WINTERSVILLE — It is always a big game whenever the Edison and Indian Creek football teams meet on the gridiron, however, their season, there is even more at stake as this week’s matchup has major playoff implications for both schools.

The Wildcats and the Redskins will meet at 7 p.m. Friday night at Kettlewell Stadium. It is Senior Night for the Redskins.

Edison enters the game coming off a 35-12 victory against rival Harrison Central last Friday night out at the Edison Unified Sports Complex. The win against the Huskies wrapped up a playoff spot for the Wildcats.

Edison led Harrison Central, 14-0, in the second quarter before the Huskies scored two touchdowns to pull within 14-12 in the third quarters. The Wildcats, however, responded and scored the game’s final 21 points to secure the victory.

“We just kept playing,” Edison (7-2) head coach Mike Collopy said. “The pick-6 happened. We did not flinch. We got back to work. We have been in situations all year where we have been up and we have been down. We are use to playing close games.

“We did some good things in the first half. We just did not do enough. We left some points on the scoreboard.

“In the second half, our coaches made some adjustments with our pass pro and some other things. I am proud of the kids. They gave a great effort.

“They paid attention to the little things. When things don’t go your way, human nature is to hang your heads, but we stayed with it and played better in the second half.”

On the flip side, Indian Creek comes into this week’s game off a 22-6 loss to St. Clairsville last week on the road down at Red Devil Stadium.

“Our defense played extremely well,” Indian Creek (7-2) head coach Andrew Connor said. “We set some goals coming into this season – we wanted to get to the ball, be physical and not give up any big plays. We did that. Offensively, we had some chances, but we shot ourselves in the foot with some penalties. We had a hard time getting anything going.”

Needless to say, Friday night’s game is a big one.

“That for sure,” Connor said. “It is a big game for both communities. It’s Week 10. Both teams are doing well this season. Edison is going to give us their best. We are going to have to match their toughness and their physicality.

“They have beaten us the last three years. They are on top of the rivalry right now. We are the underdog.

“We are going to have to match the excitement that they are going to bring. It is our Senior Night. We want to play well for our seniors.”

It has been more than 10 years since the Wildcats and the Redskins have entered their game with both teams having winning records.

“This is the first time since 2010 where both teams come into the game with a winning record,” Collopy said. “They have had an outstanding year. They are a good football team. They present a lot of problems for us.

“We had a good day at practice, and tomorrow needs to be even better. We have to stack those together. We want to be prepared the best we can be come Friday night.”

The 2010 game is one the Wildcats and their faithful would rather forget. Edison entered the game with a record of 8-1, however, Indian Creek defeated Edison, 19-7, to knock their Jefferson County rivals out of the playoffs. Edison ended up finishing in ninth place in the Ohio Division III, Region 11 rankings that season. The Redskins ended that season with a record of 6-4.

“It has been a long time,” Connor said. “It is great for the rivalry that both teams are doing well. It is great for the communities. We are expecting a big crowd. It’s going to be like a playoff game. It is big for the teams and the communities. It is going to be a great experience.”

Last week’s loss to the Red Devils snapped the Redskins’ five-game winning streak.

“They are physical,” Collopy said about the Indian Creek offense. “They have very good size up front on their line. They want to run the ball. They have a couple of backs who can run the ball. Their quarterback is athletic. Their receivers have good size and quickness. They can do some different things. They can throw the ball when they want to. They have kids they want to get the ball to, and they do a good job of getting the ball into their hands.”

On the other side, Edison enters this week’s game coming off victories against rivals Buckeye Local (44-0) and Harrison Central.

“Edison is able to score quickly,” Connor said. “They can create big plays. They have some skilled backs who can carry the football. Their quarterback – JD Henderson – is elusive. He can throw the ball deep. Their offensive line does a good job blocking. They are just a well rounded offense. They like the big plays. We are going to have to try and contain them.”

Defensively, the Wildcats have only given up six points in the last two weeks. Harrison Central’s second touchdown last week came on an interception return.

“Defensively, what really stands out to me is how well their linebackers fill,” Connor said. “Their defensive line stays on the line, but their linebackers really do a fantastic of filling in. They can stop the run and the pass. They are well coached. They’re disciplined. They are a good group. They are going to be a tough task for us to beat.”

Defensively, the Redskins have limited their opponents to 14 or fewer points four times this season.

“Defensively, they are aggressive,” Collopy said. “They get after it. They’re physical.

“We are going to have to be focused. We are going to have to do a good job of preparing. They may be the best team we have played all year.”

