SHADYSIDE — The high school football season is reaching its penultimate stages. And, as it does, Shadyside and Bellaire are facing different challenges.

For the Tigers, who play host to Bellaire on Friday at Fleming Field (7 p.m.), the goal is to craft a complete, 48-minute package.

For the Big Reds, looking to top the Tigers for the first time since the series resumed seven years ago, the aims are much different. For them, it’s about adjusting to new personnel while, at the same time, continuing to make a playoff push.

“Everyone just has to pick up their game, and they known that,” Bellaire head coach Mark Spigarelli said. “We’re looking forward to a great week of practice, and I think these guys are ready for the challenge.”

Bellaire’s gameplan took a hit in last week’s loss at home to St. Clairsville when quarterback Bobby Roth went down with a collarbone injury. Jake Heatherington stepped in and will need to do so for the foreseeable future.

“I just told the kids that we’re going to have to rally around Jake,” Spigarelli said of the 5-10, 140-pound freshman.

“He’s just going to have to be himself. He doesn’t have to do too much. Everyone else will have to step up their game.

“They will have to block better. They will have to run harder. They will have to catch the ball when it’s thrown to them.”

Although he’ll be making his first varsity start this week, Spigarelli believes the transition won’t be as drastic as some might think.

“He’s a winner,” he said. “He wants to learn. He’s always asking questions in practice. He’s always getting the mental reps.

“He’s had some great JV games and he’s played pretty good in some of the scrimmages we’ve had. So, the sky’s the limit for him.”

A victory Friday would go a long way in shoring up another playoff berth for the Big Reds (5-2).

Despite last week’s loss, Bellaire didn’t suffer much in the computer points and enters this week’s clash third in Division V, Region 17 behind unbeaten Garfield and Kirtland. With winless Union Local and rival Martins Ferry (3-4) left on the docket, a triumph against the Tigers (5-2) would secure some much-needed computer points.

To do that, Bellaire will likely need to lean heavily on its ground attack, led by senior Cole Porter. Through seven games, he’s by far and away the Big Reds’ leading ground gainer, putting up nearly 88 yards per contest. And with a new QB under center, Shadyside head coach Mark Holenka wouldn’t be surprised to see more Porter.

“They’re pretty potent when they run the ball when they chose to run it,” he said. “That’s the scary thing about them having a new quarterback. They may run the ball more times than we’d like them to.”

With the Sechrests — Trace and Colt — out, too, Bellaire will also hand the ball off to the likes of Cody Albaugh, Brayden Roth and Brandon Mamie. Trenton Wilson and Ray’shad Pettigrew are names to look for at receiver.

While Bellaire’s offense has been solid, its defense has been staunch, according to Holenka. The unit has only allowed 20 or more points once, and that was 21 to St. Clairsville last week.

“It’s rock solid,” he said. “I just don’t mean solid in how they play, they come out and lay the leather to you when they hit you.”

Spigarelli said his team’s defense has been a tone-setter, for sure.

“We’re tough, physical and we fly to the ball,” he said. “Everyone does their job and that’s what you have to do.”

Spigarelli believes the Tigers’ defense is equally tough. In their five victories, the Tigers have allowed just 21 points and pitched a pair of shutouts, including last week’s at Division IV foe Vinton County.

“They’re very fast and very physical,” he said. “They don’t give up many big plays, either.”

Last week, Jordan Joseph made three picks for the Tigers, who sit in second in Ohio Division VII, Region 27.

“They’re one of the top two or three teams we’ll face this year,” Spigarelli said.

Shadyside, too, can pretty much seal another playoff berth with a win. They have Bridgeport and Monroe Central left on the slate.

“On offense, they have talent everywhere, starting with Hendershot,” Spigarelli said. “They put him in different spots trying to get him the ball as much as possible.

“He’s the go-to guy if they want to create some havoc with his athleticism.”

Kelly Hendershot is second on the team in all-purpose yards with 735. Sophomore Wyatt Reiman leads the way with 1,103, including 888 on the ground.

“He’s a hard-nosed runner,” Spigarelli said. “We found that out last year.”

Throw in emerging quarterback Rhys Francis (1,158 yards, 8 TD, 4 int.) and the Tigers are continuing to come together offensively. Holenka, though, is still waiting to see four complete quarters.

“We’re winning, but there’s a lot of room for fine tune-ups yet,” he cautioned.

“We can’t just saddle Reiman up every game. We have to be able to do that and, in doing that, we have to get the passing game heated up a little more. Right now, we’ve become a little stagnant on offense.

“We have to play with a little more urgency for all four quarters.”