"Ooh-ooh-ooh, I feel my temperature rising
Help me, I'm flaming
I must be a 109
Burning, burning, burning
And nothing can cool me, yeah
I just might turn into smoke but I feel fine"
Well, you don't have to listen to Elvis to know the temperature sure is rising outside.
As many are aware by now, the recent heat-wave is causing heat advisories and causing many of the area teams this week to practice at later times. It's also forcing kickoff times to be pushed back for this Friday.
But even with later start times, some of the matchups this week won't be cooled down.
Week 2 is filled with some great non conference matchups that will have both the teams and fans sweating from the heat and the action on Friday night.
Grove City Christian Eagles (1-0) @ Green Bobcats (1-0)
Time: Friday August 30, 8:00 PM
Where: Bobcat Stadium, Franklin Furnace, OH
The Bobcats are off and running to a 1-0 start, but will have a tough challenge ahead of them on Friday night. The Eagles are coming in as one of the better teams in Region 23 and expect to win. Will definitely be a clash of styles, with Green's smashmouth mentality vs. GCC's high-flying passing attack.
Grove City Christian
Up Top The Eagles will have some length on the outside with some tall, athletic wide receivers. Using that advantage would help the offense.
Stop The Run The Bobcats will find ways to pound the ball at the defense all night. Allowing short gains on early downs and forcing passing situations will be key.
GREEN
Control The Clock The Bobcats can limit GCC's chances by shortening the game. So expect to hear Blake Smith and Ryleigh Cunningham's name called a lot on Friday.
Turnover Battle The defense needs to come up with some turnovers. Not just for momentum, but to also limit the Eagles scoring opportunities.
Rock Hill Redmen (1-0) @ Symmes Valley Vikings (0-1)
Time: Friday, August 30, 8:00 PM
Where: Vikings Stadium, Willow Wood, OH
The Redmen will be making their first trip out to "The Valley" since 1995 and looking to keep the momentum going from their opening week win. The Vikings fell last week but showed signs of progress despite losing starters prior to the season beginning. This backyard brawl could wind up being a battle.
Rock Hill
Dynamic Duo The Redmen have two playmakers in RB Anthony Stamper and WR Braylon McClellan. If they can get loose on Friday, it could be good times ahead.
Off The Field The defense needs to get the Vikings offense off the field and not allow them to hang around for four quarters.
Symmes Valley
Mesh Together The offense has returners with loads of experience. Now all they need to do is bring it all together and execute.
Bottle Up The Big Play The defense needs to limit the Redmen's playmakers like Anthony Stamper and Braylon McClellan from making big play after big play on Friday.
Spring Valley Timberwolves (0-0) @ South Point Pointers (0-1)
Time: Friday, August 30, 8:00 PM
Where: Alumni Stadium, South Point, OH
After a rough loss last week, the Pointers return home for their home opener and look to bounce back. Unfortunately, things don't get any easier this week, as they host Class AAA Spring Valley - who is opening their season on Friday.
SPring Valley
1st Game Jitters It's going to be the first game for the Timberwolves and with that, comes first game jitters. Settling in and finding a rhythm will be key early.
Control Up Front The defense must control the line of scrimmage and dictate what the Pointers can and can't do on Friday.
South Point
Find Production The offense will be tasked again of going against a tough defense. So finding playmakers and getting them to produce early will help.
Get Stops The defense just needs to find ways to limit Spring Valley's chances. So whether it's a third down stop or a turnover, the Pointers need to keep them off the field.
Chesapeake Panthers (1-0) @ Minford Falcons (0-1)
Time: Friday, August 30, 8:00 PM
Where: Falcon Stadium, Minford, OH
The Panthers shocked the Falcons last year with an upset win. However, this season the script had been flipped and the Panthers are the favorites for this game. Minford will be looking to bounce back from a rough opening loss.
Chesapeake
Keep Building The Panthers offense got off to a good start in last week's win. Now they just need to keep building on that and do what they do.
Bottle Up The Big Play The defense needs to limit the Redmen's playmakers like Anthony Stamper and Braylon McClelland from making big play after big play on Friday.
Minford
Stay The Course The Falcons found some success as the game went along. So finding that right combination early will keep them in the game much longer this week.
Stop The Run It's pretty straight forward. The Panthers are going to hold onto the ball and run the ball. So the defense must get early down stops and force them to pass.
Fairland Dragons (1-0) @ Point Pleasant Big Blacks (0-0)
When: Friday, August 30, 8:00 PM
Where: Ohio Valley Bank Field, Point Pleasant, WV
This will mark the first-ever matchup between these two schools. Both teams expect to score a lot of points in this one with their wide-open offenses. So don't confuse the final score with the start of basketball season if it gets too high.
Fairland
Fire Away The Dragon offense piled up the yards and points last week. So we don't see any reason for them to stop doing that.
Get Stops Point Pleasant plans to use their speed and play fast. The Dragons just need to get some stops early on and make them play from behind all night.
Point Pleasant
Speed Kills The Big Blacks plan on playing a faster style offense. So execution and scoring will be key to going toe-to-toe with Fairland's air attack.
Put Out The Fire The Dragon offense came out on fire last week. So Point's defense needs to find ways to get Fairland's offense off the field as often as possible.
Game of the Week: Valley Indians (0-0) @ Coal Grove Hornets (0-0)
When: Friday, August 30, 8:00 PM
Where: Lemaster Stadium, Coal Grove, OH
Both teams suffered opening week losses, so they will be looking to crack into the win column this week. The Indians are a much improved team from a year ago and will try to use a balanced offensive attack. The Hornets will do their best to take the air out of the ball and grind this one out.
Valley
Starting Up Front If the Indians want some balance to their offense, line play will be critical to opening up the playbook.
Toughen Up The defense got tested by Portsmouth's tough run game and will be challenged again by Coal Grove's brand of smash mouth football.
Find A Way The Indians came ever so close last week to pulling off a big win. They'll need to dig deep and find a way to get the job done this week.
Coal Grove
Hornet Ball The Hornets proved they can control the clock last week with an 11 minute scoring drive. If they can get in a rhythm like that again, big things could happen.
Limit The Big Play The Hornet defense gave up too many big plays last week. So tightening things back up and limiting Valley's chances could lead to a win.
Get Mental Avoiding the same mental mistakes and miscues from last week could play a huge role in whether this is a win or loss this week.
Game of the Week: Ironton Fighting Tigers (1-0) @ Jackson Ironmen (1-0)
Time: Friday, August 30, 8:00 PM
Where: Alumni Stadium, Jackson, OH
Another week, another big game for the Fighting Tigers. This time is the Jackson Ironmen, who have not only been a tough challenge, but have also come within an eyelash one two occasions of defeating Ironton. This year's edition should be no different than the previous ones.
Ironton
Foot On The Gas Pedal Jackson is the type of team that will fight for 4 quarters. So the offense cannot let up if they get a lead.
Physical Display Jackson's size and game plan will be an early test on the physicality of Ironton's defense. Ironton's front 7 will decide how this game plays out.
Don't Give Them Anything Minimizing drive-killing penalties or turnovers will limit Jackson's chances of extra offensive possessions and playing their kind of football.
Jackson
Keep Punching The Ironmen have 9 starters back on offense and a big offensive line. They have the ability to keep the ball away from Ironton and let their power run game do the work.
Cut Them Off The defense needs to cut off Ironton from getting their offense rolling again like last week. Limiting early down production and forcing long down and distances will help.
Take Advantage The Fighting Tigers are an explosive team, but are prone to mistakes. So the Ironmen must take advantage of every opportunity given to them.
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