It's conference time.

After playing non-league opponents the past five weeks, Ohio Valley Conference teams are ready to battle each other.

With only five league contests, each game carries even more importance. This week Chesapeake hosts Fairland, Coal Grove entertains River Valley, and Rock Hill travels to South Point.

The marquee game is Fairland at Chesapeake in a battle of arch rivals.

"That's a big thing. This is the first league game and it's a rivalry. The kids are preparing hard and getting ready for the challenge," Chesapeake coach Phil Davis said.

Fairland passes on two-thirds or more of its snaps from center while the Panthers like a mix between the run and pass. Dragons coach Brent Wilcoxon said the Panthers are a talented team, but he prefers to focus on what his team can accomplish.

"Right now I'm concerned about our execution. We have to get our kids to do things the correct way. Our problems this season have been us, not our opposition," Wilcoxon said.

Quarterback Michael Hill has thrown for more than 1,000 yards in just five games including a 500-yard game earlier this season against Sheldon Clark. Davis said the passing attack is a big concern.

"It's going to be dangerous. Anything can happen when they put it up there. They caught four last year that we tipped. We just can't give them that many chances," Davis said.

"Any time you have a passing team, you want to get the ball from them. The easy thing to do is run it, but they're playing better run defense. They've improved."

Fairland is 1-4, but the last two games have been tough losses to Tolsia and Meigs. Wilcoxon said this is the proverbial "throw the records out the window" type of game.

"We've come off two disappointing losses. Any other team I might worry about our psyche, but being Chesapeake our players are up no matter what the records," Wilcoxon said. "It's a fresh start for us. The conference is wide-open."

The other two league games will be interesting matchups as well.

Coal Grove enters league play at 3-2, its best record in five seasons.

The Hornets lost 19-0 at Vinton County last week, but the game was closer than the final score. One of the Vikings touchdowns came on a 55-yard fumble recovery with the Hornets driving.

Running backs Justin Hyland and Brian Massie have proven to be the Hornets one-two punch, but sophomore Eric Davidson has taken over the quarterback position and played well since taking over for Ryan Turvey who was injured in the second game of the season.

River Valley enters the game just 1-4 with its only win against winless Southeastern.

Rock Hill and South Point are both 1-4 but offer a contrast in styles.

The Redmen rely on their running tandem of T.J. Blagg and K.C. Christian and an aggressive defense. Blagg has rushed 93 times for 532 yards and Christian has 45 carries for 415 yards.

The Pointers offense revolves around sophomore quarterback Chris Smith who has completed 50 of 125 attempts for 826 yards and five interceptions. Although Smith spreads the ball around, Jerrell Dean is his favorite deep target.

Dean, also a sophomore, has just six catches but for 224 yards and three touchdowns.