Portsmouth Trojans @ Valley Indians
Time: Thursday, August 18, 7:00 PM
Where: Valley Indians Stadium, Lucasville, OH
The Valley Indians enter the game with a Crabtree at the helm for the 33rd year in a row. However it's Nolan Crabtree, who is replacing Darren Crabtree, who retired after last season. Always an anticipated opening season game, the Trojans are looking to extend their winning streak to six in a row.
Portsmouth:
Tyler Duncan might be replacing Drew Roe at quarterback but he gets to use Reade Pendleton as one of his main targets. These two could be quite a tandem Thursday night.
The Trojans will be using their team speed on defense with the hopes it will overwhelm the Valley offensive game plan.
Valley:
The Indians bring a host of returnees this year. Look for quarterback George Arnett and the rest of offense to try and set the pace early on.
A Thursday night kickoff at home, will have the home crowd at a fever pitch, something that be a "pick-me-up" for a Valley team in search of a big win.
Fairfield Christian Academy Knights @ Green Bobcats
Time: Saturday August 20, 7:00 PM
Where: Bobcat Stadium, Franklin Furnace, OH
A Saturday night showcase in Franklin Furnace will not only welcome the 2022 Green Bobcats season, but also a new stadium. This game will mark the first time in nearly two years a game has been played on school campus.
Fairfield Christian:
The Knights will spread the field with a wide open offensive set. Putting their playmakers in space will be a must.
The Knights will be the first opponent in a new stadium and need to find a way to take the crowd and buzz out of the game. Sustained drives and scores will be needed.
Green:
With a roster of veteran upperclassmen, that could be one of the main difference makers in an early season game.
Look for junior quarterback Abe McBee and the Bobcat offense to play keep away with the football and the Knights offense on the sidelines.
Racine Southern Tornadoes @ Chesapeake Panthers
Time: Friday, August 19, 7:00 PM
Where: Phil Davis Field, Chesapeake OH
Last season these two teams were unable to meet in the regular season due to COVID protocols. After a year long wait, these two teams will finally get the chance to face off. Chesapeake will be looking to notch their first win in an opening season game since 2019.
Southern
The Tornadoes will be looking to quarterback Josiah Smith and their passing game to stretch the Panther defense. Receivers Derek Griffith and Braxton Bare will be his main targets.
The defense will need find a way to slow down Chesapeake's host of running backs and their rushing attack.
Chesapeake:
The Panthers have a backfield full of ballcarriers led by fullback Marcus Burnside, along with Curtis Brandenburg, Ryan Martin, Camron Shockley and Jacob Spears. Every one of them will be needed to make an impact on Friday night.
Chesapeake's ground game could provide the best defense for Southern's passing attack.
Boyd County Lions @ South Point Pointers
Time: Friday, August 19, 7:00 PM
Where: Alumni Stadium, South Point, OH
Last season in Cannonsburg, the Pointers went into the locker room with a 10-7 lead at the half. The Lions came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, running off 42 straight points. Former Coal Grove and current Boyd County coach Evan Ferguson will look to come back across the river and notch another win against a former OVC opponent.
Boyd County:
The Lions have an array different offensive sets ranging from the Wing-T to Shotgun. They can use this to create personel issues for South Point.
Takeaways will be the key on the defensive side, the Lions forced 3 turnovers last year and must look to continue that trend.
South Point:
The Pointers biggest strength is their linemen on both sides of the ball.
Defensively, stopping the run will be the number one goal. The Lions racked up 359 yards in last seasons tilt.
Minford Falcons @ Rock Hill Redmen
Time: Friday, August 19, 7:00 PM
Where: Redmen Stadium, Pedro, OH
After a two year hiatus, these two teams will finally get to face each other on the gridiron this Friday. Rock Hill has a lot of of seniors to lean on, but lack depth and experience at many key positions. Minford is looking at the opposite end of the spectrum as they only have 4 seniors but bring back some experience at key positions.
Minford:
The Falcons will rely on Pica to be their workhorse and open up the passing game for their spread attack.
Defensively, Minford will look to their size as an equalizer to the Rock Hill offensive line and put the Redmen in long yardage situations.
Rock Hill:
The Redmen will rely on their senior heavy offense to lead the charge and set the tone in the early going. You can definitely expect three yards and a cloud of dust this Friday night.
The defensive backs French, Pancake, Adams and Friend will be relied on in the early going to keep the Falcon aerial attack at bay, as well as provide their brand of physicality when stopping the run.
Coal Grove Hornets @ Berne Union Rockets
When: Friday, August 19, 7:00 PM
Where: Van Schoyck Field, Sugar Grove, OH
It's The Battle of the Groves Part 2. The Rockets came away with a convincing 41-22 victory over Coal Grove last year. This year the Hornets feel they can return the favor and enjoy the long bus ride home from Sugar Grove.
