CADIZ — Week 10 is here and in southern Jefferson and Harrison Counties, that means the annual battle for the VALES Trophy between Harrison Central and Buckeye Local.

Neither team currently sits where they intended or even expected when the season first began back in August.

Playoffs are also no longer a possibility as both the two-win Panthers and one-win Huskies are mathematically eliminated from the Ohio Division V, Region 17 postseason.

Buckeye is coming off a disappointing home toss to River in a game many in Panthers’ country felt Buckeye could win.

But the surging Pilots left Yorkville with a 33-9 victory, keeping the Pilots postseason hopes very much alive.

Buckeye did manage some yardage, with quarterback Alex McDiffitt throwing for 166 yards and rushing for more than 80.

But as has plagued the Panthers throughout the season, turnovers and missed opportunities took their respective tolls on the Buckeye offense.

“We just made too many mistakes,” head coach Chris Kiedaisch noted after the loss. “Turnovers really hurt us and we’re a team that cannot afford to turn it over like we did.”

Harrison took its show on the road to Richmond and hung tough with Edison initially before falling 35-12.

The Huskies trailed 14-0 early but battled back and trailed on 14-12 before the Wildcats scored the final 21 points to pull away.

Harrison QB Brady Hyre connected with Jacob Quto for a scoring strike for Harrison’s first touchdown, followed by Hyre returning a pick six for the team’s second score in one of Hyre’s best games of the season.

The same could be said for Harrison in total. After weeks of battling against some of the better teams in the area, all the while down many key components of what should have been a dangerous offense, the Huskies showed life.

It was not lost on head coach Anthony Hayes after the game.

“I am really proud of our kids,” Hayes said after. “That is probably the best game they have played since Week 1. We battled. That is what we focused on.”

Week 1 Harrison dispatched of Claymont and after two close games against quality opponents, the Huskies were 1-2 but still in good shape, considering. Then injuries happen, and mistakes, and missed opportunities. What started promising turned sour, so Hayes’ praise for his teams effort against Edison was huge.

That just leaves Friday’s game at World War II Memorial in Yorkville. Pride adn the trophy are on the line. It’s one last chance for the seniors top put a positive stamp on their careers, and another opportunity for younger players to make a lasting impression on their coaches before offseason work begins.