Friday's matchup between the Rock Hill Redmen and Fairland Dragons can best be described in one small word: BIG.

It will be a game with big ramifications as the "big" Redmen visit the "big play" Dragons in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Rock Hill prefers to use its size and strength to power past opponents. Fairland likes to spread defenses and then strike quickly.

Fairland coach Bryan Ward said Rock Hill's offensive line enables quarterback Steven Daily, tailback James Russell and fullback Dan Mullins to execute the offense.

"Rock Hill is big and strong. We look for them to be ready to play," Ward said. "They don't do anything fancy. They have a good quarterback and a tailback who runs well. The fullback is a big, strong kid. They come right at you."

But Rock Hill coach Bob McCollister knows the Fairland offense has more than just the big play, too. While quarterback Michael Hill and wide receiver Sam Huff are the keys, McCollister said fullback C.J. Stewart and tailback Tyler Bowman can't be overlooked.

"They present several threats running the ball with Bowman and Stewart, and they have the vertical game with Hill and Huff," McCollister said.

"When you look at any of their games, there's always some big plays. The first thing we have to do is stop the big plays. The key is for us to make first downs and deal with their pressure. They put eight and nine guys in the box at times and bring the pressure."

The game is crucial for Rock Hill in many ways. The Redmen are tied with Chesapeake for first place in the OVC at 3-0. And with a 7-1 overall record, the Redmen are on track to not only qualify for the postseason playoffs, but a possible home game if they win out.

All that means nothing to the Redmen, McCollister said.

"That's something we don't talk about. The playoffs are the farthest thing down the road. Our goal at the beginning of the year was to win the league and Fairland is a pivotal game if we're going to win the league," McCollister said.

Fairland is 5-3 but just 1-2 and out of the OVC race. Still, the Dragons could not only play the spoiler role with a win over Rock Hill but also qualify for the playoffs themselves by winning out.

"It's something to play for and get excited about later," Ward said. "But we have something bigger this week. We hope our kids can see the possibilities that can happen if we win. Rock Hill is playing well. You can't make mistakes against them.

"We have to stop their ground game and get them in situations where they have to throw and we know they have to throw. If they're pounding it in there at us and can use play-action passes, we're in trouble. We have to keep moving the ball and keep them off the field."

McCollister said the fact Fairland has a chance to make the playoffs is scary.

"They've got a lot of incentives. They're a dangerous team," McCollister said. "And this has become kind of a rivalry game. There's a lot of emotion in this game. It's one of those games we can't look past."

Defense will be a key for both teams, but turnovers could be critical. Last year Fairland capitalized on Rock Hill turnovers and pulled off a 19-7 upset win.

"Turnovers are big in a game like this. Last year they had a bunch of turnovers and we didn't have any," Ward said.