Rock Hill at Fairland

It's not Halloween, but Rock Hill coach Todd Knipp can't help feeling like there are ghosts and goblins in the air.

Even though the Fairland Dragons at 1-6 and 0-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference compared to his team's 6-1 and 2-0 records, Knipp is more than worried about the wide-open attack of the Dragons.

&#8221This game scares me more than any game we've played. We've had problems with them in the past except for last year,“ Knipp said. &#8221(Wide receiver Sam) Huff really scares me. He's a great athlete. He can do a lot of different things.“

Fairland lost 52-50 last week at Coal Grove despite 465 yards of offense. Quarterback Rich Staggs was 20 of 37 for 309 yards.

&#8221They're good offensively. They spread the ball around and do a lot of different stuff. They have some good skilled players who are dangerous,“ Knipp said.

Rock Hill likes to pound the ball with running backs K.C. Christian, T.J. Blagg, Josh &#8221Deuce“ Moore and Dustin Harper.

&#8221I think we match up pretty decent, but any time you operate in that much space, one mistake and you're hurt. They've been able to put points on the board all year,“ Knipp said.

Portsmouth Notre Dame

at Symmes Valley

It's time for a playoff push.

After last week's loss to Lucasville Valley virtually ended the Vikings hopes of a fourth straight Southern Ohio Conference title, the hopes for a postseason playoff berth are still very much alive.

Portsmouth Notre Dame (2-5, 1-2) has proved better offensively this year than last season, but the Titans have only two wins to show for their efforts. Quarterback Matt Mader (6-0, 210), tight end Ben Haaf (6-0, 190) and wide receiver John Stuart (5-8, 150) fuel the passing game with Brad Hoover (5-10,180) and Joey Emnett (5-10, 160) the key running backs.

Symmes Valley (4-3, 2-1) needs to win its final three games - Notre Dame, East, Guyan Valley, W.Va. - to not only finish second in the SOC but qualify for the playoffs. While a home game does not appear in the picture at this time, a postseason berth would be the first time the Vikings have qualified for the playoffs four straight years.

Green at East

With East, Oak Hill and Harts, W.Va., remaining on the schedule, Green (4-3) has the opportunity to finish with a winning record for the first time since 1990 with an outside chance to make the Division VI playoffs.

Green has been winning with a strong defense, but it will be tested this week with the running of East running back Arthur Henderson (5-9, 190).

But Henderson isn't the Bobcats only concern. Quarterback Brent Downing is a passing and running threat.

&#8221East is a good offensive team. They were able to score twice against Lucasville which is something we couldn't do or even Symmes Valley,“ Green coach Kevin Sheridan said.

The Bobcats have been more balanced this season. Fullback Mark Castro is the main running back, but halfback Dustin Williams brings much-needed speed and quarterback Derek Lewis has generated a passing threat.

Portsmouth

at Ironton

The annual rivalry could looks to be more one-sided as Portsmouth (1-6) is in the rebuilding process.

Ironton (6-1) needs a win to keep pace with Bellaire in the battle for first place in Region 15 of Division IV.

Portsmouth has scraped its T-formation and Pro-I for the shotgun and spread formation. Quarterback Shane Porter has a good arm and is poised for a sophomore. His favorite target is A.J. Johnson and Cliff Alexander is the top running threat.

While the offense has been able to move the ball, the Trojans defense has allowed 295 points, an average of 42.1 per game.

Ironton is averaging 31 points a game and has allowed 12.9 points.

Running backs Darius Lewis and Jared Murphy have combined for more than 1,000 yards. Lewis had 663 yards and 12 touchdowns and Murphy 406 yards and seven TDs.

Quarterback Chad Miller is 25 of 42 for 443 yards. Brandon Walker has 10 receptions for 296 yards and two scores.