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WINTERSVILLE -- The Edison football team is on the verge of setting some more school records, while rival Indian Creek is looking to play the role of spoiler.
The Wildcats and the Redskins are set to do battle at 7 p.m. Friday night at Kettlewell Stadium on Indian Creek's senior night.
Edison enters the game undefeated coming off a 52-14 victory against Buckeye Local last Friday night down at World War II Memorial Stadium.
"We got a stop right before halftime," Edison (9-0) head coach Mike Collopy said. "They had a second-and-goal, and we got a stop right as time expired. I thought that was a big play.
"We got the ball to start the second half, and we went down and scored. We came out and played better in the second half.
"In the first half, I thought they did a good job of scheming on the defensive side of the ball. We were able to make some adjustments in the first half, and then we were able to make more adjustments at halftime. The kids did a good job of picking up what we were doing. They came out and executed."
The Wildcats have had issues with penalties this season, however, they improved in that area in the win against the Panthers.
"We still had penalties, but I thought some of the mistakes we were making in some areas, we improved up on those," Collopy said. "We did not play a perfect game. You want to play a perfect game, but you aren't going to play a perfect game. We made some mistakes, but I thought the kids played well. They played hard."
On the flip side, Harrison Central defeated Indian Creek, 50-13, at Kettlewell Stadium.
"When you are trying to find your identity, you cannot have things go wrong," Indian Creek (1-8) head coach Andrew Connor said. "We had a couple of big things go wrong that took the energy out of us.
The Wildcats enter this week's match up riding a school record nine game winning streak. Meanwhile, the Redskins enter the annual rivalry game on a seven game losing streak.
"We need to play our game," Connor said. "We cannot give them anything. They are physical. They are aggressive."
Indian Creek has had success running the ball this season, and the hosts will look to move the ball on the ground this week against their Jefferson County rivals.
"They like to run the ball," Collopy said. "They have a real good scheme. They get the ball to their playmakers in a variety of ways. Running the ball is their bread and butter. If we want to be successful, we are going to have to stop that."
Zion McGee ran for more than 200 yards and two touchdowns last week against the Huskies, and the running back has more than 1,000 yards on the season.
"They have their own wrinkles," Collopy said. "They like to run the ball, but they have their own wrinkles. They do similar things. They like to run the ball.
"They want to get the ball out on the perimeter. They will run different formations. We are going to have to be really prepared."
The Redskins do have some talented playmakers on offense.
"They have speed with McGee and (Isaac) Robinson," Collopy said. "They get the ball to Caleb Bodo in a variety of ways. They have guys who are dynamic with the ball. They like to get the ball to McGee, but they have other guys as well. You can't just focus exclusively on him. You have to prepare for everything."
Led by senior standout quarterback Gage Cline, the Wildcats have had success moving the ball and scoring points on the ground and through the air all season long.
"They execute well," Connor said. "They create big plays. We are going to have to make sure we are in the right position. We are going to have to play physical Friday night."
Offensively, the Wildcats have scored more than 34 points in each game this season, however, no team has scored more than 14 on their defense.
"For us to be successful, we are going to have to take care of the ball," Connor said. "We are going to have to finish drives. We are going to be consistent on first down. We have to stay ahead of the chains."
Defensively, Indian Creek has given up at least 21 points in eight of its nine game this season.
"Defensively, they use a lot of movement," Collopy said. "They mix up their fronts. They will line up in a four-man front. Sometimes, they will line up in a five-man front and stunt into a six-man front. They are aggressive. They put pressure on you when they need to. They get to the football pretty well. They are aggressive."
Though the Wildcats have locked up a playoff spot, Edison is not looking ahead and past Indian Creek.
"First of all, it is a rivalry game," Collopy said. "That in itself should get their attention. If we aren't prepared, then that falls on me.
"It doesn't matter what our record is and what their record is. It doesn't matter what happened last year or 10 years ago. All that matters is Friday night.
"We are going to play for each other, for pride, for the community and for the school. We want to have a good week of practice, so we can represent the community."
Edison has not won at Kettlewell Stadium since 2003.
"We are going to have to stop the run," Collopy said. "We are going to improve in special teams. We are going to have to play good special teams.
"We are going to have to mix up the run and the pass. On their road, turnovers and penalties are big. We are going to have to eliminate turnovers and keep our penalties to a minimum."
The Redskins will honor their seniors before the start of the game.
"Any time it is the finale in anything, you look back at what you have done," Connor said. "We have been able to come together. We have played as a team. We don't have a big senior class, but they are a very good senior class. They work hard.
"We are going to do everything we can to make sure they have a memorable experience playing at Kettlewell one last time."
Edison enters the game ranked fourth in the Ohio Division V Region 17 rankings.
The Wildcats have clinched at least a top eight finish meaning Edison will play at least one playoff game at home.
According to Joe Eitel, Edison can finish as high as second with a win or as low as sixth. With a loss, the Wildcats can remain at fourth, or they can drop down to seventh.
Indian Creek is mathematically eliminated from playoff contention in Ohio Division IV Region 15.
"The big thing is we have to control our emotions," Connor said. "We have to play hard. We have to play physical. We want to represent the school district with class. We need to do the little things you need to do to come out and win a big football game."