By Jesse Swafford | CSwaff Media
Photography by Cole Swafford | CSwaff Shots & Jude Ford | Ford Fames
Two unbeaten conference records, two seven-game winning streaks, and a Miami Valley League Miami Division championship at stake. Both head coaches and both quarterbacks share their perspectives ahead of Friday night’s showdown.
TROY, Ohio — Seven consecutive victories apiece. Identical 7-1 overall records. Unbeaten conference seasons. And a Miami Valley League Miami Division championship hanging in the balance.
When Tippecanoe travels to Troy Memorial Stadium on Friday, October 16th, the Red Devils and Trojans will meet with matching 7-0 league records and an opportunity to take control of the division championship race.
Friday’s winner will clinch at least a share of the Miami Division title, with an opportunity to secure the outright championship in Week 10.
For Troy, Friday also marks Senior Night and the final home game of the regular season, adding another layer of emotion to an already significant matchup.
But beyond the records, statistics, and championship implications, the story of Friday’s showdown is about two teams that have taken different paths to reach the same destination.
A Wake-Up Call That Changed Tippecanoe’s Season
Tippecanoe’s season began with disappointment.
Following a Week 1 loss to Bellbrook, the Red Devils faced a moment of reflection that quarterback Larkin Thomas believes helped transform their season.
“After that week 1 loss to Bellbrook, the locker room was dead. Everyone had to process what just happened, but our senior captains came together and kinda addressed to the team that we can’t get this entitlement from past success and expect to win without putting in good practices that week.”
That message resonated.
Tippecanoe head coach Matt Burgbacher saw that early setback as an opportunity for his team to embrace the expectations that come with competing for a championship.
“It all starts with our players and their preparation. With losing week 1 to a very good Bellbrook team, it allowed us to refocus and put the pressure on ourselves,” Burgbacher said.
The Red Devils understood that another conference loss could jeopardize the goals they had established before the season.
“We embraced pressure and knew we were going to play MVL Championship games each week! We had little wiggle room to accomplish the goals we’ve set for ourselves, so our kids are used to laying it all on the line each week and the last 7 weeks, they have done that.”
Since the loss, Tippecanoe has been dominant, winning seven consecutive games and recording five shutouts during that stretch.
The Red Devils are averaging 44 points per game while allowing 5 points per contest through eight weeks.
“Overall our performances since have been lights out, that game lit a fire under us and we are playing some of the best football in the state right now and it just keeps stacking,” Thomas said.
For the Red Devils, the turnaround has been about more than talent. It has required accountability, consistency, and a willingness to challenge one another.
Thomas described a close-knit group where players hold each other accountable regardless of their role on the team.
“We will have times where we start to get lazy or maybe a taste of entitlement throughout the practices during the week but our team is so close to each other that we motivate each other and call each other out no matter if they are a leader or not.”
That accountability extends to Thomas himself, who takes an active role in motivating his teammates and maintaining the offense’s tempo during practice.
“I love how transparent and real this team is to each other so we never have anyone slacking throughout the week,” Thomas said.
Burgbacher believes that commitment has carried over into the team’s preparation and performance.
“They have prepared like Champions and have played like it,” Burgbacher said. “We keep stacking great days on great days and are playing our best football right now. This is the healthiest we have been all season.”
That mentality has helped Tippecanoe develop into one of the area’s most formidable teams heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Troy’s Growth Under a New Staff
While Tippecanoe used an early defeat as motivation, Troy has spent the season growing into a new system.
The Trojans also enter Friday with seven consecutive victories, averaging 34 points per game while allowing 13 points per contest.
Troy quarterback Colton Akins credits the team’s defensive performance and continued offensive development for its success.
“We have had many keys to success one being our defense as a whole and our offense has been progressing,” Akins said. “We keep getting better each week, new coaching staff, new playbook at the beginning of the year and we continue to grind and develop our craft.”
Troy head coach Ryan Jones echoed that assessment, emphasizing the work his players have put into understanding and executing the team’s systems.
“The team’s determination to improve their knowledge and execution of our schemes has allowed our players to play faster and with greater physicality,” Jones said.
The result has been a Troy team that has continued to improve while maintaining the consistency needed to remain in the championship conversation.
And while Tippecanoe’s seven-game winning streak has attracted attention, Akins is quick to point out that the Trojans have accomplished the same feat.
“They have a strong team as a whole offense and defense, but I can’t go off of their 7 straight wins, we have done the same,” Akins said.
That confidence reflects a Troy team that believes it has earned its place in Friday’s showdown.
