Hoping to remain undefeated in the MSL-Buckeye Division, the Canal Winchester High School football team travels to Fairfield Union on Friday night. Canal Winchester beat the Falcons 20-16 last year, but lost 14-12 at Fairfield Union two years ago.

Fairfield Union enters the game 3-1 and is coming off a 54-6 win over Teays Valley last Friday. Thus far, the Falcons' only loss was a 31-7 decision to Baltimore Liberty Union, which was a Division V state semifinalist last year.

Fairfield Union runs a wing-T offense and it has worked well for the Falcons. Running back Tyler Turner leads the team averaging 169 total yards a game.

"Well, offensively, they're really good. They've scored 97 points in the last two games so obviously they're very explosive," coach Phil Mauro said. "They possess a lot of depth at running back and all their guys run well. They do a really good job running the wing-T."

The Fairfield Union offense will put the pressure on the Canal Winchester defense, which has allowed an average of 11 points per game. The Indians are led defensively by linemen Nathaniel Adkins and Alex Krigbaum, linebackers Zack Hitchens and Ryan Rose and defensive backs Drew Black, Conrad Rosch and Nathan Shull.

"We're going to have to tackle well, that's for sure," Mauro said.

"We need to be very sound in our defensive scheme and with our responsibilities. It will be a great challenge for us."

Defensively, Fairfield Union runs a five-man front led by defensive end Patrick Seesholtz. The Falcons' defense is predicated on stopping the run and though Canal Winchester has had a lot of success in the running game with back Mike Mainella and receiver Tyler Thompson, quarterback Justin Whitlatch could expose some holes in it. Whitlatch connected with Cody Ferguson for two touchdown passes last week in the 38-13 win over Circleville last Friday.

Following its first loss of the season, a 17-13 setback to Westerville Central on Sept. 11, Canal Winchester responded with a win over the Tigers last Friday to open league play. It was the kind of game Mauro was looking for coming off a loss.

"We were really pleased with our execution against Circle-ville," Mauro said. "We didn't have any turnovers either, so both of those areas were real positive for us. The only negative was our penalty situation. We gave (Circleville) five first downs on penalties, and you just can't do that."

In Division II Region 7, there are seven undefeated teams and a loss to Fairfield Union might take the Indians out of the playoff picture. That thought hasn't crossed the minds of the players or coaches at Canal Winchester.

"I couldn't even begin to tell you what's going on in our region," Mauro said. "That's why we don't post our schedule in the locker room.

"The guys know we have Fairfield Union next. The only thing we can control is how we play in the MSL-Buckeye. "

Next game

CANAL WINCHESTER at FAIRFIELD UNION

•When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

•Last meeting: 2008, Canal Winchester 20-16

•Canal Winchester (3-1, 1-0 in MSL-Buckeye) to date: Defeated Bexley 43-0; def. Jonathan Alder 49-14; lost to Westerville Central 17-13; def. Circleville 38-13

•Fairfield Union (3-1, 1-0 in MSL-Buckeye) to date: Def. New Lexington 29-28 (OT); lost to Baltimore Liberty Union 31-7, def. Whitehall 43-0; lost to Teays Valley 54-6

•Top Indians: Drew Black (DB), Zack Hitchens (LB), Mike Mainella (RB), Conrad Rosch (DB), Ryan Rose (LB), Tyler Thompson (WR), Justin Whitlatch (QB) and Michael Young (OL)

•Top Falcons: Joe Alford (QB), Travis Ashbaugh (OL), Blake Bowen (RB), Kevin Mathias (RB), Patrick Seesholtz (RB), Joey Stewart (DL) and Tyler Turner (RB)