler Basham, Braxton Yonker and Parker Durst.
The Jason Jackson-coached Eagles have clinched a playoff berth and are currently ranked No. 5 in the latest rankings
Last season in Racine, the Eagles easily handled Southern 42-6