Rivalries fuel the week ahead...

Rivalries will highlight the week of Oct. 12 as Wayne hosts Tolsia and Ironton hosts Portsmouth this Friday night.

The Pioneers remain undefeated, but will be looking to avenge a loss to Tolsia in the 2006 regular season. This matchup is also a rematch of the 2006 Class AA championship game.

Meanwhile, Tanks Memorial Stadium is once again rocking as the Fighting Tigers have righted the ship with five straight victories heading into the titanic tilt with the Trojans.

Ironton has won four straight in Ohio's second oldest rivalry, including last year's 49-42 shootout and leads the overall series 54-51-8.

This week's matchups also signal the stretch run of the high school football season with several teams looking to finish strong.

In our area, Spring Valley is the only team still with playoff aspirations after beating winless Huntington over the weekend. They will take on winless Lincoln County at home on Friday.

Cabell Midland will be tested by a Nitro offense that produced 58 points in a win over previously undefeated St. Albans, Huntington's opponent for the week.

In Ohio, Coal Grove and South Point headline OVC play while Rock Hill travels to Chesapeake and Fairland makes its acquaintence with River Valley at Dragon Stadium.