SHELBY — The Warriors and Whippets can finally take off their blinders.

It’s rivalry week.

Ontario will invade Shelby’s Whippet Athletic Complex on Friday for a battle of north central Ohio’s unbeaten heavyweights.

While the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference title won’t be won or lost, the winner will be in the driver’s seat with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

The Division III Warriors and Division IV Whippets have been on a collision course all season. Both teams have taken care of business through seven weeks to make Friday meaningful.

“It’s one of those things where you can’t win Week 8 in Week 5 or Week 6. You’ve got to get there to make it mean something,” Ontario coach Aaron Eckert said after last week’s 27-12 win over Marion Harding.

“Our guys have done a pretty good job of staying focused and competing against the team we’re playing.”

It’s the same blueprint the Whippets have followed.

“Our week-to-week preparation stays the same no matter who we’re playing,” Shelby coach Rob Mahaney said. “We just want to keep things as normal as possible.”

There’s nothing normal about Friday’s showdown. It is one of just four games state-wide between undefeated teams. Here’s a closer look at the showdown:

When the Warriors have the ball

Ontario employs a two-quarterback system and used their third signal-caller in last week’s win over Harding. 

Sean Tanner has taken the bulk of snaps, completing 48-of-84 passes for 942 yards and nine touchdowns.

Gavin Miller, who sat out last week while nursing a shoulder injury, 22-of-35 passes for 316 yards and three TDs.

Trey Remy, who started most of last season before changing positions, has completed three of four passes for 46 yards and a touchdown.

Miller splits time at running back and is the most accomplished runner of the three. He has rushed for 300 yards and six touchdowns on 51 carries. 

Max Ciroli is Ontario’s leading rusher with 805 yards and nine touchdowns on 100 carries. He ranks second in the MOAC in rushing yards and is tied for first in touchdowns and yards per attempt (8.1 ypc). 

Cardae Brown is Ontario’s leading receiver. The junior has a team-high 28 receptions for a team-leading 517 yards and six touchdowns.

The Warriors boast a couple of deep threats in Tre Fowler and Trindon Flenoury. Fowler ranks first in the MOAC in yards per catch (14 receptions, 341 yards, 24.4 avg.) while Flenoury is second (13-284, 21.8).

Ontario ranks second in the MOAC in scoring offense and total offense, averaging 39.1 points and 389.9 yards per game.

Shelby leads the MOAC in scoring defense and total defense, allowing just 7.7 points and 160.3 yards a game.

Linebacker Cadyn Stine leads the Whippets and ranks sixth in the MOAC with 65 tackles, including 13 tackles for loss. Griffin Yeager has 57 stops.

Shelby leads the league with nine interceptions. Casyn Koch has three, while Branson Reed, Conner Hartz and Brady Bowman each have a pair.

When the Whippets have the ball

Michael Shepherd has made the most of his one season at quarterback, completing 70-of-96 passes (72.9%) for 1,216 yards and a MOAC-leading 14 touchdowns.

Shepherd’s favorite target is record-setting receiver Brady Bowman. The senior has 41 catches for 611 yards and a league-best nine touchdowns. 

Shelby boasts a balanced rushing attack. Gavin Baker leads the way with 412 yards and six touchdowns on 58 carries. Shepherd is tied for the conference lead with Ontario’s Ciroli with nine rushing TDs. Luke Blevins has rushed for 240 yards.

The Whippets lead the conference is scoring offense (41.3 ppg) and total offense (398.1 ypg).

Ontario ranks second in the MOAC in scoring defense and and third total defense, allowing 15.7 points and 256 yards per game. The Warriors lead the MOAC with a plus-12 turnover margin.

Brown leads the league with five interceptions. Junior defensive end Maddix Smith leads the MOAC with 15 tackles for loss and is tied for the league lead with eight sacks. Zane Curry has a team-high 71 tackles, while Carson Moritz has 66 stops.