When things aren’t going your way, it’s easy to jump ship.

However, that’s not always the best way out, but often times it’s the easiest.

There aren’t many who expected to see Shadyside and Martins Ferry enduring the struggles they are at this point in the season.

The Tigers and Purple Riders are two of the premier programs in the area. Combined they have 29 playoff berths and five regional titles.

Currently, however, Shadyside finds itself at 0-4 and Ferry is sitting at 1-3, having lost three straight.

Neither team’s road gets any easier. Martins Ferry is staring at Harrison Central and a road trip to Indian Creek each of the next two weeks, while Shadyside is at home with Toronto and Division II Logan the next two weeks.

Both teams are young. The Riders have just five seniors who are currently dressing. Shadyside has just six 12th graders on the rosters.

There are serious growing pains going on for both programs. It’s not that Dave Bruney or Mark Holenka forgot football or they’re any less knowledgeable. It’s tough to win at the varsity level with young kids. Not that they’re bad players or they’re not trying hard, but physically it’s tough.

Both Martins Ferry and Shadyside will be back sooner than later. The tradition that both programs have built doesn’t just evaporate.

CONGRATS

We’d be remiss if we didn’t offer our sincere congratulations to Bridgeport head football coach Zack Melton on garnering his first career victory.

The early portion of the season had been a struggle for the Bulldogs, but they stayed the course and found a way to get it done at Paden City last Friday.

The Bulldogs were hit hard by graduation last spring. Couple that with a new coach and new system and there are certainly going to be some growing pains.

Melton and company will try for a winning streak this Friday at home against Conotton Valley.

WELCOME HOME

St. Clairsville officially celebrates homecoming on Oct. 2 when Harrison Central comes to town.

However, the Red Devils may have a parade this week because it’s a literal homecoming.

St. Clairsville finally gets to christen Red Devil Stadium for the first time in 2015 Friday.

And it’s a big game, too.

The 3-0 Red Devils will take on 4-0 Indian Creek in a game that’s got massive implications for the Division IV, Region 13 tournament.

On the road, the Devils, St. C. has notched victories at Carrollton, Coshocton and Martins Ferry.

All told, the Devils have just four home games this season. After the Redskins and Huskies, they go back on the road to Bellaire.

IRISH EYES ARE SMILING

For the first time since 2001, the St. John Central football team is the talk of the All-American Town.

The Irish are simply rolling at 4-0. They’re not even being challenged, having won their last three games by a combined score of 146-18.

Jose Davis is once again proving that he can coach and he’s also showing that he’s more than just a passing team.

The Irish are a very balanced squad offensively. The thing that I’ve been most impressed by with St. John is how well they spread the wealth. They have a lot of guys who can do damage and Davis has done an admirable job of getting everyone involved.

Their defense has also been solid. Last week, against Lowellville, Jeff Green had a pair of interception returns for touchdowns.

There’s a faction of people who point out the Irish’s early season schedule, which has teams with a composite record of just 4-11. The next two SJC opponents – Youngstown Christian and Madonna – are a combined 0-8, too.

After this stretch, St. John gets into the real meat of its slate with Valley, Wheeling Central, Barnesville and Steubenville Central.

COMPUTER RANKINGS

The Ohio High School Athletic Association announces its first computer rankings of the 2015 season today. The polls are due out in the mid afternoon. Athletic Directors and coaches were encouraged to double check the results they’re required to submit on Monday, which are used to formulate the rankings.

The poll will be announced each Tuesday afternoon through the remainder of the season. The final rankings will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 1 with the top eight teams in each region in Divisions II-VII, qualifying for the playoffs.

CHECKING IN ON THE LOCALS

ST. CLAIRSVILLE grad Levi Nelson, who is the head coach at Rittman, suffered his first loss of the season. The Indians were drubbed, 58-7, by now 4-0 Doylestown Chippewa.

JOHN MAGISTRO, the former Bellaire High head coach, led his Westerville Central Warhawks to a 21-7 victory against Dublin Scioto. Next up is a home encounter with Canal Winchester.

BELLAIRE NATIVE Jerry Buti, who is the head coach at Defiance, dropped a 35-6 verdict to Bath last Friday. The Bulldogs are now 1-3 and trek to 3-1 Celina this week.

MARTINS FERRY native Fred Ray got his Fairview Eagles squad in Kentucky back on track thanks to a 58-15 victory against East Carter.