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WHEELING - A pair of teams looking to taste victory for the first time in 2026 will meet for the 28th time Friday night on Don Ault Field inside Bison Stadium on the campus of Bethany College when Linsly (0-2) welcomes St. Clairsville (0-3).
The contest was originally scheduled for West Family Stadium at West Liberty State College, but was switched further out W.Va. 88 midweek due to the lack of locker room space. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Red Devils hold a slim, 13-12-2, all-time record against the Cadets and have won four of the last six meetings, including 24-14 last season at Red Devil Stadium.
Friday marks the fifth different venue the two teams have played at. It all started at Wheeling's Thedah Place in 1939 and the two have also met at Wheeling Island Stadium, Perkins Field in Brookside and Red Devil Stadium.
St. Clairsville has started 0-3 since the 2001 season, the year before head coach Brett McLean took over the reins. However, the Red Devils haven't lost to just anyone as their three opponents - West Branch, Union Local and Beaver Local - have posted a combined 9-0 record.
Sophomore Brody Clifford has played admirably at quarterback in place of injured junior Luke Schafer. However, the lack of a run game and the ability to stop the run has hampered the Red Devils.
Linsly, meanwhile, has dropped road games at Girard (56-14) and at Steubenville (48-7), who are a spotless 6-0.
Landon Cottrill is Linsly's quarterback. His favorite receivers are Chris Upton, Nolan Smith and Justin Heckman, while the running attack is by committee.
In West Virginia contests, Wheeling Park (1-1) makes the trek to the eastern panhandle to meet Musselman (0-2) at Waldeck Field in Inwood; Brooke (1-0) entertains Cambridge (0-3) on Paul 'Bud' Billiard Field inside Brooke Memorial Stadium in Wellsburg; Oak Glen (1-1) travels to Shinnston to meet South Harrison (1-1) and Madonna (1-1) visits Southern Garrett County, Md. (0-1).
- The Patriots are coming off a 46-28 loss at home to Spring Mills. They won at Parkersburg South (28-21) in the opener.
The Appleman lead the all-time series 5-3, but Wheeling Park has won two of the last three matchups, both coming in 2024, including a home playoff victory.
- The Bruins had a week off after dispatching Lincoln County (46-6) on the road to open the campaign. Brooke leads the all-time series 1-0, that coming in a 24-14 win last year.
The Bobcats are riding a dubious 34-game losing streak.
- The Golden Bears are also coming off a loss, a 49-14 shellacking at River after a season-opening 35-0 blasting of Hancock County rival Weir.
The Hawks blanked Braxton County (14-0) before falling to Lincoln (27-20) last week.
- The Blue Dons got their first victory - a 41-0 whitewashing of Van - last week after not having football last fall. The Rams were routed, 58-9, by Mt. Ridge, Md.
In Ohio, six local squads look to remain unbeaten after four weeks as Barnesville (3-0) ventures to Yorkville's World War II Memorial Stadium to battle winless Buckeye Local (0-3); Martins Ferry (3-0) heads north to the Unified Sports Complex in Richmond to meet Edison (1-2); River (3-0) entertains Ohio River rival Magnolia (0-2) at Martin Flannery Field in Hannibal; Shadyside (3-0) hosts Frontier (3-0) at Fleming Field in Tiger Town; Steubenville (3-0) treks to Youngstown State University's Stambaugh Stadium to face Cardinal Mooney (2-1) and Toronto welcomes rival Steubenville Catholic (1-2) to Clarke Hinkle Stadium.
- The Shamrocks will look to continue their mastery over the Panthers. Barnesville is 7-0 all-time against Buckeye Local, including a 41-0 blitzing last year. The Shamrocks have outscored the Panthers 278-37 and have posted a trio of shutouts.
Trey Toliver leads the Shamrocks in rushing. He's the program’s all-time leader.
Barnesville has road wins at John Glenn (34-19) and Meadowbrook (47-14) while defeating Bellaire (33-0) last week at Shamrock Stadium. Buckeye Local has yet to taste victory with losses to Bellaire (43-13), River (40-8) and Shadyside (61-6).
- The Purple Riders look to continue their winning ways. They own triumphs over Mount Gilead (42-19), Columbus Mifflin (60-6) and Brashear (53-15).
Colby Kropka, Walkquem Cox, Jakori Cox and Jacob Theaker have been stellar.
The Wildcats are coming off a thrilling, 14-13, edging of Monroe Central. They suffered losses at Coshocton (24-21) and at Carrollton (23-6) to open the season.
Martins Ferry leads the all-time series 8-2, but Edison prevailed 48-20 last season. The other Wildcat win came in 2012.
- "The Battle of the Bridge" unfolds for the 56th time as the Pilots host the Blue Eagles. The teams have played annually since 1970, with River on top 30-25.
River, which holds a 30-25 edge in the all-time rivalry, owns victories over Portsmouth Notre Dame (41-6), Buckeye Local (40-8) and Oak Glen (49-14). The Pilots have won six in a row over Magnolia and eight of the last nine.
Magnolia has lost at home to Frontier (45-14) and Wirt County (34-12).
The Pilots have scored 1,097 points in the all-time series, which is only 35 more than the Blue Eagles (1,062).
- The Tigers haven't started 4-0 since 2021 when they were 6-0 before finishing 11-2. This will be the eighth meeting all-time, with Shadyside holding a 5-2 advantage, which includes a 13-6 win in 2025.
Shadyside has defeated East Palestine (49-13), Southern Local (49-0) and Buckeye Local (61-6). Those three are, however, a dismal 0-9 combined.
The Cougars have wins over Bridgeport (50-14), Magnolia (45-14) and Belpre (41-6). Those three are a combined 2-6.
- Big Red seeks its eighth straight win in the series as it holds a slim, 8-7, advantage all-time. The first nine meetings were all playoff encounters, with the Cardinals claiming the first seven. They last won in 2013.
Steubenville has 887 career wins, including 27-24 in overtime last season at Harding Stadium.
Big Red has won over Riverside (35-14), Dover (44-14) and Linsly (48-7).
Cardinal Mooney sandwiched victories over Lake Catholic (41-7) and Canfield (19-7) around a loss at Garfield Heights (39-37).
- Bragging rights in Jefferson County will be at stake when the Crusaders and Red Knights do battle in the Gem City.
This will be the 51st meeting all-time, with Steubenville Catholic holding a 32-17-1 advantage. However, the Red Knights have won seven of the last nine matchups, including 17-6 last season
Toronto has beaten Southern Local (33-0), Newcomerstown (27-20) and Brookfield (7-6).
The Crusaders stopped a two-game losing skid to Lucas (29-13) and Strasburg (28-0) with a rout of Bishop Rosecrans (41-7) last week.
In other games, Indian Creek (1-2) travels to Jimmy Carey Stadium in Weirton to battle winless Weir (0-2); Bridgeport (1-2) seeks to even its record by trekking to Stewart, Ohio, to meet Federal Hocking (0-3) and Monroe Central (2-1) hosts Caldwell (1-2) at Monroe Park in Woodsfield.