Leavitt and Wells are two traditional football powerhouses with differing philosophies.

But this season, the two teams share multiple similarities. Both the Hornets (3-1) and Warriors (2-2) have rosters filled with young players trying to find their way. And when they hit the field at Warrior Memorial Stadium on Friday (6:30 p.m. kickoff), they’ll be two teams trying to uppercut their way through a tight field in the Class C standings.

It will be a loud and raucous crowd in Wells, which will be celebrating its annual Military Appreciation Night.

Keys to a Leavitt victory

• Continue to find success with the running game. The Hornets rushed for 239 yards in a 50-6 victory over Medomak Valley last week. They have used a multitude of threats in the ground game, from senior slotback Mason Henderson to sophomore quarterback Landon Marquis.

• Match Wells’ physicality. The Warriors have always prided themselves on a smash-mouth brand of football. Leavitt coach Mike Hathaway and his staff have one of the state’s more progressive approaches as far as schemes are concerned, but the Hornets also must match the Warriors’ fight.

Keys to a Wells victory

• Get healthy. Injuries have been an issue for Wells. With a young roster of 42 players, depth can become a concern quickly, but coach Tim Roche said multiple players are expected to return this weekend. The more help the Warriors have at their disposal on Friday, the better.

• Establish physicality early. There’s no secret to Wells’ brand of football. While the Warriors have shown more of a passing game in recent seasons — quarterback Nate McDonough tossed two touchdown passes in a 44-14 win over Oceanside last week — they are traditionally a team that relies on hard running.

Leavitt difference makers

• Senior SB/DB Mason Henderson (2 TDs last week); sophomore QB Landon Marquis (TD pass, TD run last week); junior SB/DB Brody Poland (TD run, INT return for TD last week)

Wells difference makers

• Junior QB Noah McDonough (2 TD passes last week); senior FB/LB Kevin Bolduc (2 TDs last week); senior RB/LB Nate DeMauro (2 TDs last week).

Last meeting

Sept. 23, 2022: Leavitt, 36-0

Coach’s comments

• “They have a multitude of guys that can run the ball for them. In the past at Wells, maybe it was one fullback or the halfback that was the featured guy. Really, between a couple fullbacks, a couple halfbacks and the quarterback, they really do have some skill guys running the ball. Like any Wells team, they’re physical up front. When the other team can run the ball and stop the run, that’s always a tough team to deal with.” — Leavitt coach Mike Hathaway

• “We’ve got to stop their athletes, and they always have athletes. Watching them on film, Mike is more of a scheme master and I’m more of a guy that just goes, ‘Just line up and go.’ It’s definitely two opposite philosophies of offense and defense. But we’ve both figured out how to do it that way. … If we can figure out a way to stop them in some key spots, we’ll be OK. They’re a good team, but so are we when we play well.” — Wells coach Tim Roche.