The Canal Winchester High School football team will play Friday at MSL-Buckeye Division-rival Circleville.

The Tigers are 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the MSL-Buckeye Division. They lost to Miami Trace 37-0 on Aug. 22, defeated Washington Court House 27-13 on Aug. 29 and lost to Westfall 27-7 on Sept. 5 and Logan Elm 21-0 last Friday.

Last year, Canal Winchester defeated Circleville 27-17.

The Indians, who beat Teays Valley 14-7 last Friday to improve to 4-0 and 1-0, are hoping to avoid a repeat of last year when they traveled to Fairfield Union, which was winless at the time, undefeated and left with a 14-12 loss. Coach Phil Mauro said the team won't overlook Circleville.

"I don't think we'll get all wrapped up in records. They don't really mean a whole lot to us," Mauro said. "We have to be well-prepared and we know they're a good team. (Coach Keith Downing) does a great job there and that will never change."

Circleville has struggled, but there are signs that the Tigers are starting to turn it around. Despite losing to Logan Elm, the scored was tied in the third quarter before a few big plays got the undefeated Braves on the board.

The Indians will need to cut down their penalties. They had 10 penalties, including multiple holding calls, against Teays Valley last Friday. There were more that were declined.

"We had some on offense and we had a lot on the kicking game as well," Mauro said. "It's something we'll continue to work at. But a holding call is so subjective. We don't teach our guys to hold."

Canal Winchester will continue to lean on its defense. The Indians have been equally good defending both the pass and the run so far, and last Friday they blocked a field-goal attempt by Teays Valley.

"We'll continue to play good defense, that won't be any different," Mauro said. "We always feel that if you play good defense and special teams, then you'll be in a position to win the game."