The rivalry between the Wildcats and the Redskins is one of the top ones in the area.

“Our schools are close,” Collopy said. “Our schools are in the same county. Our districts bump up against each other. The kids on both teams have played youth sports against each other. You have families where they went to one school or the other.

“That is what Ohio Valley football is about. It is about rivalry games. It is good for the communities and for the schools.

“All we can do is our part, and our part is to be as prepared as we can be Friday night. We want to represent our school and our community the way they should be represented.”

Indian Creek has made major strides this season, and their seniors are big reason why the Redskins have made such an improvement this fall.

“The biggest thing for us is we have come a long way, and our senior class is a big part of that,” Connor said. “What is driving us is we want to play well and we want to do right by the seniors. To do right by our seniors, we are going to have to play a great game. That is really important.

“It is a big game, and we want to send them out with a win. We want to do the best job that we can. We are going to play for our senior class. Our senior class has really helped us turn things around. We owe them that. If this is going to be our last home game at Kettlewell Stadium, and we want to do the best we can for them.”

Both teams know what it is going to take for them to be successful Friday night.

“We have to eliminate the big plays,” Collopy said. “Offensively, we have to sustain drives. We have to score points in the red area. We have to be sound on special teams. Special teams is often a battle of field position.

“We are going to have to be sound with our assignments. We are going to have to be lined up properly. We are going to have to know what we are supposed to do. We are going to have to be disciplined. We are going to have to execute.

“We are going to have to play the next play. We are going to have to turn the page. You can’t hang your heads when things don’t go your way. You can’t get too excited when you make a good play. You have to stay in the game. You have to stay in the present. We are going to have to play to the final whistle.”

For the Redskins, they are going to stick with the recipe that has worked for them throughout the season.

“Defensively, we have to keep playing the way we have been playing,” Connor said. “We have to be physical. We have to take away the big play.

“Offensively, we want to fun the football like we have been able to most of the year. We want to stay in front of the chains. We want to play physical. We have a chip on our shoulder, and we need to run the football in order to have success. We want to get back to basics.”

Edison may have wrapped up a playoff spot already, but Indian Creek is fighting for its playoff life. A win will do wonders for the Redskins’ chances of making it back to the playoffs.

“We talked today at practice, and this is a game where you do not need to say anything,” Collopy said. “You just need to make sure your focus is where you need it to be. If you have to say anything to get your team fired up, you have not done a good job as a coach. We have to keep our focus where it needs to be. We can’t get caught up in all the distractions.

“Several of our coaches have played in the Ohio Valley. They know what rivalries are about. It is for the fans, the community and the students. For our coaches and players, we have to make sure our focus is where it needs to be.”

Edison enters play this week in sixth place in the Ohio Division V, Region 17 rankings. The Wildcats have already secured a playoff spot, and with a win this week, they can secure a home game in Week 11. Edison still has a chance at a home game even if its comes out on the short end Friday night against Indian Creek.

“We have not talked about that to be honest with you,” Collopy said about his team making the playoffs. “We are focused on this week. We will have time to talk about Week 11. We have to make sure our focus is where it needs to be.

“They may be the best team on our schedule. They are going to come out and battle. They are going to be ready to play, so we are going to have to make sure we are ready to play.”

The Wildcats have played a playoff game every year since 2020 when Edison played in the postseason for just the second time in program history.

Edison enters play this week in sixth place in the Ohio Division V, Region 17 rankings. The Wildcats have already secured a playoff spot, and with a win this week, they can secure a home game in Week 11. Edison still has a chance at a home game even if its comes out on the short end Friday night against Indian Creek.

Indian Creek comes into this week in 12th place in the Division III, Region 11 rankings. A win should be good enough to secure another trip to the playoffs for the Red-and-Gold, and they still have a shot at hosting a game in the first round of the playoffs. A loss to Edison would put Indian Creek in danger of missing the playoffs, though the loss would not be enough to eliminate the Redskins from the race.

Going into play this week, New Philadelphia (6-3) is in 13th place, Buckeye Valley (5-4) is in 14th place, Sheridan (6-3) is in 15th place and Columbus Independence (4-5) is in 16th place. The Quakers, Generals and 76ers all control their own destiny as does No. 17 ranked Linden McKinley. The Redskins and the Barons do not control their own destiny.

Edison defeated Indian Creek, 26-6, last season at home. The Wildcats defeated the Redskins, 28-7, in 2022 on the road to wrap up the program’ first and only 10-0 regular season.