MEADVILLE — One team is 4-2, the other is 5-0, but entering into Friday’s contest, they’re both 0-0.

Wilkinson County High School (5-0) will travel to Franklin County High School (4-2) Friday, but with region play beginning for both teams, whatever happened prior to this week was just a time to prepare.

Bulldogs head coach Ricky O’Quinn said region play is like a whole new season for his team.

“As cliché as it sounds, it’s true,” O’Quinn said. “I told my team today, everyone starts out 0-0. The previous record doesn’t matter. If you start out 5-0 or 4-2 in our case, if you lose the rest it doesn’t matter (how you started). Division games are what counts.”

By contrast, Wildcats head coach Kenneth Brown said he hasn’t focused much on the “new season” aspect of Region 7-3A games starting.

“Being 5-0 is good for the morale of the team and community,” Brown said. “Even though we start region play, and that’s what gets you into the playoffs, it still feels good to be 5-0. Hopefully we can maintain that momentum and it will help us through the season. Any positive is a plus.”

Not much has changed about the Bulldogs, Brown said, and his players will be forced to go against a big, aggressive Franklin County team.

“They still have good size, and they still get after you pretty good,” Brown said. “They still have that aggressiveness in them, and they still have good athletes.”

O’Quinn said Wilkinson County has a good team with plenty of athletes, highlighted by quarterback Devin Voorhies.

“He seems to be strong and athletic, and he’s a good player,” O’Quinn said. “They have some good guys around him, too.”

The Wildcats will have to be wary of Franklin County quarterback Jadarius Davis, but Brown said it’s nice for his defense to face Voorhies every day in practice.

“It helps out, especially since a lot of the teams now are basically doing the same stuff by running the spread,” Brown said. “Having an athlete like Devin helps you prepare.”

Franklin County is coming off a 2-1 road trip, and O’Quinn said it was good for his team to be able to get back in front of the home crowd.

“We played some quality opponents and got some momentum from the last two games,” O’Quinn said. “We’re excited to play at home, and opening up the division at home, that’s big.”

Brown said non-conference scheduling helps prepare his team for a strong Region 7-3A, largely regarded as the best region in MHSAA Class 3A.

“A lot of schools don’t put stock into it, but it gets you ready for region,” Brown said. “You may not have the best competition each and every Friday, but you’re still playing against other schools and other kids. Overall, it just helps.”

O’Quinn said despite non-region records not counting toward a playoff appearance, having a good record in those games does count for something.

“We feel like it gets our guys battle-tested,” O’Quinn said. “We have a tough division, and we’ve played some quality opponents.”

Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Franklin County.