A Battle That Could Be Decided Up Front
With both offenses producing more than 34 points per game and both defenses allowing fewer than 14, Friday’s matchup features strength on both sides of the football.
Jones recognizes the challenge presented by Tippecanoe’s offensive balance and quarterback play.
“They have a balanced offensive attack with an athletic QB which makes it difficult for defenses to key on just one aspect,” Jones said. “They play with great technique and do not make self-inflicted mistakes.”
Burgbacher has equally high praise for Troy and the challenges presented by the Trojans on both sides of the football.
“Coach Jones has done a great job at Troy. You can tell they are bought into their program and playing their best football right now,” Burgbacher said.
He pointed to Troy’s ability to establish the run with both its running back and quarterback, while using formations and motion to keep opposing defenses guessing.
“When you focus too much on the run, they will hit you with the pass, which they do often,” Burgbacher said.
Defensively, the Trojans present another challenge.
“Defensively, they are constantly moving and bring something different each play. There is no predictability to what they are going to do.”
Burgbacher also emphasized Troy’s special teams, calling them among the best Tippecanoe has faced this season.
“Special Teams, they are one of the best we’ve seen this year. They have one of the best kickers in the state.”
For Troy, success will require disciplined execution, particularly along the offensive line and in the secondary.
“We will need to maintain our blocks on the offensive line as Tipp is very good at getting off blocks and pursuing the football and our secondary will have to be very disciplined in their pass coverage responsibilities,” Jones said.
Thomas also expects the battle at the line of scrimmage to play a significant role.
“Our Oline has done a great job this year and the offense always depends on those guys upfront so we just got to handle the line of scrimmage this week and trust our coaches game plans,” Thomas said.
Both teams understand that a matchup featuring this much offensive production could ultimately be decided by the smaller details: sustained blocks, disciplined coverage, limiting mistakes, and capitalizing on opportunities.
More Than Just Another Friday Night
For Troy’s seniors, Friday represents an opportunity that extends beyond the conference standings.
It will be their final regular-season home game, played in front of a home crowd with a championship opportunity on the line.
Akins understands the significance.
“Definitely means a lot to me, being our senior night, last home game, and more than likely a conference title so this game definitely means a lot to the program as a whole,” Akins said.
For Tippecanoe, the challenge is managing the excitement surrounding the matchup without allowing it to interfere with preparation.
Thomas knows the environment at Troy Memorial Stadium will be demanding.
“Theres a lot of noise from media and it just being a rivalry type of game so we just have to drown that out and focus on living in the moment at practice and being focused throughout this week,” Thomas said.
The Red Devils have spent the past seven weeks demonstrating their ability to respond to adversity, but Friday presents another opportunity to prove their maturity.
“We cant get big heads this week with all the noise and just have to take care of business day by day,” Thomas added.
One Game Away
The road to Friday’s showdown has been remarkably similar.
Both teams stumbled in Week 1. Both responded with seven consecutive victories. Both enter the matchup undefeated in Miami Valley League play.
Now, the Red Devils and Trojans find themselves separated by one game that could define their regular seasons.
The winner will secure at least a share of the Miami Division championship and enter Week 10 with an opportunity to finish conference play undefeated.
Tippecanoe closes its regular season against West Carrollton, while Troy faces Greenville.
But neither team can afford to look ahead.
For Burgbacher, the formula for success Friday night remains the same one that has guided Tippecanoe through seven consecutive victories.
“We need to play Tipp Football, be disciplined, and take care of the football,” Burgbacher said. “We need to utilize our speed and aggressiveness to our advantage and execute at a very high level. We need to continue to prepare like Champions!”
It’s a message consistent with what Thomas described throughout the week: preparation, accountability, and refusing to allow the magnitude of the moment to distract from the work required to succeed.
For Troy, Friday is Senior Night, the final regular-season home game, and an opportunity to take a major step toward a championship.
For Tippecanoe, it’s a chance to validate seven weeks of dominance and move one victory closer to an outright league title.
Two 7-1 teams. Two 7-0 conference records. Two seven-game winning streaks. One championship showdown.
Friday night at Troy Memorial Stadium, something has to give.
GAME INFORMATION
Tippecanoe Red Devils (7-1, 7-0 MVL Miami) at Troy Trojans (7-1, 7-0 MVL Miami)
Date: Friday, October 16, 2026
Kickoff: 7:00 PM
Location: Troy Memorial Stadium — Troy, Ohio
Conference: Miami Valley League — Miami Division
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