MARTINS FERRY — The Edison football team is preparing for a tough test this week as the Wildcats looking to improve to 3-1 on the season.

Last week, Edison defeated Southern Local, 41-8, on the road up at Wigwam Stadium.

“The game started out well,” first-year Edison (2-1) head coach Anthony Pierro said. “We executed the gameplan. We won the game, 41-8. We did what we were supposed to do. We did have a turnover on offense. You don’t want that to happen, but it something that is fixable. We are going to move on and get ready for this Friday night.”

This week, Edison travels south to take on Martins Ferry down at the Dave Bruney Football Complex. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday night.

“They are big up front,” Pierro said about the Purple Riders. They have good size. Their fullbacks are really physical. Everyone talks about their running back, and he is really good, but their fullbacks due the dirty work. They free up space for him to run. They are physical. They are going to present a challenge for us. We are going to have to stop the run in order to win the game.”

The Purple Riders want to run the football just like the Indians wanted it to last week against the Wildcats. While both teams want to run the ball, there isn’t much similarities between the two teams.

“There really is not,” Pierro said. “Southern is a small school. There is a lot of differences. Martins Ferry is a lot bigger. They have more speed. You can’t simulate that game speed.”

Martins Ferry enters the game coming off a 35-14 loss last week at Independence, WV.

“Their running back is one of the best running backs in the valley,” Pierro said. “He is a really good running back, and we want to prove we can hold him up.”

Martins Ferry opened the season by defeating Expression Prep Academy, 55-0, at home before defeating Malvern, 35-6, in a game also played on the Purple Riders’ home field.

“Defensively, they are going to present some challenges,” Pierro said. “They use different coverages. Their linebackers get downhill. Their running back plays defensive end. He’s physical. We are going to have to try and find some weaknesses. We are going to have to try and find some bits and pieces of things. It is not going to be easy. We are going to have to execute our gameplan if we want to win.”

Edison opened the season by defeating Shenandoah, 35-14, out at the Edison Unified Sports Complex before losing a heartbreaker to Carrollton, 16-14, at home in Week 2.

“We are pretty similar size-wise,” Pierro said. “Up front, we are the same size. We are pretty similar to one another. We run the same schemes.

“I think it is going to be a battle. It is going to be a bloodbath. I think it is going to be a close game. It is going to be a challenge for us. It is another big game for us. It is going to be a good indication of how the year is going to go.”

The game is the first one between the two schools since Oct. 24, 2014. Martins Ferry won that Week 9 matchup, 58-20, at home.

“Everyone is going to have to put their pride aside,” Pierro said asked what it was going to take for his team to be successful Friday night. “Everyone has to do what is best for the team. That could mean making a block or taking on a double team. We are going to have to play selfless football. If one player does not do their job, they may be able to exploit that. I am anxious to see us play. It is going to be a good challenge for us. Hopefully, we can come out on top.”