Coal Grove:
Chase Hall left. Chase Hall right. Chase Hall up the middle. Something the Rocket defense doesn't want to hear Friday.
Long, methodical drives are a staple of Coal Grove football. It's also one way to take the crowd factor out of the game when you're on the road.
Berne Union:
The Rocket defense will need to find a way to keep Coal Grove from playing keep away.
Graduation was hard on the Rockets. The new faces in lineup will
Gallia Academy Blue Devils @ Meigs Marauders
Time: Friday, August 19, 7:00 PM
Where: Meigs Field, Meigs, OH
Gallia Academy welcomes Kole Carter as the new head coach against an old foe in Meigs. The Blue Devils scraped their way past the Marauders 22-19 last season. The Gallia faithful are hoping for a repeat, just not that close this time around.
Gallia Academy:
It usually takes time to get players acclimated to early season games. A healthier roster number should aide the Blue Devils.
The Devils will feature a backfield with twins (Hunter and Hudson Shamblin) and a quarterback Brody Fellure. It could be double trouble for the Meigs defense Friday.
Meigs:
Coming off a rough 2021 campaign, the Marauders will need find a spark in the early goings of this game.
No matter their record, playing at Meigs is always a tough out for any opponent. The Marauders will hope that holds true on Friday.
Ashland Tomcats vs. Raceland Rams
Time: Saturday, August 20, 7:30 PM
Where: Ed Miller Stadium, Wheelersburg OH
No you're reading that correctly. Ashland and Raceland will be playing on a neutral site for the first time ever in the series. Raceland has installed an artificial surface, but the field will not be ready for their opening week game. The Rams should be slightly at home as they scrimmaged the Pirates last Friday night at Ed Miller Stadium.
Ashland:
The Tomcats defensive backfield is experienced and will be needed to test the Rams offensive weapons.
While the offensive depth chart has taken on heavy losses in the offseason, Ashland seems to always have a playmaker or two and a few big offensive linemen. They'll need every one of them Saturday night.
Raceland:
The Rams will look to their senior running back Jules Farrow and senior wide receiver Connor Hughes to provide big plays on the offensive side of the ball.
Don't sleep on junior quaterback Logan Lundy. With a year under his belt taking the snaps, Lundy can use both his arm and feet to keep the Tomcats defense on their heels.
Game of the Week: Portsmouth West @ Fairland
When: Friday, August 19, 7:00 PM
Where: Jim Mayo Memorial Stadium, Proctorville, OH
Last year the Dragons survived a nail-biter in West Portsmouth, winning 28-27. This year Portsmouth West comes into the game with a lot of returning lettermen and high hopes for a big year. Fairland is replacing a bevy of playmakers from last season's regional runner-up team, but has plenty of young talent to break in week one.
Portsmouth West:
Running back Ryan Sissel will be the main man Friday night. If he goes, so does the Senators offense.
Finishing will be a battle cry from the West locker room. As last year, the Senators held a 13-point lead before the Dragons rallied to win.
The West defense will need to limit the big play capabilities of Fairland's offensive threats.
Fairland:
While they did graduate a lot of offensive weapons, the Dragons still have plenty of skill at the wideout position (Kitts, Leep and Hunt) to keep a defensive coordinator up late at night.
Not to be overlooked, the offensive line returns four starters and will be relied on to keep quarterback Peyton Jackson protected.
The Dragons were able to force three turnovers in last year's bout. A young defense could benefit from continuing that trend from last season.
Game of the Week: Ironton Fighting Tigers @ Wheelersburg Pirates
Time: Friday, August 19, 7:00 PM
Where: Ed Miller Stadium, Wheelersburg, OH
It's usually a forgone conclusion that this matchup headlines the week one slate of games. Well no surprise here, this is the headliner for the beginning of the 2022 season. Ironton comes into the game with a stockpile of skill players, but is inexperienced in the trenches. Wheelersburg brings back a lot of lettermen from last year and will hope home field advantage gives them the edge on Friday.
Ironton:
The Tigers need to get the ball to their weapons: Trevor Carter & Jaquez Keyes will be expected to carry the rock a lot. Landon Wilson is a run and catch option. Ty Perkins is their home run passing threat.
In the trenches, the Tigers will have a lot of new faces on both side of the ball. They will have step up quickly in order to compliment all their returning skill talent.
The Tigers' Achilles heel over the last few years has been turnovers and penalties. These could be the two things that decide the outcome on Friday night.
Wheelersburg:
The offensive line should have the advantage with the most experience and need to keep the potent Ironton offense off the field.
The Pirates defense will need to stop the big play. They'll need to replicate the defensive effort from the last time these two teams played.
Capitalizing on anything is going to be crucial to keeping pace with Ironton. In the last meeting, all scores by the Pirates were set up by turnovers.
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