Knights, Wildcats enter rivalry 4-1

THE QUARTERBACKS — Edison’s JD Henderson and Toronto’s Zeb Kinsey each have had strong starts to their season and will look to continue it when the Wildcats meet the Red Knights in a big game on Friday night. – Andrew Grimm

TORONTO — Bragging rights are on the line as two Jefferson County rivals battle it out in one of the biggest games of the week.

The Toronto and Edison football teams have had plenty of success so far this season on the gridiron, and the Red Knights and the Wildcats are looking to notch another win on their belts as the two teams are scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Friday night at Clarke Hinkle Field.

The boys from the Gem City enter this week’s game with plenty of momentum as Toronto defeated Oak Glen, 53-13, via mercy rule last Thursday night at home.

“After the Newcomerstown game, we needed to get off to a good start, and our offense came out, executed the gameplan and got it done,” first-year Toronto (4-1) head coach Jaret Aubiel said.

After a loss to Newcomerstown in Week 3, it was important for Toronto to bounce back with a win against Oak Glen.

“It was of great importance,” Aubiel said. “We didn’t have a lot go right against Newcomerstown, and it was nice to have things go right. Hopefully, we are on the right track.”

Likewise, the Wildcats this game with a lot of momentum as Edison defeated Caldwell, 34-15, last week at home out at the Edison Unified Sports Complex.

“We got the big run that got us started,” Edison (4-1) head coach Mike Collopy said. “We executed on the offensive side of the football. I thought we had a good gameplan. Early on, we just didn’t execute.

“Defensively, we only gave up two drives. One was when we gave them a short field, and the other came at the end of the game. I thought we did a really good job defensively.

“The thing I was most happy about it was the things we worked on in practice and the things that we stressed, they went out and executed them. That carried over into the game.

“That’s not always easy to carry things over into the game. Kids are kids. Sometimes, you work on things and stress things, and it doesn’t carry over. To our kids’ credit, things did carry over. The kids played hard. I thought we missed too many tackles, but overall I was pleased with how we played.”

The Wildcats got a big lift against the Redskins when senior cornerback Zack Vangosen returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.

“That was right before the half,” Collopy said. “Zack is getting better and better every week. Chase Freeman and Skyler Willoughby did a good job. Our cornerbacks took care of the passing game. Our front three played their best game of the season, and our linebackers are getting better.

“We just need to improve. The kids and coaches are doing a good job. The things we are emphasizing and working on at practice are carrying over into games. We want to be fundamentally sound and have things carry over. We just want to get better, and we have to get better because we have a very good opponent this week.”

So far this season, Toronto has defeated East Canton, 41-0, Lowellville, 57-26 and Weir 50-0.

“They are really good,” Collopy said. “Their skill guys are really good. They have good receivers in (Aiden) Filby and (Mason) Marchbank as well as their other tight end — Close. They have (Brady) Fair. They have (Brody) Close who is good. They have a lot of weapons.

“We have a lot to prepare for. They make you defend the whole field. (Drake) Bouscher is a good running back, and they have a good offensive line. (Zeb) Kinsey gets a lot of attention – as she should – but it is not just one player.”

Toronto senior standout quarterback Zeb Kinsey completed 13-of-14 passes for a school-record 435 yards and a school-record seven touchdowns in the win against the Golden Bears.

“They are pretty balanced,” Collopy said. “They do what they have been doing. Their coach has added some wrinkles. They use different formations. They do similar things out of the formations.

“You have to be prepared for the different formations. If not, you are going to get caught in the wrong spot, and that is going to lead to big plays.”

The Red Knights’ lone loss of the season came to the Trojans, 34-6, in Week 3 on the road.

“Defensively, their guys get to the ball,” Collopy said. “They bring pressure. They have a lot of skill in the secondary.

“This is a big game. We are going to have to play hard. We are going to have to be prepared. The coaching staff and the players are going to have to be prepared. We had a good day of practice today, and tomorrow is going to have to be even better.”

On the other side, the Wildcats have won four straight games.

“Offensively, they are very balanced,” Aubiel said. “They can beat you in multiple ways. They have some good skill players. Their quarterback is very good. He’s athletic, and they have a good offensive line. It is going to be a challenge for us.”

Edison has defeated Cameron, 30-22, Southern Local, 42-24, and Oak Glen, 51-6, this season. Edison lost its opener to Shenandoah, 42-40.

“Defensively, they run to the football,” Aubiel said. “They play a 3, and they play a 4. They play Cover 3, and they play cover 4. They do a lot of things well defensively. It is going to be a challenge.”

The Wildcats have proven themselves to be a good team once again this season.

“Absolutely,” Aubiel said. “Edison is a rival. We have a lot of respect for Coach Collopy and his program. He’s a good person. We are looking forward to playing them at home Friday.”

The Red Knights are also dangerous in the return game.

“They have Filby,” Collopy said. “They are dangerous in the return game. They are dangerous on special teams. They have a lot of athletes.

“To be successful, we are going to have to eliminate the big plays, eliminate turnovers and penalties, we’re going to have to get to the football.”

Playing the Golden Bears last Thursday night gave the Red Knights an extra day to prepare for the Wildcats.

“Saturday became our prep day,” Aubiel said. “Friday became our Saturday.

“We are expecting a good game. We are looking forward to playing a rival we have a lot of respect for.”

A large crowd is expected to be in attendance Friday night.

“It is going to be a pretty loud environment,” Aubiel said. “When you have a school like Edison come to your place, you are going to have a great crowd. It is going to be packed, and hopefully we can perform well for the home crowd.”

Players can get too fired up for big games, however, that should not be an issue this week.

“No,” Aubiel said. “Is it a big game, yes, but at the end of the day it is a football game. We want to go out and execute, play hard and have fun.”

Rivalry games are a big part of what makes sports so special.

“The great thing about high school football is when you play at home, the crowd is with you, and when you are on the road, you feel like it is you against everybody,” Collopy said. “Whether you are at home or on the road, the same things apply when it comes to whether you win or lose.

“You have to take care of the football, you have to be fundamentally sound, you have to be hard-nosed and you have to get to the football. You also have to do a good job in the kicking game, and on special teams, you have to do a good job covering punts and kickoffs.

“Those things do not change whether you are at home or on the road. We just have to improve. We have to keep getting better.

“From the first day of camp, these kids have had the right mindset. They are coachable. They just keep getting better.”

Collopy said he is not concerned about his players being too fired up early on in the game.

“No, I would be concerned if they weren’t,” Collopy said. “You have to be mentally prepared. You have to ready to play. When you play a game like this, the comminutes are so close. You have to be prepared to play. You have to do a good job at practice. You have to be prepared. You have to come out ready to go. I don’t think I will have to do anything as far as motivating them to play. I would be concerned if it was the other way.”

The Red Knights enter play this week in sixth place in the Ohio Division VI, Region 21 rankings.

The Wildcats enter play this week in 11th place in the Ohio Division V, Region 17 rankings.

Toronto defeated Edison, 28-20, last season on the road.