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RICHMOND -- The Edison football team will face a stiff test this week against Southern Local.
The Wildcats and Indians are scheduled to renew their rivalry at 7 p.m. Thursday out at the Edison Unified Sports Complex.
Edison enters this week's game coming off a 30-22 victory against Cameron last Friday night at home. A big second half propelled the Wildcats to the win against the Dragons.
"I thought we made the plays we needed to make," Edison (1-1) head coach Mike Collopy said. "I thought defensively we played well. We basically gave up four plays, and three of them went for touchdowns. We have to eliminate giving up big plays.
"Offensively, we were able to sustain drives. We did miss a field goal, but we were able to convert in the red area.
"Defensively, I thought we did a better job of tackling and getting to the ball than we did the week before. Special teams, we did give up a long kick off return that set Cameron up with a short drive.
"We improved, and we're looking to continue to improve every week."
On the flip side, Southern Local comes into the game off of a 35-14 loss to Crestview last week on the road.
"Southern is a very good team," Collopy said. "They have played two really good teams.
"They have a lot of size with their tackles. Their guards and center are undersized, but they are quick.
"Coach Wright is a great coach. He has been doing this for a long time.
"Their quarterback is 6-3 or 6-4. He can run and throw. They have a couple of guys who can carry the ball. They can run up the middle or to the edge. They have got some good athletes at receiver.
"We are going to have our hands full. We are going to have our work cut out for us."
The Rebels outgained the Indians, 436-254 last week. Southern ran for 194 yards and threw for 60. Individually for Southern, quarterback Timmy Potts threw for 60 yards and an interception in the loss to Crestview, while also rushing for 33 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, Landen Heffner led the way on the ground with 141 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and Braxton Sloan caught three passes for 44 yards.
"They do both," Collopy said asked if the Indians tend to run or pass more. "They have some good athletes. They can spread you out and throw the ball around. There is a lot to defend.
"Defensively, they are aggressive. They have hard-nosed kids. They get after it.
"It's going to be old school football. If you are playing, you better show up with an extra chip strap. It is going to be a physical game. They are going to be physical, and we are going to have to be physical as well."
Crestview ran for 279 yards and four touchdowns in the win against Southern, while throwing for 157. The Rebels also scored a touchdown in the game on an interception return.
"They mix it up," Collopy said about the Indians' defensive front. "They will run an event front, and they will run an odd front. It all depends on what you try to do to them offensively against their defense. They will run multiple fronts.
"They are a program that has won consistently in the past seven years. They have a winning culture. Their record does not indicate the type of team they are. Not to take anything away from the two teams we have played so far, but this will be the best team we have played up to this point."
Southern has some good size up front on its offensive line.
"Their tackles are enormous," Collopy said. "They have a three-star tackle. Their right tackle is getting college opportunities. Their left tackle is just as big. They are quick on the interior with their guards and center.
"Their fullback runs hard when he gets the opportunity to run the ball. They have a couple good receivers.
"There is a lot defend. Their is no just one thing, it's everything. They have athletes that if they are able to get the ball into their hands that it is going to be a track meet."
The Indians also have a solid special teams unit.
"Their special teams are good," Collopy said. "One game they kicked extra points and in the other they went for 2. They are a solid club. They are well coached. Coach Wright has been a winner everywhere he has been.
"It is going to be a huge challenge for us.
"We cannot be too excited. You are happy with the win because of all the work you put in to achieve it. We had our first practice today, and you have to move on. You can't get too excited. You have to move on. We have a freight train coming Thursday night."
With the game being played Thursday night, the Wildcats and Indians have one less day to prepare for it.
"Yeah, you just move things up," Collopy said asked if his team does anything differently in practice in a short week. "You just have to adjust things. The kids did a good job today.
"We brought in the gameplan today. You move things around at practice. There are things you do Tuesday that you move to today. The kids were paying attention. We had a good practice today, and we are going to need to have a good practice tomorrow."
The last time the Wildcats and Indians played was the season opener back in 2021 out at Edison. Southern won that game, 34-21.
Edison opened this season with a 42-40 loss down at Shenandoah, while Union Local beat Southern Local, 34-20, in the opener at Wigwam Stadium.