YORKVILLE — The Oak Glen football team is looking to bounce back after suffering its first loss of the season while Buckeye Local is looking to build off last week’s improbable comeback win.

Oak Glen opened the season at 3-0 before falling to undefeated Toronto, 26-0, last week up at the Bears’ Den.

“Big plays hurt us,” first-year Oak Glen (3-1) head coach TJ Miller said. “Toronto was able to create some big plays. Toronto had a great gameplan, and they were able to make some big plays. We didn’t help ourselves on 3rd-and-long. They made some big plays, and we were not able to punch it into the end zone on a couple of drives.”

On the other side, Buckeye Local trailed Carrick by 24 points before the Panthers rallied for a thrilling 36-30 victory against the Raiders down at World War II Memorial Stadium.

“As a coach, you think where was that at? If I step back, that is the biggest comeback I have ever been a part of at any level of football,” Buckeye Local (2-3) head coach Chris Kiedaisch aid. “We erased a 24-point deficit in one quarter, and we found a way to win it at the end. It was a case of where all of your hard work pays off.

“One of the biggest things we talked about when I took over as head coach was we have to get in better shape. We were able to see the rewards of that. It is rare to see that like that in football where all of your hard work pays off, but we were able to see that Friday night.”

This week, the Golden Bears are set to meet at 7 p.m. down in Yorkville.

“Oak Glen is as good of a team as we have faced,” Kiedaisch said. “No. 2 (Logan Murray) is a really good skill player, and No. 54 (Kam Hebrock) is one of best linemen we have seen. It is going to be an exciting challenge for us. This is one of the first games I scheduled when I became head coach. I think it is a good matchup for the teams, and I think it is an exciting matchup for the fans.”

The boys from Hancock County are looking to rebound from last week’s disappointing loss to the Red Knights.

“It shows they play with a lot of grit, and that they never give up,” Miller said about Buckeye Local’s comeback win. “I have talked to my boys about the mental side. We have talked about how to respond after a loss and how to handle adversity and how to stay strong mentally. I am proud of the kids. We have had a couple of practices, and the kids have really bounced back well.”

The Panthers ran the ball 44 times for 234 yards and four touchdowns in the win against the Raiders. Xzaier Eastham collected 131 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries to lead the way, Chase Worwa added 56 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries while Grant Domborski tallied 25 yards and a touchdown on five carries.

Dombroski completed 8 of 14 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown in the win. Daniel Divjak delivered three receptions for 192 yards and a touchdown.

“Buckeye Local likes to run the football,” Miller said. “They have some nice athletes. They are well coached. Coach Kiedaisch does a really nice job. He knows what to do. We have to be prepared for the run and for the pass.”

The boys from Hancock County have their share of playmakers, the Golden Bears try to get the ball into their hands as often as possible.

“The variety of formations, and they create ways to get the ball to their athletes,” Kiedaisch said asked what stands out about the Golden Bears on offense. “They use direct snaps. They run different formations.”

Oak Glen had scored at least 32 points in its first three games before being shut out last week.

Defensively, the visitors have allowed 58 points in four games with one shutout.

“Defensively, they are super aggressive for a high school team,” Kiedaisch said. “They blitz like 75 percent of the time. They bring different guys. They like to create havoc. They like to cause confusion. They are very aggressive on defense.”

Meanwhile, the Panthers have allowed 152 points through five games – 56 of which came in a Week 4 loss at Barnesville.

“Defensively, they throw different things at you,” Miller said. “They run a base 4-4. They flow to the football well. They tackle very well. We are going to have to make sure we stay on our blocks, and find some mistakes. We have to be able to capitalize on their mistakes, and we have to be able to finish off drives. They run a basic 4-4, but they fly to the football. If we are able to handle that, we should be OK.”

Both teams view their guys up front as a strength on the field.

“One of the reasons this game is exciting is I think our lines are our strength as well,” Kiedaisch said. “We have rushed for 150 yards in four of our five games so far, and we have rushed for 220 yards in three of them. We take pride in our guys up front, and we take pride in being able to stop the run. Whoever wins that battle is going to have a good Friday night. Whoever loses that battle is going to point the finger to that as being why they lost.”

The Golden Bears have relied a great deal on their hog mollies up front.

“We’re going to have to win in the trenches,” Miller said. “I think we do a good job in the trenches. We are starting to get healthy. I think it is going to be a heck of a game. The kids are fired up. They have responded well from last week’s loss to Toronto. I am proud of them for the way they have responded. The kids have bounced back.”

Oak Glen knows this is not going to be any easy game.

“It is going to be a great test for us, especially on defense,” Miller said. “We have preached to the kids every week and throughout the summer that we have to be physical, and we have to be disciplined. We have to fly to the football, and we are going to have to tackle very well.”

The Panthers are going to need to create some big plays in order to leave their stadium with a win Friday night.

“We have to create explosive plays,” Kiedaisch said. “That is one thing we have been trying to do on offense. We were able to do that in the second half against Carrick. When you are able to make splash plays, you are able to flip the momentum.

“We have been good on special teams this year. We want to continue to play well on special teams, and we want to be able to create explosive plays on offense. Defensively, we have to make sure we lineup correctly. With what they do offensively, they create a challenge for teams. The question is can we lineup correctly. If we can do that and create explosive plays and play well on special teams, I think we will be in business.”

For Oak Glen, the Golden Bears are looking to take an early lead and put pressure on Buckeye Local to respond.

“We are going to have to jump on them early,” Miller said. “We are going to have to get them off of their game. We are going to have to spread the ball around. Getting the ball to Logan is a big key for us. We have to execute offensively. We want to score early and often. Maddox does a good job of spreading the ball around, and we are going to have to continue to spread it around. We have to get the ball to Logan.

“Defensively, we have to stop the run. We have to put pressure on them. We have to force them to make mistakes. We have to fly to the ball. If we do those things, we should be able to come out with a win Friday night.

“I am really proud of how the guys have responded after last week’s loss. They are fired up, and they’re ready to go.”

The game is the first one between the two teams since 2019 when the Golden Bears defeated the Panthers, 59-12, at home.

“It has been awhile since we have played them,” Miller said. “It is a nice game for both teams. I think it is going to be very competitive, well coached high school football game. We are going to have to be ready to play. We are putting a good gameplan together. We’re going to have to be focused. We are going to have to play a disciplined game. If we do that, I think we will be OK.”

Buckeye Local enters play this week in 15th place in the Ohio Division V, Region 17 standings. The top 12 in each region qualify for the playoffs with the top four teams receiving byes in the first round.

Oak Glen is currently in 13th place in the West Virginia Class AA playoff rankings. The top 16 in each class qualify for the playoffs.