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WINTERSVILLE -- The Indian Creek and Harrison Central football teams are set to do battle once again this week, and the two teams are looking to get back into the win column.
The Redskins and Huskies are set to meet at 7 p.m. tonight at Kettlwell Stadium.
Indian Creek enters this week's game coming off a 37-28 loss to Bellaire last Friday night down at Nelson Field. It was the first time the Redskins played the Big Reds on a Friday night under the lights.
"We shot ourselves in the foot," Indian Creek (3-3) head coach Andrew Connor said. "We had pre-snap penalties. We had penalties. We did things wrong schematically. The kids played hard, but we definitely have some things we have to clean up."
On the other side, Harrison Central comes into the game off a 68-13 loss to Barnesville last Friday night on the road.
"I think you can learn from anything," Harrison Central (1-5) head coach Anthony Hayes said. "The day you stop learning is when something becomes a loss. We learned a lot. We have young kids, and they keep getting reps and reps and reps. It was 21-13. We battled.
"We're banged up. We have played a brutal stretch of games. We're young. With the totality of all of these games, you hope to come out of this healthy, but we are banged up. It is time for the next kid to come in and start and do his best in whatever position he is in."
The annual rivalry game between the Redskins and the Huskies is a big one.
"It is a rivalry game," Connor said. "It's 17 minutes down Route 22. There have been some great games in the history of the rivalry. This game brings out the best in both teams. I expect the same thing Thursday."
The boys from Harrison County coming into this week's game looking for their first win in the series since 2023.
"It is always a good game," Hayes said. "We have played them for a while. We have played them. The game was on and then off, and it has been back on. It is always a good-physical game. Indian Creek is always physical. Indian Creek is well coached. They do a good job. Coach Connor always has his kids ready to go. We are going to prepare with the same tenacity we have these last few weeks."
The Huskies have faced a brutal schedule this season as Harrison Central has played five teams with at least five wins at this point in the season with its other opponent having four.
"They fight," Connor said. "I have seen them do a lot of good things on film. I have a lot of respect for Coach Hayes and his kids. They play hard. They don't quit. I expect the same thing Thursday night."
Harrison Central opened the season with a 43-0 loss to Claymont (6-0) before bouncing back and defeating East Palestine, 47-14. The Bulldogs lost their first two games, however, the boys from Columbiana County have rebounded and won their last four. After defeating East Palestine, Harrison Central then lost to Strasburg (5-1), 54-7, Union Local (5-1), 48-7 and Martins Ferry (6-0), 49-0. The Tigers won their first four games of the season, while the Jets won their first five before falling to the Purple Riders last week.
"They do a lot of stuff," Connor said about the Harrison Central offense. "They use different formations. They have a good passing game. They spread you out. The thing with the spread is they get you think pass, pass, pass, and then they break a run. Their wideouts run good routes. They get open. Their quarterback throws a good ball. One thing that makes me nervous is the big play. They are able to create some big plays."
Offensively, the Redskins are led by senior standout running back Bruce Mazar.
"Everything goes through him," Hayes said. "He is one of the better players in the valley. He had a really-good year last year, and he is doing the same thing this year. It's darn near impossible to stop him. All you can do is try to contain him. Their offensive line keeps getting better. Their quarterback is a good athlete. He's elusive. He gets better every week. We are going to have to try and contain Mazar. Offensively, we are going to have to make plays."
The Huskies show different looks on the defensive side of the ball.
"Defensively, they run a three-man front," Connor said. "They have some kids hurt. They give you some different looks."
"They give you different looks if you are in an open set or you have a tight end. They play hard. They get to the football. They are quick. They are not very big, but they are good tacklers. They are assignment sound."
The Red-and-Gold is well known for their physicality on defense.
"It's a typical Indian Creek defense," Hayes said. "They bring a ton of pressure. They make it difficult for you to run the football. They give you a lot of fits when you try and run the ball. They do a really-nice job. They are physical. Their defensive line and linebackers do a nice job. Their secondary is athletic. They bring a lot of pressure with their linebackers.
"I know Indian Creek lost a good group of guys from last season just like we did. I turn on the film, and I see that nothing has changed. They are still physical, and they are still aggressive just like they have always been."
With the game being tonight, both teams have had to make some changes in regards to their preparation for this week.
"Your Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday becomes two days," Connor said. "You have three days and then you have your pregame stuff. We may go longer Wednesday and Thursday with our pregame stuff. We knew this was coming. This isn't a surprise. If you blame things for having to play Thursday, then you are just looking for an excuse. We want to be focused. What you have to get done in four days, now you have to get it done in three days."
The Huskies began their preparations for the Redskins Sunday.
"You just have one less day," Hayes said. "You bump everything back. You start your week early. Typically, we start on Monday, but this week we started on Sunday. It is the same preparation. You just start a day earlier, and you play a day earlier. It's not a big deal. You prepare they same way you always have."
Indian Creek enters this week's game in pretty-good shape health-wise.
"We just have the normal stuff," Connor said. "You look at the schedule we play, and we have played some really-good teams. You're playing high school football. We have some bumps and bruises. We have used a lot of kids in games, so we have been able to build up some depth."
Harrison Central knows what it is going to take in order to be successful this week against Indian Creek.
"We have to make plays," Hayes said. "We have to make plays on both sides of the ball. We should have been tied against Union Local, and then we gave up two scores. Against Barnesville, we were within striking distance. It was 21-13, and then we threw a pick in the endzone. We have to take advantage of our opportunities. We know they are going to be very physical. Offensively, we are going to have to make plays when the opportunities present themselves."
The Redskins defeated the Huskies, 41-28, last season at home and 46-14, two seasons ago at home.
"We are looking forward to a good game Thursday," Hayes said. "We're going to be ready to go."
Indian Creek enters the game in 16th place in the Ohio Division IV, Region 15 playoff rankings, while Harrison Central is currently in 22nd place in the Division V, Region 17 rankings.