Photo By Kim North St. Clairsville’s Levi Shunk (34) has a hold of a Linsly ballcarrier while teammate Sawyer Saho (25) closes in during a game from earlier this season. The Red Devils welcome Andover Pymatuning Valley to Red Devil Stadium on Friday for an Ohio Division V, Region 17 playoff game.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — St. Clairsville will be making its eighth straight Ohio High School Athletic Association state playoff berth Friday night when it welcomes Andover Pymatuning Valley to Red Devil Stadium in Division V, Region 17 action. Kickoff is set for 7 o’clock in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

The Red Devils (7-3) are 26-20 all-time in the postseason and have appeared in the playoffs every year — except 2016 — since 2010. They have scored 1,165 points in the postseason while giving up 1,032.

“We’ve got a lot of kids in this senior class that have been around here since they were in diapers. A couple, in particular, are coach’s kids, including mine,” St. Clairsville head coach Brett McLean said. “My (oldest) son, Sam, was born and three days later he was sitting here at a playoff game in the car along the fence.

“So, it’s pretty cool but we’re not satisfied in any way,” the veteran coach continued. “It’s a goal to make it, and we had to work to get in. We’ve played a brutal schedule against teams that are ranked high … 8-2, 9-1 .. and getting byes. They are bigger schools, so I hope that pays dividends now.

“We had that big win at Indian Creek (28-21, OT) two weeks ago that springboarded us points-wise to secure this first game at home.” he continued. “We gained a lot of valuable experience in that game. It was very physical, emotional and kind of old school with a big crowd and the bands playing.

“We played under pressure at the right time, the right way.”

St. Clairsville, which finished No. 5 in the ratings, has won three of its last four entering the postseason, the lone setback coming to Bloom-Carroll (24-15) which qualified for the Division III playoffs. The other losses are to Ohio Division V playoff qualifier Creston Norwayne (47-27) and West Virginia Class AAAA-ranked Wheeling Park (24-7). The Red Devils are averaging 30.6 points this fall and giving up 16.4, which includes a pair shutouts.

The Lakers (7-3) were 12th in the final ratings and have won three straight — by a combined score of 137-0 — after a two-game losing streak to Fairport (10-0) and Mogadore (9-1). They average 36.6 points an outing and yield 15, with four shutouts.

“We really don’t know a thing about them, but we’re trying to find out everything they do,” McLean noted. “It’s a clean slate. We have to have a good week mentally when you’re preparing for an opponent that you know nothing about. You play all these emotional rivalry games during the regular season, but then you get in the playoffs against an unknown opponent in the biggest game of the season, you have to be focused on the task at hand.”

St. Clairsville has been balanced on offense this season, running for 1,306 yards and passing for 1,423 more. Senior Sam McLean has passed for 1,305 and 15 touchdowns on 80 of 135. He has thrown five interceptions. Classmate Ollie Muhly is the leading rusher with 755 yards and 10 TDs and also leads the team in receptions with 15 for 269 yards and three more scores.

Junior Kale Fisher (294, 3tds) and McLean (257, td) are also capable runners. Sophomore Luke Schafer (14-268-3), senior Niko Jacob (13-191-2), sophomore Jaxon Starks (12-302-5) and senior Kaden Clifford (12-146) are other receiving targets.

Senior placekicker Parker Galloway has booted four field goals in six tries and converted 28-of-30 PATs.

Defensively, senior end Colten Florence has made 30 tackles, seven tackles for loss and charted 11 quarterback sacks, including five last week against Cambridge, which Coach Mclean said is the most-ever in a game since he has been the head coach.

Schafer has 51 tackles and is listed among the state leaders with five interceptions. Elijah Hill has amassed 68 tackles, five for lost yardage, forced three fumbles, recovered two and broke up one pass.

Pymatuning Valley is led by 6-2, 185-pound junior quarterback Justin Britton. The other skilled athletes are seniors Alex Simon (6-2, 175) and Jayce Fulkman (5-11, 160), along with junior Kasen Bailey (5-9, 170).

“They will spread you out and have a capable quarterback that can both throw and run. They have multiple targets. They are not a one-trick pony,” McLean said. “Looking at their statistics, their offense is spread out among 5-6 kids. That gives you a lot to defend. You can’t zero in on one thing. Defensively, they haven’t given up a point in three weeks. They get after you and tackle you. I’ve always said that in all my playoff experiences, that playoff teams tackle.”

McLean said for his seniors to get one last home game is very important.

“Playing at home is so huge for this senior class because that kind of got ripped off of having five home games this season due to some unfortunate circumstances,” he said. “That was a huge motivating factor to get a home game and know that they got five this season. They won their way into this one and, hopefully, they can go out and play their best football knowing that this will be the last time they play here.”

The Red Devils advanced to the Division IV, Region 15 championship game before bowing out to eventual state champion Indian Valley. A win Friday would give St. Clairsville 625 career victories.