In any other year, this would be the midway point in the high school football season. But this weekend has a week 10 feel in this coronavirus pandemic campaign.

Leetonia (5-0) travels to United (4-1) on Friday in a game that will decide the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference champion.

The Bears moved up two spots to 10th in the Division VII state poll released Monday.

“Our seniors go from 0-10 their freshman year to being ranked 10th in the state,” Leetonia coach Paul Hulea said. “They do movies about that kind of stuff.”

Leetonia can clinch a share of the EOAC title with a win, while a United win could force a three-way tie with Southern, the two-time defending league champion.

The final week of league play will be held sometime after the playoffs, which begin Oct. 9-10.

“The goal is to get the seventh game in,” EOAC commissioner Howard Friend said.

There’s still a lot of action before then.

Friday’s game will feature some of the area’s top offensive threats in Leetonia senior running back Marco Ferry, United senior receiver Keaton Baker and United senior quarterback Brutus Ogilvie.

Ferry, the area’s leading rusher, hurt his ankle against East Palestine in the first half of Saturday’s game and sat out the rest of the night.

“It’s still up in the air for him,” Hulea said. “He was at the doctor (Monday). We’re going to have to wait and see.”

Ferry has rushed for 1,040 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 8 yards a carry.

The Bears scored a 51-7 win over East Palestine in a game that was moved to Youngstown State’s Stambaugh Stadium.

“It was fun. The kids had a great experience,” Hulea said. “Everything these kids have gone through to play this year, they deserved something.”

This week Leetonia takes on a high-powered United passing attack.

Baker has 45 receptions for 855 yards (19.0) and eight touchdowns along with two rushing touchdowns and kickoff return for another score.

“What an outstanding player he is,” Hulea siad. “They have a bunch of other receivers.”

Ogilvie has completed 120 of 161 passes (74.5 percent) for 1,679 yards and 14 touchdowns. He threw his first three interceptions last Friday in a 34-21 loss at Southern. He opened the season by throwing 126 passes before his first interception.

“I hope we’re going to go over there and give them a game,” Hulea said.

The Eagles face another test this week as Leetonia hasn’t given up more than 14 points in a game and a total of 48 points all season.

“We’ve just got to try to do what we do,” Hulea said. “This is our biggest game because it’s our next game. I’ve said that a thousand times since I’ve coached.”

The Eastern Buckeye Conference will be decided Friday as West Branch travels to Canton South in a battle of state-ranked unbeatens. Both teams are 5-0 with West Branch ranked 11th and Canton South 14th in Division IV.

West Branch has scored at least 34 points in every game, while Canton South has not allowed more than 20 points in any game this season.

South Range (5-0) remained third in Division V. The Raiders are a game ahead of Poland and Hubbard in the Northeast 8 Conference heading into Friday’s game at Hubbard.

The Raiders have won nine straight regular-season games.

Springfield (5-0) is ranked fourth in Division IV. The Tigers carry a 19-game regular-season win streak into Friday’s game at Jackson-Milton. Springfield has outscored its five opponents a combined 243-44 this season.

Other teams of local interest include Austintown Fitch (5-0) ranked 11th in Division II heading into Friday’s home game against Steubenville; Canfield (5-0) at fourth in Division III entering into Friday’s home game against Boardman; St. Clairsville (5-0) at first in Division IV; and Warren JFK (4-1) and Malvern (5-0) ranked fifth and seventh, respectively, in Division VII.