Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Stay focused.
In games that appear to be one-sided, favored teams will have to be ready for underdog teams looking to improve and provide their program with a positive moment.
The Rock Hill Redmen (5-2, 2-2) will need to rebound mentally after an emotional game last week against Ironton.
Rock Hill visits winless Gallipolis (0-7, 0-4) who use quarterback Justin McClelland to test the Redmen secondary.
The Chesapeake Panthers (6-1, 3-1) are coming off a tough three-game stretch against Coal Grove, Ironton and Portsmouth.
The Panthers can’t afford a loss as they try to enhance their postseason playoff chances. They will be playing at South Point where the winless Pointers (0-7, 0-4) continue to adjust to interim coach Chase Kratzenberg.
The Pointers played well last week in a loss to Fairland as their running game racked up more than 300 yards.
Speaking of Fairland, the Dragons (2-5, 2-2) have won two straight and hope to continue their improved play as they visit the Portsmouth Trojans ((4-3, 2-2).
Fairland — winless last season — played the Trojans tough for the first half last year. With a year’s experience under the belts of running back Keedrick Cunningham and quarterback Joel Lambiotte, the Dragons could close the gap against Portmsouth.
In the Southern Ohio Conference, the Symmes Valley Vikings gave a better performance last week against a solid Portsmouth Notre Dame and will host the Manchester Greyhounds.
The Vikings are 1-6 and 0-4 in the SOC while the Greyhounds are also 1-6 with a 24-16 win over Dayton Jefferson in week five.
Manchester lost at Portsmouth Notre Dame 59-0 in week two.
In other area games of interest, Coal Grove visits Ironton, Green travels to Beaver Eastern, Portsmouth Notre Dame goes to Northwest, Oak Hill is at Sciotoville East in a showdown for first place in the SOC I, Waverly hosts Portsmouth West, Minford treks to Wheelersburg and Lucasville Valley entertains Pikeville, Ky.