HANNIBAL — There shouldn’t be any shortage of fireworks Friday night in Sugar Grove if you’re comparing offensive numbers of River High School and its second-round OHSAA Region 27 playoff opponent, Fairfield Christian Academy.

It’s the #4 seed Knights, averaging 44 ppg when they win, hosting veteran coach Mike Flannery’s #5 seed Pilots, averaging 46 ppg, in a rematch of last year’s D-VII round two. The contest will be at FCA’s temporary home turfed field at Berne Union.

An R27 finalist a year ago, the 8-2 record Rivermen opened the playoffs with a convincing 49-21 win over Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans, while the 9-2 record Knights won a 61-54 slugfest over Sciotoville East.

“(FCA) didn’t lose many starters from a year ago while we have a lot of new starters,” mentioned Flannery, in his 21st season at the Pilot helm and enjoying his 12th postseason trip. “We have to play a clean game– meaning no turnovers, penalties, and to limit them on offense.”

The River mentor added, “I’m very confident in our defense, but (FCA) has some explosive playmakers and one of the quickest backs (Danny Blair) we’ll see this year.”

Blair had a video game-like 464-yard rush effort against Rosecrans midseason in a 61-58 win, which ranked 14th all-time in OHSAA single-game history. He has 18 TDs to his credit, while receiver Rusty Hutchinson had six TDs last week versus East, including a kick return. Quarterback Gabe Welsh threw all four TDs in round one to Hutchinson.

River’s starters played only the first half a week ago in dismantling Rosecrans, but made their presence known in all three phases, especially Lucas Dennis. The versatile junior ran for a TD, caught a 71-yarder for six, and returned an interception 70.

Flannery hopes his club can use a similar formula this week. “We want to run the ball, move the chains and use the clock to keep (FCA’s) offense off the field.”

Fairfield Christian, the Mid-State League Cardinal champion under third-year coach Marcus Pardon-Dudash, has lost to R25’s lone unbeaten, Danville, and D-6 Martins Ferry.

Senior quarterback Kabel Isaly directed River’s offense a week ago, if only for a half, as the returning D-VII all-Ohioan threw for two TDs and had a 93-yard punt return. A three-year starter, he’s thrown for 19 TDs (99-of-147) and 1,758 yards, averaging 17.7 yards per completion.

As far as receivers and backs, Flannery said, “it’s a selfless group, doesn’t care who gets credit for a big play. We can mix it up and spread it out. If one player gets a hot hand we’ll continue to feed him.”

Dennis and senior Maddox Mozena “have close to 500 yards and 50 catches combined,” the RHS mentor noted, “and (senior Finn) Bowers, a stalwart back/receiver, has 20 catches for 300 yards.

Senior Kaden Johnson, whom Flannery nicknamed ‘Csonk’ because of the similar punishing run style of former Miami Dolphin Larry Csonka, has 12 TDs and close to 600 run stripes, while senior Colton Cisar “has made some important catches for us this season.”

River’s O-line starters look to continue their stellar work after seeing action for a half in round one. Seniors on the left are guard Cooper Cordery and Hunter Nething, while seniors on the right are guard Zeke Zola and tackle Matthew Gregg. Sophomore Carter Piatt is at center.

The Pilot ‘D’ has most of the same faces, along with linebackers Braden Johnson, Parker Bennett and Wyatt Stalder. Derek Smith at 6-4, 285 is a run stuffing nose tackle, while Bowers and Kaden Johnson are ends. Cisar, Dennis, Isaly and Devin McElwain are D-backs capable of big plays.

Sophomore placekicker Wyatt Majors was perfect on all seven chances a week ago.

“I believe in our kids and we’re pretty focused for this one,” said Flannery, who achieved his 201st career win last week.

River prevailed over Academy 55-12 a year ago on home turf. Friday’s winner faces the winner between #1 seed Reedsville Eastern (10-1) and #8 seed Monroe Central (7-4) in a R27 semi-final at a neutral site.