The annual Marysville-Delaware Hayes football rivalry will be played this year on a neutral site.
Due to the construction project at the MHS gridiron stadium, the Monarchs will once again go on the road for a home game.
This time, Marysville (1-0) will travel to Hilliard Bradley to face the 1-0 Pacers on Friday.
The Monarchs rolled past Columbus Northland, 49-0, last week to open the season.
Delaware Hayes had a similar situation with a 35-0 romp over Buckeye Valley.
Hayes is a run-oriented team that will employ a couple of strong runners in the backfield in Blake Eiland and Jahi Broussard-Nash.
Both rushed for more than 150 yards last week against Buckeye Valley.
The pair runs behind a line that features Max Bruney (6-1, 265) and Zack Pokorny (6-2, 275).
“Eiland runs their offense well at quarterback,” said Monarch head coach Brent Johnson. “Brossard-Nash is a very good athlete who is quick and elusive.
“Offensively, Hayes is a two-headed monster,” he said. “Our defensive unit will have to maintain its gap responsibilities and be sound tacklers.”
The Monarchs, however, cannot concern themselves with just the Pacers’ ground game.
Although Hayes will run the ball approximately 70 percent of the time, it does have a spread package it can go into for the passing game.
Regardless of whether the Pacers use the run or the pass, Johnson knows what his defense has to do.
“We have to run well to the football,” he said. “We continue to emphasize that.”
Delaware will employ a 3-5 stack defense, in which 278-pound nose guard Everett Beach holds gaps well.
Outside linebacker Jacob Hunsaker is also strong against plays on the perimeter.
“They bring at least one guy on every play,” said Johnson. “They really like to pressure you on defense.
“We are going to have to get blocks on them,” said the MHS coach.
“We also have to give them a lot of different formations at which to look,” said Johnson. “We have to be balanced on the outside and inside.”
As far as what improvements the Monarch boss wants to see between weeks one and two of the regular season, he said, “I want us to sharpen up some of our assignments and we need to be more consistent blockers.
“I also want to see us continue to play at a fast tempo.”
The Monarchs may have an added advantage over the Pacers in that MHS scrimmaged on Bradley’s turf field a few weeks ago.
“It’s familiar to us and we’re comfortable there,” said Johnson.
“Our guys just play football any time, anywhere and against anybody.”