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RICHMOND -- The Edison football team looks to continue its winning way, while Oak Glen looks to put four quarters together for the first time this season.
The Wildcats and Golden Bears are set to renew their rivalry at 7 p.m. tonight at the Edison Unified Sports Complex.
Edison enters this game coming off of a 40-7 victory against Minerva last Friday night on the road.
"I thought we moved the ball," Edison (3-0) head coach Mike Collopy said. "We just could not convert in the first quarter. In the second quarter, our offense started to click.
"Defensively, we executed our game plan. We tackled well. In terms of special teams, I thought our kick off coverage was good again. We only punted once.
"We still have things we have to improve upon.
"We had a good practice today. Hopefully, that continues for the rest of the week."
Meanwhile, Oak Glen comes to Jefferson County coming off of a 45-13 loss to St. Marys at home up at the Bears Den.
"I was quite pleased with our start," Oak Glen (0-2) head coach Doug Taylor said. "We were up 13-0 in the second quarter. We just have got to finish. We have to learn how to finish.
"Our staring quarterback got hurt. We had to bring in a younger player. That limited what we could do.
"In the second half, they beat up on us. They got their ground game going. They out-physicaled us. We are going to have to learn from it and move on."
The game is the Wildcats first Thursday game of the season. Edison opened last season by defeating Monroe Central on a Thursday night. It will also be the Golden Bears' first time playing on a Thursday.
"You just move things up a day," Collopy said. "You have a plan in place. You just adjust how you do things. We watched the film of last week, and then we started to get ready for Oak Glen.
"You move some things around. You just have to adjust accordingly."
Monday was Labor Day adding another wrinkle to the schedule.
"It's a little bit of a change, but it is not a huge difference," Taylor said about playing on Thursday. "Plus, it is a holiday week, but it is no different for Edison."
The Golden Bears and Wildcats got some work in Monday morning, and the teams have had to deal with the high heat the last couple of days.
Oak Glen opened the season with a 38-7 loss to Weir, and the Red Riders are now 2-0. St. Marys is undefeated as is Edison.
"Weir just beat Toronto, and they are now 2-1," Taylor said. "Our schedule is what it is. It is definitely a challenge. The schedule was made two or three years ago.
"We are just going to play them one at a time. We just want to continue to get better and play the best game that we can."
The Golden Bears scored its lone touchdown on the ground in their loss to the Red Riders, while they added another score on the ground against the Blue Devils. Oak Glen's first touchdown of the night came on a 75-yard kickoff return by Logan Murray. Murray moved to quarterback after Wesley Molish, who scored on a 4-yard run, was injured.
"They like to run the ball," Collopy said. "They will run some Wing-T concepts. They will use some different formations. They can spread you out.
"We are going to have to stop the run. We are going to have to be assignment sound. We are going to have to read our keys. We are going to have to be fundamentally sound.
"Defensively, they are fundamentally sound. They get to the football."
The Wildcats have won 15 straight regular season games.
"Edison has not lost a regular season game since 2021," Taylor said. "That is unbelievable. Coach Collopy has done a great job. They are a very good football team."
Edison has scored at least 34 points in all three games this season.
"They have good size," Taylor said. "They can play physical. They can use finesse. Their quarterback throws a nice ball."
The Wildcatshave allowed 21 points through three weeks.
"Defensively, they are like some of the old Steubenville teams," Taylor said. "They run a 4-3. They like to send their linebackers. They bring pressure. They are aggressive. There is not a lot of things open against their defense."
The Wildcats have had success on the ground and through the air this season.
"We just want to take what the defense gives us," Collopy said. "That has been our philosophy since I have been here. You go in with a game plan, and you try to take what the defense gives you. You plan all week, but that can all go out the window with the first snap. We are going to have to be prepared for anything."
Molish will miss the game with an injury meaning Murray will handle the quarterback duties for the boys from Hancock County.
"Our starter quarterback is out," Taylor said. "He's going to miss a little bit of time. Logan Murray will start at quarterback."
Taylor added an advantage of Molish missing the game and Murray starting is that the team will have two quarterbacks with experience which will be beneficial down the road.
The game is Edison's first home game of the season, and the Wildcats are looking forward to it.
"We are going to have to play with energy," Collopy said. "I was pleased with our approach on the road. We are going to be at home for the first Thursday night. The game is going to be on TV. If that does excite you, then you are in the wrong program and the wrong sport."
The Wildcats enter this game mostly healthy.
"There is nothing new," Collopy said. "We are as healthy as most teams. It's Week 4.
"We are just looking to get better. I talked to AP and Coach Fogle, and our focus is on getting better. We just have to ignore everything else. We have to keep getting better. It is the same with us coaches. We have to get better. We have to make sure we are doing the best job we can to prepare these players so they can give us the best effort they can."