What is usually the time when schools are preparing for the second half of the season, week six of the high school football campaign has head coaches readying their squads for the playoffs. Playoffs, you ask?

Yes, in this truncated season due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Buckeye State teams are playing a 6-game regular season, with the playoffs beginning a week later for those schools which didn’t opt out. The postseason matchups are scheduled to be released sometime today.

Eight games on tap locally, with seven of those kicking off at 7 on Friday night.

Union Local (1-4) at Barnesville (3-2)

The ‘Milk Bucket’ will be at stake when the Jets fly into Shamrock Stadium to meet their western Belmont County rival Shamrocks.

Both teams are coming off shutout losses as Union Local was blanked 35-0 at Warren on Saturday. Barnesville dropped a 27-0 at River the night before.

The Shamrocks loss snapped a 2-game winning streak that featured wins over Edison (38-10) and Shenandoah (22-8). Their other victory was over Buckeye Local (35-0) in the opener. They also lost to Beaver Local (36-15).

Union Local defeated Buckeye Local (19-6) in week two. It has lost three straight to Martins Ferry (30-18) and Harrison Central (40-20) prior to Warren. The Jets also lost to Monroe Central (26-22) in their opener.

Jaksan Price leads the UL attack. Gage Hannahs fuels Barnesville.

Bellaire (4-1) at Beaver Local (4-1)

The Big Reds hit the road for the second straight week as they trek north to meet the Beavers in Columbiana County.

Bellaire saw its umblemished record come to an end last week at Cambridge (31-20). The loss snapped a 4-game win streak over River (28-14), Shadyside (20-13), Harrison Central (33-21) and Toronto (25-6).

The Big Reds are led by the balanced running attack of Brandon Mamie, Brayden Roth and Colt Sechrest.

Beaver Local lost its season-opener at rival East Liverpool (27-15), but has reeled off four straight impressive victories: Barnesville (36-15), Indian Creek (49-0), Minerva (56-7) and Edison (48-0).

Weir (0-4) at Martins Ferry (3-2)

The Purple Riders welcome the Red Riders to Purple Rider Stadium inside the Dave Bruney Football Complex.

Martins Ferry’s see-saw season has victories over Shadyside (22-16), Union Local (30-18) and Harrison Central (36-34) sandwiched around losses to Linsly (31-16) and at St. Clairsville (27-6).

Evan Carpenter was a beast in last week’s shootout win over the Huskies on both sides of the ball with nearly 200 yards rushing and a couple handfuls of tackles. Chase Goff also ran for more than 100 yards and both interior lines dominated.

Weir is seeking its initial win for first-year head coach Frank Sisinni.

Ironically, the Red Riders lost (36-34) last week at Marietta.

Shenandoah (3-2) at Buckeye Local (1-4)

The Panthers will be looking for win No. 2 in a row when the Zeps visit World War II Memorial Stadium in Yorkville. They ran past Monroe Central (32-14) last week.

Trey Hoover, moving from quarterback to tailback, had a huge game running the ball. He also stood out on defense, as did Brian Palmer Jr.

Shenandoah snapped a two-game losing skid last week with a victory over Johnstown-Northridge (44-19). Cade Denius set a school record with 14 catches for 234 yards and four TDs in the win.

Magnolia (1-3) at Monroe (2-3)

This matchup at Monroe Park features teams headed in opposite directions as the Blue Eagles broke a 14-game losing streak last week by thumping previously unbeaten Frontier (40-8).

The Seminoles started the season with back-to-back wins over Union Local (26-22) and Bridgeport (41-8), but have lost three consecutive outings to River (28-6), Caldwell (36-33) and Buckeye Local (32-14).

Saturday

River Valley (0-5) vs.

Bridgeport (2-3), 3 p.m.

The Bulldogs look to get back on the winning track when they welcome the Raiders to Purple Rider Stadium inside the Dave Bruney Football Complex.

Bridgeport was blanked at Conotton Valley (50-0) last week. They have wins over Federal Hocking (15-6) and Beallsville (46-14).

Quarterback Colin Jackson is the Bulldogs offensive leader.