The Fairland Dragons have a tough task to tackle this week.

Literally.

Things won’t be easy for Fairland as the Dragons host the South Point Pointers in a must-win Ohio Valley Conference game Friday.

Fairland coach Roger Snyder said the Pointers backfield of Jacob Seagraves, Doug Dillon, Ryan Plants and Chase Woodson will be hard to stop.

“If we don’t tackle, we’ll have a tough night. Tackling and pursuit will be the key,” said Snyder.

All four backs are capable of having big games. Seagraves, Plants and Dillon have all cracked the 100-yard rushing figure on more than one occasion this season.

“We’re scared going into the game. They have three or four running backs who have really impressed us. They run into the hole hard and hit the hole quickly. Our biggest chore will be tackling,” said Snyder.

Despite starting the season 0-4, Fairland is 2-0 in the OVC and needs a win to stay on track for a showdown with Coal Grove, also 2-0 in the league.

South Point (3-4, 1-1) must win to stay alive in the race. The Pointers can hand the Dragons a loss and then hope someone beats Coal Grove to set up at least a tie for the title.

South Point coach Doug Shilot knows the implications of the outcome, but he’s more concerned at the moment with the Dragons and their current win streak.

“Coach Snyder is a veteran coach and it took a while for them to adjust to him. They’re clicking on all cylinders right now,” said Shilot.

While the Pointers have a stable of running backs, Shilot said Fairland isn’t without its weapons.

Quarterback Cole Hatfield threw for 172 yards and three scores and Matt Bloomfield ran for 199 yards and three TDs in last week’s 69-34 rout of River Valley.

“They’re balanced. They has good athletes and they have really good guys in the secondary,” said Shilot.

Snyder said in the wake of four losses — three by a touchdown or less — the Dragons did not fold.

“They were down but not out because they knew we had chances to win games. We knew we were playing good football,” said Snyder.

“We have to play well. We can’t make mistakes. Whoever makes the most mistakes is going to lose.”