MARTINS FERRY, Ohio — One of the Ohio Valley’s biggest high school football rivalries is getting another chapter as the Bellaire Big Reds and Martins Ferry Purple Riders prepare to face off in the Ohio Division V, Region 17 playoffs.
The highly anticipated matchup is scheduled for Friday, October 30, at 7 p.m. at the Dave Bruney Sports Complex in Martins Ferry.
The playoff meeting brings additional excitement to an already intense rivalry between two neighboring communities with a long history of competitive football.
Martins Ferry will have the home-field advantage as the Purple Riders look to advance in the postseason, while Bellaire will be aiming to knock off its rival and continue its own playoff run.
The matchup also puts local bragging rights back on the line, giving fans from both sides another opportunity to rally behind their teams.
With the stakes higher than a regular-season meeting, Friday night’s game is expected to draw plenty of attention from football fans throughout Belmont County and the surrounding Ohio Valley.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday at the Dave Bruney Sports Complex, located at 15 Lombard Street in Martins Ferry.
For Bellaire and Martins Ferry, it’s more than another football game — it’s a rivalry showdown with a spot in the next round of the playoffs on the line.
