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YORKVILLE – The Buckeye Local football team has faced a brutal schedule this season, and things do not get any easier for the Panthers this week as Buckeye is set to take on undefeated Martins Ferry in a rivalry game.
The Panthers and Purple Riders are set to meet at 7 p.m. Friday night down at World War II Memorial Stadium.
Buckeye Local enters this week coming off a 41-14 loss to Oak Glen last Friday night on the road up at the Bears' Den.
"In the first half, we had a couple of blown coverages that led to scores," first-year Buckeye Local (0-6) head coach Hayden Daley said. "When you play against a good quarterback like Maddox Bowen, he is going to be able to find those weaknesses and exploit them. In the first half, we also had a turnover giving them the ball inside the red zone, and they were able to get a touchdown of that.
"In the second half, we buckled down more. We gave up less explosive plays. As the game went on, we were able to move the ball, and we were able to get into the endzone a couple of times."
On the other side, Martins Ferry comes into the game fresh off a 45-20 victory against previously undefeated Union Local last week at home.
"Martins Ferry is coming off a big win against Union Local," Daley said. "That was very impressive on film. They got down early, but they stuck with their gameplan. Their offensive line did a great job. Walkquem Cox is in his third year. It seems like he has been there for 15. He was able to make some big plays. He had some big runs. He's tough to stop. He's big. He runs with speed. They have some good guys on the perimeter. They have Roby, and they have Cox's younger brother (Jakori), who is really good. They have Colby Kropka at quarterback. He is experienced. He has been around the game for a long time. He's experienced. He knows what to get in and out of. He's a field general. He was able to spot the defense had 12 players on the field. He told the referee, and they were able to draw a flag. You have a lot to defend against them."
The Purple Riders (6-0) want to run the football.
"With Walkquem Cox, you are going to be run first," Daley said. "Our emphasis is going to be on stopping the run. We are going to have to be disciplined. They have guys who can beat you on the backend. They are well rounded. We are going to have to be able to stop the run."
So far this season, Martins Ferry has defeated Mount Gilead (42-19), Mifflin (60-6), Brashear (53-15), while also defeating local teams Edison (34-0) and Harrison Central (49-0).
"They do a nice job of mixing up their fronts," Daley said. "Their base is a four-man front. If you spread them out, they can go to a three-man front, and they are comfortable doing that. They have a strong offensive line, and those guys also play on the defensive line. They are able to get off the ball and cause havoc. Their linebackers are disciplined. They fly around. They have a lot of speed in their secondary. They are well rounded on defense."
The Panthers are going to be able to run the ball to have success against Martins Ferry.
"Our gameplan coming in is to give them different looks," Daley said. "We have to read the field. We want to have easy reads for our quarterback. We want to spread the ball around. We need to be physical. We want to establish the run. No matter who we play, we want to run the football. We have to find ways to be able to do that."
The Purple Riders shut out the Panthers, 45-0, last season at home.