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NEW MATAMORAS -- A head-on collision is expected to occur at Frontier High at 7 p.m. this Friday night.
That's when the undefeated Cougars are scheduled to host Parkersburg Catholic High of W. Va.,in a cross-river prep football showdown.
"It's another toughie but we're looking forward to it," said FHS head coach Russ Morris after the Cougars defeated Magnolia High, 47-13, in a homecoming game last Friday evening. "We're happy to play again at home (vs. Catholic). We had a wonderful crowd on homecoming night."
Frontier, No. 4-ranked in Ohio Division VII, Region 27 with a 5-0 record, will be squaring off against its first school this season with a winning overall mark. In its five victories, the opposition is currently a combined 5-19 with two of the schools (Bridgeport and Magnolia) winless
Parkersburg Catholic, on the other hand, is 3-2 and coming off a 60-14 triumph over Gilmer County Saturday afternoon at Stadium Field on the campus of Parkersburg High. So far, this season, the Crusaders have only faced and lost to one school (Ritchie County) with a winning record.
"Lance (Binegar, head coach) will bring in a good football team," Morris said. "Their two losses are to two good football teams."
Catholic's other setback was at South Harrison (2-2) in week 3.
"We've had some injuries, but we're healthy, now," said Binegar, who's in his third year as the Crusaders boss. "Our quarterback Xavier Collie hurt his knee in the South Harrison game, but he's ready to play against Frontier."
Interestingly, Binegar is a 2004 Frontier grad and resides in the New Matamoras area. Currently, he teaches at Ritchie County Middle School.
"I think I live closer to Frontier High School than Russ (Morris) does," said Binegar, laughing.
"I only live about five minutes away."
Binegar paused.
"I also used to coach with Todd Bradford (Frontier defensive coordinator)," the coach added.
With sophomore JD Schmidt taking center snaps, the Cougars feature a relatively balanced attack on offense. The 5-foot-8, 165-pound Schmidt has a strong and accurate throwing arm -- and is mobile. He will run if he has to -- and that could spell trouble for the PCHS defense.
The Froniter quarterback would prefer of course to let his running backs do the ball carrying. And, he's got a couple of good ones in 5-7, 175-pound Joel Lewis and 5-10, 195-pound Noah Barnhart.
Against Magnolia, Lewis and Barnhart combined to rush for 184 yards and four touchdowns.
Doing most of the blocking for the backs will be linemen Wyatt Oliver, Jaycob Seevers, Braden McLeish, Andrew Shapley, and Gaige Bowersock.
"It takes everybody to win, and it starts up front," Morris said. "Our line's doing a great job."
Schmidt's primary receiving targets have been tight end Logan Brookover, Tanner Bills, and Breckin Hoff.
"JD did a good job of getting the ball to our guys in the passing game against Magnolia," Morris said.
Defensively, Bradford has many of the same players from the offensive side. The Cougars are aggressive and will try to knock you into the Ohio River if they can.
To be successful on the gridiron this week, FHS is going to have to be very physical, because Catholic is predominantly run-oriented. Against Gilmer last Saturday, Crusader senior Jeb Boice attempted only two passes and completed both for 55 yards out of the wildcat formation. He also rushed for 218 yards.
"Jeb can play anywhere on the field," Binegar said.
For what it's worth, PCHS has only passed a total of six times in the last two games. But with Collie back, the Crusaders might air it out more to keep the Cougars honest.
Still, don't be too surprised if the Cougars stack the box with nine defenders to try to contain Boice, Collie, and the other PCHS backs, like Ethan Lang for instance.
The thing is, though, Catholic has some big people in the trenches like 6-6, 335-pound left guard Wade Smitley, a former Frontier Cougar, and 6-4, 260-pound Joel Stophel. Both Crusaders are getting some looks from colleges.
The PCHS line also includes Nick Erlewine (6-2, 230), Stephen Garvin (6-1, 170 center), and Stephen Nguyen (5-8, 160 left tackle).
"We're a very large team, and we know Frontier also has a decent line," Binegar said. "I believe the key to this game is whichever team controls the line of scrimmage will probably determine the outcome."
Even though, PCHS might be a little one-dimensional on offense, if it's executing, it's going to be tough to stop. Frontier could have its work cut out for itself.
But then on the flip side, so could Catholic.
"Parkersburg Catholic's a big game," Morris said. "But they are all big games, now. As you go along, every week's big.
"We're just going to have to do what we do every week. Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. And then come out and play our guts out."
Ron Johnston can be reached at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com