Offense, defense, kicking game, running backs, linemen. Who or what will determine the winner of Friday's South Point Pointers vs. Fairland Dragons game?

Try none of the above.

Fairland head coach Bryan Ward said the biggest factor in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams may very well be Mother Nature. The current rainy weather has Ward concerned.

"The rain is an equalizer. You never know what's going to happen," said Ward. "Turnovers are going to decide this game. You'll have a muddy field, a muddy ball, and young kids on both teams. You have to take care of the ball."

Taking care of the ball has been a problem for the Pointers. An even ball game last week turned quickly on the Pointers after several fumbles in the fourth quarter. South Point ended up losing 49-14 to Northwest.

"We just have to work out some problems with execution. Taking the snap is a key for us. We just can't kill ourselves. We can't play like we did last week. We put the ball on the ground too many times," Wilcoxon said.

Ward said the Pointers loss wasn't what it seemed.

"They had an opportunity to win last week. The game was a lot closer than the scored. They were in a position to win but turned it over in the fourth quarter," Ward said.

Fairland and South Point both come into the game 1-4 and hobbled by injuries to some key personnel.

Wilcoxon said the Dragons versatility presents a problem.

"They do a variety of things offensively. They give you a lot of looks and you have to line up right," said Wilcoxon.

"Defensively, they'll be in that 4-4 look and just try and play you tough. They have a lot of young kids, but they've been playing every week and they're getting better."

The other OVC games Friday have Rock Hill at Coal Grove and Chesapeake entertaining River Valley which is making its league debut.