WINTERSVILLE — The Indian Creek football team is off to its best start since 2000, and the Redskins are looking to continue their winning ways this week.

Indian Creek is set to play Buckeye 8 rival Bellaire Friday night at Kettlewell Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

“I would think so,” Indian Creek (5-0) head coach Andrew Connor said if he expects the game to be another physical one between the two conference foes. “Bellaire is a good football team. They can do a lot of things defensively and offensively. They have a really good passing game. They are going to test us with their passing game. I am really impressed with their linebackers. I think it is going to be a physical, well coached and well played football game.”

Indian Creek enters this week coming off a 41-14 victory against Brooke last Friday night at home.

“The kids played hard,” Connor said. “They did what they were supposed to do on offense, defense and on special teams. They played well.”

On the other side, the Big Reds enter play this week with a record of 3-2. Last week, Bellaire defeated Cambridge, 18-15, down at Nelson Field.

“Their quarterback does a good job of finding the open receiver,” Connor said. “Their receivers run good routes. They use their pass to set up their run. You are worried about the pass, and then they hit you with a big run. They are very versatile. They can stretch the field horizontally and vertically.”

The Redskins opened the season by defeating the Bobcats, 35-6, at Cambridge.

Bellaire opened the season with back-to-back wins against Buckeye Local, 31-6, and Monroe Central, 44-27, before losing two straight games to Barnesville, 40-0, and John Marshall, 34-26.

“Their physicality,” Connor said asked what stands out about the Bellaire defense. “They get to the ball. They shift their formations. Sometimes, they are in a three-man front, sometimes a four-man front and sometimes a five-man front.

“They keep you guessing. Their linebackers get to the football. Their backend does a good job in coverage. They don’t give up big plays.”

Indian Creek defeated Cambridge, East Liverpool (37-19), Union Local (23-15) and Weir (41-14) before beating Brooke.

“Offensively, it is important for us to stay in front of the chains,” Connor said. “We have to mix up the run and the pass. We cannot be predictable. Defensively, we cannot give up the big play. We have to tackle the pass. We have to drive the field. When we have drives, we have to finish them. We have to put points on the scoreboard. We have to put them in a bind the best we can.”

Indian Creek defeated Bellaire, 40-26, last season on the road.

“It was a good game last year,” Connor said. “It was an important game for us. It led to us having a good second half of the season. Every game is important.

“Our goal is to go 1-0 every week. Bellaire is well coached. They have a lot of talent. They are going to give us their best shot. We have to be ready.”

The Redskins enter plays this week ranked fifth in the Ohio Division IV, Region 15 standings. On the other side, the Big Reds are ranked 13th in the Division V, Region 17 rankings. The top 12 makes the playoffs this season with the top four teams in each region receiving a bye in the first round.