By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

Coal Grove at Trimble

Look for the football to stay on the ground.

Coal Grove has a quality one-two punch in Bubba Wood and Boo Woods while the Tomcats counter with running back Tyler Dyla.

Last season Dyla set a school record with 1,727 yards rushing and he also scored 15 touchdowns.

The Hornets have a sophomore quarterback in Alex Bare while Trimble uses a two-quarterback system with Charles Kish and Justin Jewell. Kish is the better passer but the team is better when he is at tight end.

Trimble routed South Gallia 56-22 last week.

Rock Hill at Portsmouth West

The Redmen need to be healthy.

Last week, the offense took a hit when quarterback Will McCollister suffered a concussion and did not play the entire second half and part of the first half. Not only does McCollister give Rock Hill a passing threat, but he is the team’s leading rusher.

Whether McCollister plays or not, the defense has to step up. The linemen have to play physical against the strong West linemen, the linebackers must slow down fullback Trevon Pendleton, and the secondary has to prevent quarterback Levi Ratliff and running back Adam Bricker from getting outside.

Offensively, the Redmen must be able to run the ball and play keep-away.

South Point at Point Pleasant

Point Pleasant stubbed its toe against Tolsia, but don’t expect that to be a common occurrence.

The running game is a two-headed monster featuring JaWaan Williams and Chris Blankenship. Both have more than 200 yards rushing on the season.

If the Pointers try to stop the running game, the Black Knights’ quarterback Eric Roberts is more than capable. He has completed 14 of 25 passes for 179 yards in their two wins. Against Sissonville, Point Pleasant racked up 521 total yards including 433 on the ground.

The Pointers didn’t back down last week against a strong Portsmouth West team and should be a tougher test for Point Pleasant than some experts might think.

Manchester at Symmes Valley

The Greyhounds entered this season with an 0-20 record over the past two years and they are now 0-3. But first-year head coach Gene Peterson — who was previously at Fleming County, Ky. — said this Manchester team has some size but lacks depth.

Peterson has installed a wishbone offense that will throw sparingly. Defensively, Peterson is implementing what he calls a “confusion” defense.

The Greyhounds will rely on their ground game on offense. Tyler Grooms, Ian Watterson and Ian Gulley provide the major production in the backfield. Quarterback Dalton Walters will run or throw.

Lucasville Valley at Chesapeake

The Chesapeake Panthers need a win, and they have to figure out which team plans to show up Friday.

The Panthers need their offensive and defensive lines to step up against the Indians who have an array of skilled players.

Quarterback Blake Yates has been the Indians main weapon running and throwing. Alex Holcomb can run and catch. Experience gives the Indians an advantage at the skilled positions, so the Panthers must control the line of scrimmage to help neutralize Lucasville’s explosive offense.

Green at Buffalo

Green’s mission is simple. Stop Cameron Jones.

Buffalo is relying on the versatility of the senior.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder can play wide receiver, running back and quarterback. Playing all three positions last year, Jones was third in Kanawha and Putnam counties with 32 receptions for 496 yards.

Jones has drawn interest from several colleges including Marshall, Bowling Green, VMI and James Madison.

Buffalo has its work cut out for it. The Bisons have to stop a Green ground game that racked up 500 yards last week.