Philipsburg-Osceola (0-4) at Chestnut Ridge (1-3)

Time: 7 p.m.

Coaches: P-O Jeff Vroman, 11th season; CR— Max Shoemaker, fifth season

Last meetings: Philipsburg-Osceola 41, Chestnut Ridge 26 (regular season ); Philipsburg-Osceola 34, Chestnut Ridge 33, OT (playoffs)

Key players: P-O, Nick Gray, RB ; CR— Beau Bosch, QB

The skinny: If he could get away with using “Stickum,” Philipsburg-Osceola coach Jeff Vroman would have an ample supply on the Mounties’ sideline.

Through the first four games, his squad hasn’t been able to hold onto the ball.

“That’s something we have to get over,” said Vroman. “You have to protect the football. That’s been our Achilles heel. We have to have 23 or 24 turnovers in four football games. You can’t win football games doing that. You can only do so much in practice to simulate a game.”

Vroman’s club faces a familiar opponent. P-O and Chestnut Ridge met twice last season, with the Mounties winning both matchups including a 34-33 playoff thriller that was decided by a blocked extra point in overtime.

Vroman said his team must stop quarterback Beau Bosch, who triggers Chestnut Ridge’s option attack. Bosch ran for 125 yards and passed for 165 more in the Lions’ 28-26 loss to Bald Eagle Area last week.

“He knows how to run the offense with the option,” Vroman said. “If there’s a seam, he’ll take it and get some positive yards out of it. He’s a big kid. He’s athletic. He definitely poses some problems.

“Our kids have to make sure they know their assignments. We have to play good assignment football. That’s the only way you can defeat the option. It’s tough when you’re looking at young kids.”

On offense, the Mounties' emphasis will be finding some consistency.

“We have to start sustaining drives,” Vroman said. “Key penalties and turnovers, that’s something that’s uncharacteristic of our football team. We have to be able to hold onto the football to set up some things.”

Vroman said he had a team meeting this week to address some of the issues that have plagued his squad.

“We sat down and talked about, ‘What do we need to do here?’ We felt it was necessary to do that,” he said. “‘What do we need to do to become successful?’ I think the kids understand it. The coaches understand it. Now we have to piece this thing together on game night.”

Regional games of interest

Central Mountain (2-2) at Clearfield (4-0) — Two of the best athletes in Central Pa. will be on the field as the Bisons’ Christian Lezzer goes up against the Wildcats’ Von Walker.

Chambersburg (3-1) at Cumberland Valley (3-1) — A key clash among Mid-Penn teams jockeying in the standings.

Mifflin County (3-1) at Harrisburg (3-1) on Saturday — Huskies take a step up in competition to face the Cougars, who manhandled State College.