The Indians will play host Friday to Bloom-Carroll, which is 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the MSL-Buckeye Division after losing to Fairfield Union 41-7 last Friday. Canal Winchester defeated Bloom-Carroll 10-0 last season.

Led by first-year coach Kurt Forrest, Bloom-Carroll features one of the more diverse offenses Canal Winchester will face as the Bulldogs mix up formations between the spread and I-formation and throw almost as often as they run.

"They've got a lot of diversity on offense. They'll spread you out and they'll run some zone read plays," coach Phil Mauro said.

"They use a couple guys at quarterback, Aaron McGraw and Tyler Craft, and they're both real good athletes. Their running back, Doc Kilby, is very impressive for a sophomore, so they've got some good, skilled athletes on offense. We'll probably see the ball in the air more this week than we have the last couple of weeks."

Bloom-Carroll brings an aggressive defense, which Mauro expects will attempt to put a lot of pressure on the offensive line as well as quarterback Justin Whitlatch. Canal Winchester could counter with some quick passes to receivers Matt Romanowski and Ryan Sabin, as well as counter plays to running backs Dom Cosby and Mike Mainella. Also, expect receiver Tyler Thompson to get involved on some reverses and screens.

For the third consecutive game, the Indians kept their offensive penalties to a minimum last Friday when they defeated host Amanda-Clearcreek 21-7, a sign that the young offensive line is starting to come into its own at the right time. Canal Winchester also did not lose a fumble, another problem area through the first half of the season.

"I think that was a positive win for us," Mauro said. "We've played well on the road all year long but it was good to come away with a win from that place."

•The season came to an end for the girls tennis team in the Division I sectional last Friday at Hilliard Darby.

Canal Winchester won some of the play-in matches to reach the first round, but then encountered much more experienced opponents, and no Indians player advanced.

"The feed-in matches were as predicted. We did well in those," coach Jason Moisey said.

"After that we played seeded players and that's really tough. Overall I thought they did well. I think some of the girls were intimidated by the size of the tournament but we had fun and they played hard."

In the play-in matches, Priscilla Fisher, Hannah Kimbler and the doubles team of Kerri Tilton and Molly Stagg were winners. The doubles team of Emily Baker and Raea Blackburn failed to make it to the first round. Of the three first-round matches the Indians played, they won just one game.

A week earlier in the MSL-Buckeye Division tournament, the Indians finished fourth (16 points) behind Teays Valley (34), Circleville (33) and Logan Elm (31) and ahead of Bloom-Carroll (9) and Hamilton Township (2).

Canal Winchester will only lose one senior in Fisher. The rest of the team -- Kimbler, Bailey Davis, Baker, Blackburn, Tilton and Stagg -- is expected back.

"I'm happy about it. Compared to last year I see how much better these girls have gotten and I see their dedication," Moisey said.

"As far as this year, I think we did everything right with the offseason training. We had some girls get involved with the club and I was able to work with three or four of them. So we'll probably use that same strategy again."

At a glance

Below are recent results and coming schedules for the Canal Winchester boys and girls boys soccer teams:

GIRLS

*Oct. 2 --ÊTied Bloom-Carroll at 2

Last Monday --ÊTied Fisher Catholic at 0

*Today -- At Amanda-Clearcreek

Saturday --ÊHome vs. Columbus Academy in regular-season finale

Tuesday --ÊHome vs. Groveport in first round of Division I district tournament. The winner will play at top-seeded Upper Arlington in the second round Oct. 16.

Of note: The Indians are 6-3-5 overall and 2-3-2 in the MSL-Buckeye.

BOYS

Sept. 30 -- Defeated Whitehall 3-0

*Oct. 2 --ÊDef. Bloom-Carroll 2-1

Saturday -- At Grandview in regular-season finale

Oct. 16 --ÊHome vs. Bexley in second round of Division II district tournament

Of note: The Indians were 7-0-5 overall before last Tuesday and are 4-0-2 in the MSL-Buckeye.

*MSL-Buckeye contest

At a glance

Below are recent results and coming schedules for the Canal Winchester boys and girls cross country girls tennis and girls volleyball teams:

CROSS COUNTRY

Last Saturday -- Girls: Finished fifth (183) behind champion North Canton Hoover (47) in Les Eisenhart Invitational at Thomas Worthington. Kaitlin Smith was third (18:33), Emily Pifer was fourth (18:36), Penny Boswell was 14th (19:17), Christy Wildermuth was 78th (21:04) and Hannah Spicer was 84th (21:11).

Saturday --ÊAt MSL-Buckeye meet at Ohio Christian

TENNIS

Sept. 29 --ÊLost to Olentangy Orange 5-0

Oct. 1 --ÊMatch vs. Independence postponed

Oct. 2 --ÊLost to Hartley 5-0

Last Friday and Saturday -- Played in Division I sectional at Hilliard Darby. No Indians advanced to district.

Of note: The Indians finished 4-8 overall and 2-3 in the MSL-Buckeye.

VOLLEYBALL

*Sept. 30 -- Def. Circleville 25-11, 25-15, 25-13

*Oct. 2 --ÊDef. Hamilton Township 19-25, 25-13, 25-12, 25-23

*Last Saturday --ÊLost to Logan Elm 19-25, 25-20, 29-27, 25-18

*Last Tuesday -- Played Bloom-Carroll

*Today -- At Amanda-Clearcreek

Saturday --ÊAt Pickerington North tournament

Oct. 18 -- At Pickerington North vs. Mifflin in second round of Division II district tournament. Canal Winchester is seeded third.

Of note: The Indians were 12-5 overall are 11-1 in the MSL-Buckeye before last Tuesday.

*MSL-Buckeye contest