The high school football regular season is nearing its end, as teams are less than a month away from the state playoffs.
Week 8 features important playoff point games, including a matchup between Tolsia and Buffalo at Bison Stadium.
The Rebels and Bison will take the field against each other Friday for the eighth time ever. Tolsia and Buffalo have squared off the last four seasons.
The Bison enter their contest against the Rebels with a 3-4 record and have split their last four games after starting 1-2.
After a winless campaign in 2023, Buffalo coach Bob Mullett is pleased with how the Bison have performed this year.
"(The mood and mentality) is 100% different," Mullett said. "We had been playing with ninth- and 10th-graders. Now we're playing with 11th-graders. We have maturity and leadership. I appreciate the kids for that. They stuck it out through tough times after last year."
Buffalo enters the game No. 21 in the latest òòò½ÊÓƵSSAC Class AA playoff ratings. The top 16 at season's end make the postseason.
"We've turned the program around a little bit," Mullett said. "We have three wins and should've won last week. We had five fumbles and an interception. We played good enough against Mount View to be ahead of the sticks. Now, we are behind the sticks. We have to work and battle for a winning season."
Tolsia checks into Friday's contest in Putnam County with a 4-2 record. The Rebels have split their last two games after starting the season 3-1.
Tolsia is the first team out of the top 16 in Class A, ranking No. 17 in the latest calculation. A Rebels win would secure them 12 bonus points for beating a Class AA team.
"This game is huge for us," Tolsia coach David Thompson said. "If you look at the Class A standings, all the teams from 12 to 20 are separated by a half a point. It is a big game for us. It gets us rolling towards the end of the season. We have some other big games, but Buffalo is worth more points."
Tolsia won last year's meeting, 43-0, snapping a three-game skid to the Bison.
Thompson sees a motivated and big Buffalo team this season.
"They have a really good line, from what we've seen on film, and they are big up front," Thompson said. "We've played some common opponents. It'll be a big test for us."
Buffalo is allowing opponents to score 31 points per game this season.
"We have to establish the run," Thompson said. "If we can establish the run, then that can open other things up for us. We have got to run the ball inside and outside. We also have to establish the run. If we can do both of those things, then we'll have a good chance here."
Mullett has been impressed with what he's seen from Tolsia this season.
The Rebels' two losses have come against Wayne and Tug Valley by an average of seven points.
"They have a great team," Mullett said. "They have a great backfield and a lot of guys back. They've been ranked all year. They have a full list of football players."
In Buffalo's three wins, the Bison are averaging 33 points. However, in games they've lost, they've allowed 42 points per game, including three teams scoring 40 or more points.
Tolsia's four wins have come by an average of 39 points.
