TUPPERS PLAINS — The football game of the area will take place at 7:30 pm Friday night at East Shade River Stadium on the campus of Eastern High School when the Wahama White Falcons lay its sixth place ranking and an unbeaten 4-0 record on the line against a once beaten, 3-1, Eastern Eagle eleven.

Coach Ed Cromley's White Falcons have strung together four consecutive victories against four opponents from the Buckeye State to open the 2009 grid season. The White Falcons have defeated Buckeye Trail (48-29), Southern (42-14), Waterford (30-0) and South Gallia (18-0) in succession but the outing with Eastern looms as the biggest challenge thus far for the Bend Area team. WHS is scoring 34.5 points per game with the Falcons defense giving up just 10.7 points after pitching a pair of shutouts the past two weeks.

First year Eagle head coach Dick Tipton's high flying Eastern squad has bounced back from a season opening setback to unbeaten Alexander (21-35) to capture three in a row with wins over South Gallia (26-6), Sciotoville (20-18) and River Valley (41-6). Eastern averages 27.0 points per game with its high powered, well balanced offense while the Eagle defensive eleven is giving up 16.2 points per contest against some pretty potent opponents.

At first glance the contest appears to pit the White Falcons running game against the aerial attack of the Eagles. Senior Micaiah Branch (333 yards), junior Ryan Lee (331 yds) and sophomore Isaac Lee (185 yds) are the Falcons top ground gainers while junior Brayden Pratt (600 yds passing) and receivers Mike Johnson (300 yds) and Kyle Connery (150 yds) pace the host teams passing success.

However neither team is one dimensional as senior quarterback William Zuspan has thrown for 239 yards and four touchdowns for Wahama with Issac Lee, Tyler Kitchen and Colin Pierce being the Bend Area teams leading pass catchers. Eastern also sports a talented running attack with senior Klint Connery (300 yds) and junior Kelly Winebrenner (200 yds) the Meigs County teams rushing leaders.

Eastern will enjoy an edge in size and experience along the offensive line with four starters returning. The Eagles' senior dominated front wall is expected to find seniors Jeff Milhoan (210), Casey McKnight (200), Tyler Sanders (240) and junior Lonnie Westfall (240). Wahama is expected to send seniors Ethan McGrew (180), Kevin Klingensmith (310), Jordan Decker (215) and Matt Dangerfield (160) along with junior Ryan Anderson (240) and sophomores Jamin Branch (230) and Colton McKinney (150) to counter the experienced Eagle interior line.

Eastern will be beginning a difficult three game stretch which could define the Eagles fortunes during the 2009 football season. Following this weeks date with Wahama the Eagles enter TVC play by traveling to Trimble and hosting Federal Hocking.

Wahama will conclude the first half portion of its 2009 gridiron schedule against Eastern on Friday before encountering a second half card that sports three teams with just two losses between them. Wirt County and Williamstown currently sport a 3-1 record with Athens still unbeaten on the year in four decisions.

Kickoff time at Eastern High School on Friday is scheduled for 7:30 pm.