Chesapeake Panthers @ Symmes Valley Vikings
Time: Friday, August 18, 7:00 PM
Where: Symmes Valley Stadium, Willow Wood, OH
Both teams are looking to jumpstart their seasons with a win in this early season rivalry game. The Vikings will be a year older and looking to open things up more with the spread offense. Meanwhile, Chesapeake will be looking to run the ball and control the tempo.
Chesapeake:
The Panthers will need to utilize their size and rushing attack in the early going to keep the Viking defense on its heels.
The defense will be facing a Viking offense transitioning to a more wide open look. So applying pressure on their quarterback and limiting big plays will be a must.
Symmes Valley:
The offense will need to move the chains and establish some rhythm in order to build up confidence for such a young team.
Limiting the Panthers success on early downs and forcing undesirable third-and-long situations will be a factor for the Viking defense.
Greenup County (KY) Musketeers @ Coal Grove Hornets
Time: Friday, August 18, 7:00 PM
Where: Lemaster Stadium, Coal Grove, OH
The Hornets will be searching for a running back to replace Chase Hall and carry the load. As history has shown, Coal Grove has had no trouble finding someone to fill that role. The Musketeers will be looking to kick off the Travis Jones era with a win.
Greenup County:
Greenup County's offense will be looking for duel-threat quarterback Tyson Sammons to frustrate the Hornet defense with this big play capabilities.
Physicality will be the name of the game for the defense as the Musketeers must stop a power rushing attack from the Hornets.
Coal Grove:
Coal Grove will have a size and experience advantage in the trenches. Look for the Hornets to use that to their advantage and keep the Musketeers offense off the field.
The Hornets will need to contain Greenup County's all-purpose quarterback and make someone else beat them.
Fairland Dragons @ Portsmouth West Senators
When: Friday, August 18, 7:00 PM
Where: Portsmouth West Stadium, West Portsmouth, OH
The past two games have each been decided by a single point, with Fairland coming out on top both times. The Dragons are eyeing to give coach Michael Jackson his first win, while the Senators will be looking to get payback for two straight losses.
Fairland:
A healthy Peyton Jackson at quarterback and a full stock of receivers could spell trouble for the Senators defense.
The Dragon defense will have to show some physicality as they'll face a tough run game from Portsmouth West.
Portsmouth West:
The Senators will need new faces to step in on offense and fill the void left from losing Ryan Sissel to graduation.
This game cannot become a track meet for the Senators. Limiting big plays and forcing unfavorable down and distance situations will be a must on Friday.
Rock Hill Redmen @ Minford Falcons
Time: Friday, August 18, 7:00 PM
Where: Falcon Stadium, Minford, OH
The Falcons have controlled the series as of late, winning eight of the last nine. The Redmen will be playing a lot of new faces who will get their first taste of Friday night football on the road against an SOC II contender.
Rock Hill:
The Redmen will have to use a mixture of ball control and big plays to keep the clock running and leave the Falcon offense on the sidelines.
Key returnees such as Levi Jiles and Anthony Stamper will need to provide the spark for a youthful and inexperienced defense.
Minford:
If the Falcons are without the services of RB Jeff Pica, Minford might need to lean on their passing game to set the tone on Friday.
Keeping Rock Hill's offense from getting big gains on early downs will go a long way in succeeding on opening night.
Green Bobcats @ Fairfield Christian Knights
Time: Friday, August 18, 7:00 PM
Where: Fairfield Christian Stadium, Lancaster, OH
Last season the Bobcats opened up their new stadium with a memorable overtime thriller again Fairfield Christian. Well this year, the Knights plan to return the favor with breaking in their new field with a win over Green.
Green:
The Bobcats lack depth, so the best remedy for that is to control the clock and limit the Knights' scoring opportunities.
As is with all early season games, the defense will be relied on to set the tone and give the offense momentum.
Fairfield Christian:
The Knights will get the advantage of home field this year, as well as not having to take the long bus ride.
Getting an early rhythm on offense and wearing down a Bobcat team with little depth will be factored into the Knights gameplay on Friday.
Boyd County (KY) Lions @ South Point Pointers
Time: Friday, August 18, 7:00 PM
Where: Alumni Stadium, South Point, OH
The Lions have enjoyed some success in this series winning six of eight meetings, but South Point still holds the advantage with a 7-6 record in the series. The Pointers will be looking to add a win with a wealth of returning experience.
Boyd County:
Getting out to an early lead and making the Pointers play catch-up could be their best defense against a South Point team breaking in a new quarterback.
Expect to see Boyd County stack the box and stifle the run, and see if the Pointers will be able to go to the air.
South Point:
The Pointers return a lot of experience on the offensive line, so leaning on them to open holes for the run game could help soften up the defense for the passing game.
The big play has hurt the Pointers in the past against Boyd County. So forcing the Lions to drive the field could lead to forcing them to stall out drives.
Game of the Week: Wheelersburg Pirates @ Ironton Fighting Tigers
Time: Friday, August 18, 7:00 PM
Where: Tanks Memorial Stadium, Ironton, OH
The top seed in Region 19 could be decided by the end of this game. Ironton will be replacing a lot of pieces who aren't quite battle-tested yet. The Pirates will be looking to right the ship in this series, losing three of the last four.
Wheelersburg:
The Pirates will need to endure Ironton's attempts to deliver an early knockout blow and not be rattled by the hostile home crowd.
While scoring points is always the goal, the offense can greatly impact this game by simply moving the chains and chewing up clock.
The Pirates' defense will need limit the big plays and not give Ironton a short field. A low-scoring game would work heavily in their favor.
Ironton:
After losing a lot of offensive weapons to graduation, Ironton will relying on returnees like Shaun Terry, Braden Schreck and some new faces to make plays.
The defensive line returns the most experience on that side of the ball and will need to make up for the new faces in the back seven.
Ironton will need to limit costly penalties and avoid turnovers to keep the upset-minded Pirates at bay.
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