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WHEELING - Wheeling Park is hoping its historic 50th Anniversary/Homecoming won't be the only thing it is celebrating Friday night when it welcomes Jefferson (1-5) to Wheeling Island Stadium.
The Patriots are stuck in a horrific four-game losing streak in which it has been outscored 185-21, the worst stretch in program history. However, the Patriots checked in at No. 11 in the latest WVSSAC ratings which were released Tuesday. The Cougars' lone victory came in week 6 via a 21-17 nod at Hedgesville. Jefferson was 13th in the latest ratings, however, the two teams are separated by a mere point (8.1 to 8.0).
The Patriots are led by senior quarterback Jay Bordas who has thrown for 1,074 yards and eight touchdowns on 89 of 134. He has been picked off five times.
His favorite receivers include junior Liam Wetzel (27 rec.-344 yds.-2TDs) and seniors Preston Heatherington (21-263-2) and Michael Neider (14-239-3). Senior Hunter Miller is the leading rusher with 97 carries for 405 yards and three touchdowns. He has two games with more than 100 yards on the ground.
Jefferson, meanwhile, has been outscored 248-61 and has been shutout twice and scored just 7 in another contest.
Wheeling Park concludes the regular season with a road trip to Oak Hill before hosting John Marshall on Nov. 6.
Jefferson has won the only two matchups between the programs. Those wins came in 1982 (12-6) and 2023 (21-14).
And Then There Was One
River (8-0) is the only 'small school' that remains unbeaten as the Pilots stormed past visiting Shenandoah last Friday, 62-36, as senior tailback Wyatt Stalder ran for seven touchdowns at Martin Flannery Field.
The Pilots will try and navigate their way to a ninth victory Friday when they travel to the Tribe Athletic Complex to face Caldwell (2-6).
River holds an 8-5 lead in the all-time series, with the Redskins winning last year, 40-7. The Pilots, however, had won the previous four meetings.
The Pilots are No. 2 in Ohio Division VI, Region 23 behind Nelsonville-York.
Bonus Points At Stake
Playoff positioning is on the line Division IV, Region 15 Friday at Red Devil Stadium when Indian Creek (5-3) and St. Clairsville (3-5) meet for the 26th time. The Redskins enter the contest No. 13 in the latest OHSAA ratings, one spot ahead of the Red Devils.
St. Clairsville holds a commanding 20-5 advantage in the all-time series. It has won the last three meetings, five of the last six and 17 of the previous 19. The Redskins last prevailed in 2019, 30-13.
The Red Devils have seemingly righted the ship after an uncharacteristic 0-5 start, the worst in head coach Brett McLean's elongated tenure. It has posted wins over Wheeling Park (49-7), Bellaire (34-28) and Brooke (14-13).
Following a 1-2 start, Indian Creek has won four of its last five, including back-to-back nods over Harrison Central (68-27) and Beaver Local (27-0).
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
- In another matchup of potential playoff entrants, Bellaire (5-3) hosts Union Local (7-1) at Nelson Field in a traditional noon kickoff Saturday at Nelson Field.
The Big Reds are No. 10 in the latest OHSAA poll, while the Jets are No. five in Division IV, Region 15.
Bellaire holds a slim, 11-10 margin in the all-time series, but Union Local has won the last three meetings
The Jets' Brody Perzanowski completed his quest for the all-time OVAC rushing record when he went for 316 - also a Union Local single-game mark - last week in 54-7 win over visiting Buckeye Local.
Both teams have huge rivalry games in week 10 at Bellaire visits Martins Ferry and Union Local goes to Barnesville.
Hello Neighbor
When Shadyside (7-1) and Bridgeport (2-6) meet Friday night on Perkins Field inside Bill Jobko Stadium, it will mark the 102nd all-time meeting. The Tigers, who are No. 4 in Ohio Division VII, Region 27, hold a 64-34 margin, with three ties.
However, the Bulldogs prevailed in 2025 by a 24-21 count.
The two Ohio 7 rivals, separated by a mere less than 10 miles, have played annually since 1921, with the exception of 1937 and 2020. They met twice in 2010, with Bridgeport winning the regular-season matchup before the Tigers won in the regional final at St. Clairsville en route to the state championship.
In other games, Martins Ferry (7-1) welcomes Toledo Woodward (1-7) to Purple Rider Stadium inside the Dave Bruney Football Complex; Monroe Central (5-3) crosses the Ohio River to meet Cameron (5-1) in a key matchup; Toronto (7-1) looks to rebound from its first loss, a 39-0 stunner at Woodsfield, when it heads south on Ohio 7 to Yorkville's World War II Memorial Stadium where Buckeye Local (0-8) awaits; Harrison Central (1-7) makes the short trip from Cadiz to Richmond to face Edison (2-6) at the Unified Sports Complex; St. Marys (2-4) heads north on W.Va. 2 to meet Magnolia (1-5) on Alumni Field at Bill Stewart Memorial Stadium in New Martinsville for their 84th all-time meeting; Weir (0-8) looks to snap a 27-game winless streak when East Liverpool (6-2) visits Jimmy Carey Stadium; Tyler Consolidated (3-3) journeys to New Manchester to face Oak Glen (3-4); Madonna (1-5) visits Lisbon David Anderson (5-3) in their first-ever contest and Linsly (3-3) entertains Independence (W.Va.) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday on Fawcett Field inside Lockhart Alumni Stadium.