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YORKVILLE -- The Edison football team has wrapped up a playoff berth, however, the Wildcats are not looking ahead.
Edison is focused on Buckeye Local as the Wildcats and Panthers will meet at 7 p.m. Friday night down at World War II Memorial Stadium.
Edison enters the game coming off a 49-14 mercy rule victory against Buckeye 8 rival Harrison Central last Friday night at the Edison Unified Sports Complex.
"We made some glaring mistakes," Edison (8-0) head coach Mike Collopy said. "We definitely have some things we need to clean up. We have an area of special teams we need to work on. We are improving on some of our mistakes, but we are going to have to play a cleaner game Friday night."
While the Wildcats enter this rivalry game coming off a big victory, the same cannot be said for the Panthers as Calvert defeated a shorthanded Buckeye Local, 55-7, last week in Yorkville.
"We played down three starters," Buckeye Local (2-6) head coach Jim Hoover said. "We were without two guys in the secondary meaning we had to start four sophomores in the secondary. It was a rough night for them."
The Panthers will look to run the ball against their Jefferson County rivals.
"They definitely want to run the ball," Collopy said. "They are a big strong. They have a couple good running backs in (Jacob) Berry, (Trey) Hoover and (Dylan) Palmer. Their quarterback -- (Skyler) Ebright is elusive in space. Their offensive line does a good job.
"They have played a really tough schedule. We are going to have to be physical. We are going to have to be ready to go."
The Wildcats have been explosive on offense this season as Edison has scored 34 more points in all eight games.
"They are a good running team," Hoover said. "You have to stop the run. Their quarterback is solid. They have a nice running back. They are a good team. They are comparable to some of the teams we have played. They are comparable to Shenandoah. We will be ready for them."
The Wildcats have tallied 41 or more points seven times this season.
"They run the ball well," Hoover said. "They run the jet. They run the counter off of that with their quarterback. Their quarterback is accurate throwing the football.
"I wouldn't say Edison is balanced offensively. The run more than they pass."
Edison is going to get some different looks from the Buckeye Local defense this week.
"Defensively, they mix up their fronts," Collopy said. "They will use a couple of different fronts. They are aggressive. They get after the ball. They have some nice linebackers. They have some nice defensive linemen as well.
"They want to stop the run. They want to try and make you have to pass."
The Wildcats have had success running and throwing the ball this season. Edison had success in both areas in its win against Harrison Central.
"I feel like you go into a game with a plan," Collopy said. "Sometimes, you have to change your plan. You have to be able to adapt on offense. You have a good plan, but sometimes you have to adjust to what the defense is giving you. I think we have done a good job with that, and hopefully we camn continue to do that."
The Wildcats have only allowed 52 points this season for an average of 6.5 points per game. Edison has given up 14 points in back-to-back wins against East Liverpool and Harrison Central.
"Defensively, they stack the box," Hoover said. "They are not really big. They can get off blocks. They can tackle."
The visitors focus this week is on stopping the hosts potent rushing attack.
"We are going to have to stop the run," Collopy said. "We are going to have to eliminate the big plays.
"Ebright is a a good quarterback. He's athletic. Hoover is tough to stop once he gets going. He's dangerous when he gets to the second level. We are going to have mix up the run and the pass."
The Panthers had some success throwing the ball against the Wildcats last season on the road.
"We threw for more than 100 yards against them last year," Hoover said. "They are similar to last year's team. They do have some different personnel. We are just going to do what we do."
Edison defeated Buckeye Local, in Week 9 last year at home.
"We have to get to the football," Hoover said. "We have to tackle. We have to play assignment football.
"We are getting back the three guys who were out last week. All three are back. They are starters. It will be a big boost for us getting them back."
The Wildcats enter this week's game in fourth place in the Ohio Division V, Region 17 rankings. Edison has clinched a playoff spot, but the Wildcats have not as of yet wrapped up a home game.
"Honestly, that is not something we have talked about," Collopy said. "Each game is its own season. Our focus is on this week. We are not looking ahead, and we are not looking behind.
"We are focused on the present. We have practice tomorrow, and our focus is on having a good day at practice. We want to have a good day of practice each day.
"That is not something we have talked about this week."
The Panthers are still mathematically alive for a spot in the playoffs in Division IV, Region 15.