MORRISTOWN — Two teams headed in opposite directions heading into week 9 collide at Jets Stadium Friday night when Union Local hosts Bellaire in the 28th all-time meeting. The Big Reds hold an 18-9 advantage as the Belmont County rivals have played every year since 1999, with the exception of the COVID season in 2020.

The Jets (6-2) have reeled off five consecutive victories since back-to-back losses to W.Va.-ranked Wheeling Central (25-19) and undefeated Indian Creek (23-15). The wins have come over Harrison Central (28-3), Warren Local (35-0), Beaver Local (33-14), Cambridge (48-0) and Buckeye Local (42-0). They opened the season by defeating Warren JFK (42-12).

One constant for Union Local has been its rushing attack led by junior Brody Perzanowski. He established a new school rushing record earlier this season, surpassing Jaksan Price’s old mark.

Bellaire (3-6), meanwhile, has dropped three straight and five of six after a 2-0 start. It was lost to Indian Creek (52-32), St. Clairsville (21-14) and Harrison Central (29-26). The Big Reds last tasted victory on Sept. 19 when they beat Cambridge (18-15). They also defeated Buckeye Local (31-6) and Monroe Central (44-27) before falling to Barnesville (40-0) and John Marshall (34-26).

Junior quarterback Michael Dippel has been a pleasant surprise for Bellaire, which lost junior standout Raekwon Pettigrew to a season-ending injury in the loss to the Monarchs.

Union Local enters the Homecoming contest No. 8 in the most recent OHSAA Division V, Region 19 ratings, while Bellaire sits in 15th in Division V, Region 17. The top 12 advance to the postseason.

Cameron at Monroe Central

WOODSFIELD — The Dragons (4-1) and Seminoles (2-6) will tangle for only the ninth time when they square off at Monroe Park on Friday night. Monroe Central holds a slim 4-3-1 advantage.

The two schools haven’t met on the gridiron since 1968 when Cameron won, 8-7.

Cameron is No. 6 in the latest WVSSAC ratings and bounced back from its lone loss (14-12 to Tyler Consolidated) and a week off with a romp past Valley (50-36). The Dragons have also beaten Clay-Battelle (22-16), St. Marys (40-2) and River (46-15).

Monroe Central, meanwhile, is 19th in Division VI, Region 23. It saw a two-game win streak halted with a 35-21 setback at Toronto last week. The Seminoles own wins over River (21-14), Magnolia (47-12) and Shenandoah (35-12). Their other losses have been to Liberty Union (21-20), Bellaire (44-27), Caldwell (41-0) and Barnesville (48-7).

St. Clairsville at Indian Creek

WINTERSVILLE — This is a matchup of one team — the visiting Red Devils (5-3) — fighting for their playoff lives, while the Redskins (8-0) are looking to host a second-round playoff game when they clash at Robert S. Kettlewell Memorial Stadium.

St. Clairsville has dropped two of its last three and is 10th in the most recent OHSAA Division V, Region 17 ratings. The top 12 advance to the playoffs, with the top 4 receiving a bye and then hosting a game. Indian Creek is currently No. 5 in Division IV, Region 15.

This will be the 25th all-time meeting, with the Red Devils holding a commanding 19-5 advantage, including the last two, four of the last five and 15 of the last 17 as they won 11 in a row from 2005-2015.

St. Clairsville has wins over Brownsville, Pa. (49-13), Beaver Local (38-7), Linsly (24-14), East Liverpool (45-0) and Bellaire (21-14). Its losses have come at the hands of Creston Norwayne (47-27), Wheeling Park (24-7) and Bloom Carroll (24-15).

Indian Creek has rolled over Cambridge (35-6), East Liverpool (37-19), Union Local 23-15), Weir (46-22), Brooke (41-14), Bellaire (52-32), Harrison Central (41-28) and Beaver Local (35-28).

Barnesville vs. Independence, W.Va.

MARIETTA — The Shamrocks (7-1) conclude a 4-game swing against West Virginia squads when they face the West Virginia-ranked Patriots on the FieldTurf surface at Don Drumm Stadium on the campus of Marietta College. Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m.

Barnesville is No. 6 in the latest OHSAA Division V, Region 19 ratings and has won back-to-back contests since its lone loss — a 17-14 reversal to then-unbeaten George Washington (6-1). The Shamrocks have beaten Wheeling Central (43-14) and Linsly (34-7) the past two weeks. They also own victories over Fort Frye (35-7), Meadowbrook (51-21), Bellaire (40-0), Buckeye Local (56-0) and Monroe Central (48-7).

Independence enters as the No. 1 team in W.Va. Class AA ratings released earlier in the week. It has steamrolled past Herbert Hoover (37-34), Martins Ferry (35-14), Warren Local (35-0), Scott (53-0), Bluefield (31-10) and Westside (49-6).

Bridgeport at Shadyside

SHADYSIDE — The Bulldogs (3-5) and Tigers (2-6) will clash for the 101st time Friday night on the artificial surface at Fleming Field. Shadyside holds a commanding 64-33-3 all-time advantage in the series which dates back to 1921.

The Tigers streak of 20 consecutive postseason appearances is on the line as they are 20th in the latest OHSAA Division VII, Region 27 ratings — two spots behind Bridgeport.

Shadyside has won the last 14 meetings and 24 of the last 26 between the Ohio 7 rivals, with the Bulldogs last winning in 2009-2010.

Dover vs. Linsly

WEST LIBERTY — The Crimson Tornadoes (3-5) and Cadets ( 1-5) will renew acquaintances for the fifth time Friday night when they meet on the artificial surface at West Liberty University’s West Family Stadium.

Dover leads the all-time series 3-1, but the lone Linsly win came in 2022 at West Liberty, 21-20.

The Crimson Tornadoes won last year’s meeting, 34-25.

IN OTHER games of interest, Steubenville welcomes Erie McDowell, Pa. to Harding Stadium; Weir travels to East Liverpool; Edison visits Wagner Field in Cadiz to face Harrison Central; River entertains Caldwell at Martin Flannery Field in Hannibal; Buckeye Local heads to Clarke Hinkle Field in Toronto to meet the Red Knights; and Oak Glen treks to Kidwell to tangle with Tyler Consolidated.