It’s only Tuesday, but the anticipation and excitement are already reaching a high, high level.

Both schools have had this date circled for weeks. They’ve even sold t-shirts to commemorate the game.

For the first time since 2005, River and Shadyside are meeting on the football field.

The Pilots and Tigers used to be one of the area’s best small-school rivalries, taking place in week 10 each year. For exact reasons that were never shared with me, the series was discontinued. That all changes Friday night at Flannery Field.

Not much more needs to be said or written other than it’s River vs. Shadyside. However, that’s not going to be the case. Because this isn’t just two long-time rivals renewing acquaintances, but it’s also a matchup of two undefeated teams.

Since battling through the heat, humidity and Bellaire during week one, the Pilots have taken apart Shenandoah, Monroe Central, Magnolia and last week’s opponent, the Columbus Crusaders. Shadyside has been pushed to the limits each of the last two weeks against Meadowbrook and Toronto.

I expect a packed house and a game that comes down to the wire. I think it’s going to come down to which team’s defense can get the most stops. River has a bevy of playmakers, but Shadyside must find a way to contain talented junior quarterback Lukas Isaly.

On the other side, River will need to limit the Billy Johnson to Chase Wade combination. Also keep an eye on fullback Connor Banco, who could be one of the ultimate X factors.

Regardless of what happens on Friday, it’s great to see these schools playing again. Let’s hope the series continues for a long, long time.

SOARING JETS

Last Friday was the first time I got the chance to the Union Local Jets in person. I came away very impressed, too. That had nothing to do with the fact that they rolled to a victory over Edison.

Union Local is much better than I thought or expected it to be in the preseason. Quite simply, they’re bigger, stronger and faster than they were a year ago and it’s paying dividends. They’re also very innovative in how they’re spreading the ball amongst all of their playmakers.

Shane Smolenak has really settled in well to the quarterback role. He’s allowing the Jets to become highly versatile. This isn’t just a run-first kind of team. Brian McWhorter is off to a tremendous start running the ball. The guy I think that is Union Local’s ultimate X factor is Josh Bolyard. He’s fast and sure-handed on the perimeter. He’s a home-run hitter that the Jets have lacked in recent years.

That’s a pretty impressive three-headed monster. On top of that, Union Local is playing solid defense and special teams. Add it all up and you have a 5-0 outfit. A tough test awaits this week at Weir.

IMPRESSIVE BOUNCE BACK

Matt Johnson had to be impressed with the resolve his team showed last week against Shenandoah. Coming off a hard-to-swallow loss to Buckeye Trail just a week prior, the Shamrocks demonstrated the way a veteran team bounces back by taking the game right at Shenandoah en route to a 50-16 victory.

One big thing that was probably stressed during practice last week was ball security. The Shamrocks lost only one fumble against the Zeps.

The Shamrocks go on the field every week with one of the valley’s ultimate trump cards in Caide Bunfill. The senior workhorse surpassed the 1,000-yard mark last week already. Senior quarterback Matthew Burkhart also played well both as a runner and in the passing game.

The Shamrocks are currently seventh in the computer rankings and will need to continue to take care of their business as it pertains to the postseason. Not only does Barnesville only play nine games, but it has only two games remaining with teams with more than one win.

TALK ABOUT A TOUGH SCHEDULE

Monroe Central is 0-5 and struggling. However, the Seminoles have also lined up against a meatgrinder of a schedule during the first half. Four of the five teams they’ve played are still unbeaten as the season’s second half gets set to begin.

The Seminoles are coming off a 48-20 defeat at the hands of Fort Frye. The bizarre thing about the Seminoles’ schedule is they’ve not only played four undefeated teams, but — at the time of playing — they’ll be facing their second winless team of the season in Magnolia.

Though the second half opens with the Blue Eagles, the rigorous Seminoles’ slate doesn’t stop. They still have dates with once-beatens Buckeye Trail and Barnesville in the second half.

KUDOS ARE IN ORDER

The students at Barnesville and Union Local High School deserve a major pat on the back. They proved once again last weekend that there are some really good kids in this valley.

Whenever a tragedy hits an area school, others are always there to lend support. Such was the case last weekend when both the Shamrocks and Jets honored Shadyside first grader Noah Brown, who tragically died on Sept. 19.

The Shamrocks’ student section, which is known as the ‘Greenhouse’ all wore Orange in honor of Brown at their game at Shenandoah.

At Union Local, the student section also wore Orange. The Jets’ players carried a banner to the field that read, “we play for Noah Brown.”

Along with those gestures, Union Local took up a collection for the Brown Family and passed out orange and black ribbons.

Once again, the Ohio Valley is a special place and it’s home to many special people.

ANTHEM PROTESTS

The way National Football League players are demonstrating during the National Anthem has started to trickle down into the high school ranks. The Ohio High School Athletic Association is being pro-active and sent out a memo to its officials about handling the situation should it arise in a game.

The OHSAA reminded its officials that they are there to officiate and they’re not to get involved with the “personal, social or political opinions of any player or coach.” It is not a penalty should players kneel and the officials are not to express “their pleasure or displeasure with how players act during the National Anthem.”

The last sentence of the memo says, “athletes and coaches have their expectations set by their school. These expectations set by the school are not within the official’s purview.”

On top of dealing with the players, the OHSAA informed the officials that they are expected to stand and face the flag during the National Anthem.

GIVING BACK

Wheeling Park head coach Chris Daugherty is one who is always teaching life lessons. His players have had obvious success on the field and they’re definitely doing their job off the field, too. When Park hosts St. Albans this Friday, Park is partnering with Helping Heroes in a “Football for Food” Drive.

All fans are being asked to bring either a non-perishable items, toiletries, cleaning supplies or grocery store/restaurant gift cards. All of the donations will be turned over to the veteran families in the Ohio Valley.

CHECKING IN ON THE LOCALS

JOHN MAGISTRO and his Westerville Central Warhawks dropped to 1-4 on the season, falling to Reynoldsburg, 45-35. The ex-Bellaire head coach’s squad returns to action Friday at Olentangy Liberty.

LEVI NELSON and his Rittman Indians fell for the third straight week. The Indians, now 2-3, fell, 34-0, to Smithville. Nelson is a St. Clairsville graduate.

MIKE ORLANDO and his Cincinnati McNicholas Rockets prevailed for the second straight week, defeating Purcell Marian, 27-6. Orlando, who is a Steubenville Central graduate, will take his team to Dayton Carroll this Friday.

FRED RAY and his Fairview, Ky. squad dropped a decisive, 64-16 decision to Lexington Christian last Friday. The Martins Ferry High product and his squad will have this week off before traveling to Paintsville.

Staskey can be reached via email at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com