MARIETTA - On paper, Marietta High is a big school, and should be able to defeat Division VI Bishop Rosecrans hands down in a football game.
Thing is, though, you might as well just rumple that paper and toss it in the waste basket.
On the gridiron, the reality is that the Adam Eichhorn-coached Tigers could have some big problems with the "little old" Bishops when the two East Central Ohio League schools square off at Don Drumm Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Currently, MHS and Rosecrans are two schools streaking in opposite directions.
The Tigers own a 1-6 overall record (0-2 ECOL) and are losers of six straight while the Bishops are 6-1 (3-0 ECOL) and winners of six straight.
Rosecrans, No. 2-ranked in Ohio Division VI, Region 23, is more than likely playoff-bound, and MHS, a DII, Region 7 school, is not. If Marietta prevails Friday, it'll be an upset.
Fact Box
Matchups
Bishop Rosecrans (6-1)
at Marietta (1-6)
Game Time: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Gallia Academy (5-2)
at Warren (2-5)
Game Time: 7:30 p.m. Friday
If the Bishops win, it'll be because they're favored to do so. A year ago at Zanesville's John D. Sulsberger Memorial Stadium, MHS dropped a 28-7 decision to Rosecrans.
Last Friday night, host Marietta may have hit a low point in its season when it got blanked by undefeated and No. 2 state-ranked New Philadelphia, 34-0. Until that game, the orange and black had not been shut out.
During the course of the contest, Marietta finished with negative yardage on the ground and 95 in the air for 85 yards of total offense.
Freshman John Henry made his debut start at quarterback for the Tigers, and spent most of the game running laterally and backwards for his life from the New Philly defenders.
Last Saturday, Scott Moyer-coached Bishop Roescrans had to stage a fourth-quarter rally to defeat visiting Claymont, 29-19.
Quarterback Adrick Cronin led the way, completing seven-of-nine passes for 141 yards and two second-half touchdown strikes to Jess Moore and Cameron Roberts, respectively.
Bishop running backs Luke Lloyd (111 yards on 27 attempts) and Chase Lanning combined to rush for 203 yards on 41 carries and 14 1/2 tackles on defense.
Gallia Academy at Warren
VINCENT - Warren will need to run the table and win its final three games of the season if it is going to break even again on the gridiron this fall.
The two previous years, the Andy Schob-coached Warriors posted 5-5 marks each season.
It all starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday when the royal blue and white football team (2-5 overall, 0-2 Southeastern Ohio Athletic League) returns to Vincent after a three-game road trip to play visiting Gallia Academy (5-2, 2-0) in a homecoming and SEOAL matchup.
"We know we are the underdog in this game, but it is homecoming and it should add some more excitement," Schob said. "Our younger players have another game of experience and will learn from last week and get back to the progress they were making. Our seniors have been positive and continued to work all year and want nothing more than to perform well."
Warren is coming off a disappointing 38-7 setback at Chillicothe (2-5, 1-1) last Friday night. The Warriors mustered just 161 yards of total offense, and one touchdown, a Dylan Leffingwell 11-yard scoring strike to tight end David Ryan in the second quarter.
The royal blue and white never led in the contest. Defensively, Blake Staley had 23 tackles to lead the Warriors.
Meanwhile, over at Memorial Field in Gallipolis on the same evening, Mike Eddy-coached Gallia Academy (5-2, 2-0) was celebrating its homecoming by "rallying" to defeat Portsmouth (1-6, 0-2), 49-21, in a SEOAL tilt.
The Blue Devils amassed 429 yards of total offense (352 rushing, 77 passing) and defensively sacked the opposing quarterback seven times.
GAHS quarterback Wade Jarrell completed 6-of-12 passes for 72 yards and one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for a team- and game-high 191 yards on seven carries and three touchdowns.
