If this were a boxing match, it would be a couple of heavyweights.

The Coal Grove Hornets and South Point Pointers prefer to run the football and use the passing game as an after-thought.

So when the two teams clash at South Point on Friday, expect the pounding to continue as they battle to keep their Ohio Valley Conference title hopes alive.

“They looked pretty balanced. They run a lot of kids,” said Hornets coach Dave Lucas. “They do a lot of the same things we do, so it’ll come down to who executes their techniques the best.”

Pointers first-year head coach Doug Shilot said Coal Grove’s power running game and size is causing him a lot of concerns.

Coal Grove’s size up front is led by Dustin Harmon (6-2, 260), Tyler Allen (6-3, 260), and Tyler Dean (6-0, 205).

“Coal Grove does a good job. Coach Lucas just lines up and comes right at you. If can’t stop them, they just keep coming at you,” said Shilot.

“They’re bigger than us, so it’s always a concern with match up problems. They’re willing to push you around. Basically, (Lucas) has the philosophy to run the ball and throw in the pass. We do realize they can throw the ball if they need to.”

South Point, 3-4, comes into the game 2-0 in the conference with easy wins over River Valley and Chesapeake. Coal Grove (4-2) is now 1-1 in the league after beating Chesapeake last week following a loss to Fairland the prior week.

South Point can take a major step towards winning the league with a win. Coal Grove must win to keep its title hopes alive.

“Any time you’ve got an opportunity to control your own destiny it’s better than not having any choice. We’re going to try and match up and go one at a time. We can’t worry about what’s going to happen at the end,” said Lucas.

Shilot agreed with Lucas. He said the Pointers can’t look beyond Friday.

“It’s always just one game at a time. We have Coal Grove in our sights. We’re preparing for them and we’re going to give our best effort Friday and that’s all we can try to do right now,” said Shilot.