STEUBENVILLE — Steubenville will be looking to improve to 9-0 Friday night when Eric McDowell, Pa., visits Reno Field inside Harding Stadium.

Big Red is ranked No. 2 in Ohio Division III, Region 11 behind Columbus Bishop Watterson, while the Trojans (6-2) have won five straight since a 1-2 start, with both losses coming to Ohio Division I powerhouses Walsh Jesuit (47-21) and Mentor (50-14). Both teams are 8-0.

Steubenville has beaten Cincinnati Archbishop McNicholas, New Philadelphia, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, University Prep (Pa.), Dover, Wheeling Park, Linsly and Huron Heights from Canada.

Carrick Pa. at Wheeling Central

WHEELING — The streaking Maroon Knights (5-2) welcome the Lions (3-4) to Bishop Schmitt Field on the campus of Wheeling University.

Wheeling Central has won four straight after back-to-back losses to Fort Frye and Williamstown. It is ranked No. 7 in the latest WVSSAC poll after throttling Steubenville Catholic (38-6) last week.

Other victories for the Maroon Knights have come over James Monroe, Midland Trail, Perry Traditional Academy (Pa.) and Ron C. Brown from Washington, D.C.

Carrick has won three of its last four after an 0-3 beginning. They defeated Perry Traditional Academy, 19-16, last week.

Shenandoah at Barnesville

BARNESVILLE — The Shamrocks (8-0) will be seeking their 35th consecutive regular-season victory when the Zeps (2-6) invade Shamrock Stadium.

Barnesville hasn’t tasted defeat since week 4 of the 2021 season, going 10-0 the past two campaigns. It is ranked third in Ohio Division V, Region 19 and is one of only two unbeaten teams in the region — the other Columbus Academy of Gahanna.

The Shamrocks also sit atop the OVAC Class 3A standings.

Shenandoah has dropped its last six outings since a 2-0 start. It fell at River 38-7 last week.

Martins Ferry at Rootstown

ROOSTOWN — The state-ranked Purple Riders (7-1) hit the road this week with a nearly two-hour trip to Robert C. Dunn Field in Portage County to face the Rovers (4-4).

Martins Ferry checks in at No. 11 in Ohio Division V, Region 17. It has won four straight after a loss at St. Clairsville, outscoring its opponents 188-7 since that setback. Included in those totals are shutouts of Brownsville, Pa., Fairfield Christian Academy and Cambridge (41-0) last week.

Rootstown has won three of its last four outings, the last being a 42-22 conquest of Grand Valley last week. The Rovers four wins have come against teams with a combined 2-30 record.

Shadyside at Bridgeport

BROOKSIDE — The Tigers (2-6) and Bulldogs (3-5) both have playoff aspirations when they collide on Perkins Field inside Bill Jobko Stadium.

Shadyside enters the fray ranked in a tie for 13th in Division VII, Region 27, while Bridgeport is 15th.

The Tigers have prevailed in two of their last four outings, collecting wins over Portsmouth Notre Dame and River, while the Bulldogs have lost three of their last four, the lone win coming at Beallsville. They have also defeated Frontier and Mathews.

Harrison Central at Edison

RICHMOND — A pair of teams headed in different directions meet at the Unified Sports Complex.

The Huskies have fallen seven straight weeks after a week 1 win at Claymont. They were beaten 42-7 last week by visiting Waterford.

The Wildcats have won six of their last seven and have vaulted into sixth place in Division V, Region 17. They own wins over Cameron, Southern Local, Oaks Glen, Caldwell, Toronto and Buckeye Local last week, 44-0. The lone loss during that stretch was 21-20 to East Liverpool in overtime.

Saturday

Union Local at Bellaire

BELLAIRE — In a traditional noon kickoff at Nelson Field, the Jets (7-1) will look to bounce back from a loss at home to St. Clairsville.

Union Local opened with a school-record seven consecutive wins and are ranked No. 8 in Division V, Region 19.

The Big Reds (4-4), No. 21 in Division V, Region 17, have lost three straight after a three-game winning streak. They have wins over Buckeye Local, Bishop Tonnos of Canada, Brownsville, Pa., and Cambridge.

Other games on Friday include Cambridge at Beaver Local, Toronto at Caldwell, Cameron at Clay-Battelle, Columbiana at Wellsville, Monroe Central at Frontier, Southern Local at Lisbon, St. Marys at Magnolia, Morgantown at Parkersburg South, Calhoun County at Valley, Fort Frye at Warren Local, East Liverpool at Weir, Linsly at Dover and Racine Southern at Paden City.

On Saturday, Steubenville Catholic hosts Conotton Valley.