MARTINS FERRY — Martins Ferry (3-2) and Buckeye Local (2-4) face each other Wednesday inside the Dave Bruney Football Complex in what is a local rivalry– and, this time around, a family affair.

Either teams’ quarterbacks– the Purple Riders’ Colby Kropka and Panthers’ Grant Dombrowski– are second cousins, and Martins Ferry head coach Justin Kropka has a special connection to many on Buckeye Local’s squad.

“I know a lot of those kids over there,” coach Justin Kropka said. “When I was at Wheeling University coaching, COVID took out one of our seasons, and I actually went and coached my son who played for the Young Buckeyes. So I know a lot of those kids. It’s crazy how much they’ve grown. In fact, their quarterback is me and my son’s cousin.

“So there’ll be two family members at quarterbac

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