HANNIBAL — River is hoping that the old saying ‘Home Sweet Home’ comes true again Friday night.

For the sixth straight week, the Pilots (6-2) will remain at the friendly confines of Martin Flannery Field. The third seeds host Ohio 7 rival Shadyside (5-3) in an Ohio Division VII, Region 27 semifinal.

“It sure is nice to be at home. This is our territory and we get to play in front of our home fans once again. This is our reward,” veteran River head coach Mike Flannery said.

River hasn’t hit the road for a game since Sept. 11 when it played at Monroe Central. It has hosted Magnolia, Barnesville, Shadyside, Waterford and Reedsville Eastern since then.

The lone setback in that group of contests came at the hands of the Tigers, 27-25, back on Oct. 2 in a game that saw River stopped on a late two-point conversion try after staging a dramatic rally.

“We have a huge challenge in trying to score against an aggressive, athletic Shadyside team,” Flannery said. “We seemed to get our mojo back last week after a not-so-good offensive performance against Waterford, but we answered that last week against Reedsville Eastern.

“I’d rather be playing someone that doesn’t know what we do, but it’s an even trade,” he continued. “Both teams are similar and I think both have been battle-tested by our schedules. It’s just a matter of putting all the chess pieces in the right places.

“I have a lot of respect for their coaching staff and I’m sure they will have their kids ready to play Friday night.”

The Pilots have edged Waterford (7-6) and blown out Reedsville Eastern (49-13) in their two playoff tilts.

The defense has been solid with all-Ohio senior linebacker Carter Dennis leading the charge. Classmate defensive end Chase Lawrence picked off an Eagles pass just before the half last week and rumbled 60 yards with it to paydirt. It was his second pick of the game.

Offensively, quarterback Brody Lollathin had a breakout game last week. The sophomore completed 15 of 24 passes for 261 yards and four touchdowns, with three of those going to senior Michael Johnson who caught five balls for 135 yards, ran it twice for 15 stripes and took a kickoff to the house from 85 yards.

Flannery said when the speedy Johnson plays like that, opponents can’t just key on stopping Dennis. The senior tailback ran for 75 yards and a touchdown while also catching a screen pass and weaving his way to a 50-yard TD.

Dennis has rushed for a little more than 700 yards and reached the end zone 10 times.

Lollathin has completed 72 of 125 attempts for 1,135 yards and a baker’s dozen touchdowns.

Senior tight end Jake Rose is the Pilots leading receiver. He caught six passes for 88 yards last week and now has 32 receptions for 439 yards. Johnson has landed 16 passes that have netted 413 yards and resulted in seven TDs. Sophomore River Thompson emerged as a go-to guy last week with three receptions, which all came on the game’s opening drive.

Being overshadowed by the playmakers is an offensive line that is getting better and better with each performance. It is led by senior center Kobe Zola, sophomore right guard Marshall Bier, junior left guard Austin Creamer, senior right tackle Tyson Randall and sophomore left tackle Mason Randall.

The Pilots will receive a boost this week with the return of senior two-way standout lineman Nate Bowers who missed last week after being quarantined.

Junior Avery Creamer is another threat on both sides of the ball.

Flannery is very confident with his special teams as Zac Hocutt has developed into one of the premier placekickers in the Ohio Valley.

“He has been a steady force,” Flannery said of Hocutt. “He worked really hard in the off-season and it is paying off for him. I have a lot of confidence of lining him up inside the 20, but there are two things that have to happen for him to be successful. The snap has to be good and so does the hold. If those two happen, then he will kick it through (the uprights).”

Rose is the capable long-snapper with the sure-handed Lollathin doing the holding.

“I really think us and Shadyside are the two best teams in our region. I really do,” Flannery stressed. “I think either of us can play with Trimble or Newark Catholic, but that has yet to be seen.”