Athens High School’s Basil Rutter Field will play host to a matchup of monumental proportions Friday. Athens and Nelsonville-York have amassed 729 collective points and 18 combined wins this season.
But Friday night, somebody has to go home imperfect.
At this point in the season, the unbeaten have often set cruise control, taking a step back and resting their starters in preparation for what will hopefully be a lengthy playoff run.
For Athens and Nelsonville-York, this is anything but the case.
The race to the playoffs has been a long one, but both the Buckeyes and Bulldogs have taken to it like a sprint, plowing over opponents like tackling dummies.
Postseason home-field advantage and the Doc Kroner Trophy are now on the line.
Nelsonville-York
The Buckeyes (9-0) have not deviated from their game plan all season. Coach Dave Boston has been insistent that his squad’s focus is on itself, not giving too much consideration to its opponents’ unique attributes. However, this week’s opponent may be granted some special consideration.
Though Nelsonville-York’s defense has been stout this season, it will have to take it up a notch against DeVon Sharp and the potent Athens offense.
"I've known DeVon for a while now, and it's always good when me and him are on the field against one another,” Buckeye senior running back Dustin Young said. “But I have to keep it in my mind that there are 10 more players on that field and we as a team have to take care of every single play."
Team unity has never been an issue for a core Buckeye group that is close on and off the field.
"We need to play each down for each other and play like the family we know we are,” Young said.
Two points are all that have separated the Buckeyes from Athens in their past two meetings. Last season at Boston Field, Nelsonville-York mounted a late rally to win. The year before, the Buckeyes also escaped by a single point.
At this juncture in the season, Young and his crew are amped to play Athens for all the marbles.
"It's always a great feeling going to play the Bulldogs no matter what the stakes are,” he said. “This year it's all on the line."
Athens
For Athens, Friday night will be all about defending its home turf. It will be the team’s first meeting on the revamped Rutter Field, and the Bulldogs (9-0) are not about to let their rivals come away with the win.
“Until we get the Buckeyes marked off of our goal list, it’s going to be hard for them to have a great sense of accomplishment this year,” said Athens coach Ryan Adams. “This is something that they really want to get done, and winning the (Tri-Valley Conference) Ohio championship was our first goal this year.
“Making the playoffs and finishing with a 10-0 record is the icing on the cake. I don’t think that they’re going to feel a great sense of satisfaction unless they get this win Friday.”
If that were not enough motivation for the Bulldogs, a win would mark the team’s first undefeated season since 1971.
A key for Athens will be to slow down Nelsonville-York’s big-play offense.
“You gotta be extremely sound defensively in both aspects of the game — versus the pass and versus the run,” Adams said. “We’re going to have to be very balanced and very disciplined and know what we are seeing in front of us on defense and pursue the ball very well.
“They’re definitely the most balanced offense we have faced.”
Trimble
The Tomcats (6-3) are currently working with the Ohio High School Athletic Association in hopes of reversing last week’s forfeit ruling that ensued from a scheduling conflict with Coal Grove early this season.
When the OHSAA rankings were released Monday, the Tomcats were listed as the sixth-best team in Region 23. After tacking on the forfeit loss later in the day, Trimble fell to 10th — just outside the playoff picture.
If it wasn’t before, the Tomcats’ Friday meeting with Federal Hocking (4-5) is a must-win.
“Through my eyes, if we win, we’re in,” coach Phil Faires said. “I think we’ve expressed that to the kids also. … The only thing we can control anyhow is this week’s game.”
Alexander
Alexander High School has taken a swift fall from the unbeaten ranks, limping through three straight losses after cruising during its early schedule.
The Spartans (6-3) are mathematically eliminated from the playoff picture. However, coach Sean Arno said that he looks for his team to finish strong against Meigs (6-3), and find the identity it has been lacking since a win over Vinton County at the end of September.
"There's no magic wand,” he said. “Somebody has to step up and be a leader. It doesn't have to be seniors. What it needs to be is the group needs to come together and decide to win. I mean, they're capable physically of doing that, there's no question about it."
jr992810@ohiou.edu
