ST. CLAIRSVILLE’S Cole Thoburn runs with the ball during a game earlier this season.

St. Clairsville and Bellaire have a storied history against one another on the football field.

Another chapter will be added Friday night at Red Devil Stadium when the 3-3 Big Reds meet the 4-2 Red Devils.

“It’s another game that’s special and meaningful to both communities and schools,” St. Clairsville head coach Brett McLean said. “We’re into that meat of our schedule where we’re playing these rivalry games and our energy has to be at its fullest and prepared to play each week.”

The game takes on special meaning for Big Reds head coach Mark Bonar. He spent five seasons as the Red Devils’ head coach and worked for 25 years as an educator at St. Clairsville High School before accepting the Big Reds’ post and a teaching job there in the offseason.

“I have a wonderful relationship with so many people at St. Clairsville and it’s a little disturbing to know that they’re rooting against me this week, but I get it,” Bonar quipped. “I was looking at their roster and I’d say I only really know four or five of the kids because I taught mainly seniors and just a handful of juniors.”

On the field, both squads are coming off impressive and lop-sided victories a week ago. St. Clairsville reclaimed the Coal Bucket Trophy with a 43-0 victory at Harrison Central. The Big Reds, meanwhile, were 42-7 winners against Indian Creek.

“I think we’re really starting to figure things out,” Bonar said. “We’re figuring out who we are and what our strengths are and using those better. Our kids have played hard all season and we’ve sort of righted the ship (since a 1-3 start). We’ll see how this week goes.”

The Red Devils, meanwhile, found themselves in bounce-back mode a week ago after falling to Linsly on Sept. 16.

“Last week (at Harrison) was a big win for us,” McLean said. “Winning that Coal Bucket is one of our annual goals and we have to be ready for another tough, Buckeye 8 matchup again. These are really, really emotional and exciting games.”

When McLean surveys the Big Reds, the play of senior quarterback Jake Heatherington jumps off the film. Actually, he’s been watching Heatherington on film for four straight seasons, so he’s become familiar with him.

“I was impressed with Heatherington as a freshman and now he’s four years older,” McLean said. “He plays with a great deal of moxie and controls the game. You can tell he’s a student of the game and what they’re trying to accomplish.”

Heatherington has completed 71 of 138 throws for 897 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Big Reds have discovered their ground game the last couple of weeks, too. Senior Brayden Roth, who has 482 yards and five touchdowns on the season, has surpassed the 100-yard mark and scored in each of the last two games.

In the passing game, Heatherington’s favorite target is speedy senior Ray Ray Pettigrew, who has caught 26 balls for 366 yards and five touchowns.

St. Clairsville, meanwhile, is led by a very sound and productive ground game that features senior quarterback Andrew Vera and senior tailback Jacob Walker.

The duo has combined for 991 yards and nine touchdowns. Walker leads the club with 89 carries for 532 stripes. Vera has scored nine touchdowns.

When Vera does throw, he’s landed 40 of 71 attempts for 660 yards and eight touchdowns. His primary targets have been Cole Thoburn (10-159-3TD) and Colt Westlake (8-137-TD).

“St. Clairsville is well coached and very sound,” Bonar said. “You can tell they enter each game with a plan and they do what they do. They don’t just wing it.”