OAK GROVE—There is no pressure on the No. 30 Merryville Panthers (5-5, 1-4 4-1A), who are traveling five-and-a-half hours to face the No. 3 Oak Grove Tigers (8-2, 5-0 2-1A) at 7 p.m. tonight in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Panthers are coming off of a 43-7 home loss last week against Oberlin and Oak Grove won last week at home 42-21 against St. Fredrick.

Panthers head coach Mark Delaney said Merryville plays better against teams they do not know as well.

“I’ve seen that this year with a confidence level,” Delaney said.

“Our kids don’t know them and they don’t know us.

“I think it’s good we don’t know much about them.”

Tigers head coach Vic Dalrymple said Oak Grove has not controlled the ball well all season and six times their game came down to the final drive.

“For the most part we haven’t taken over consistently,” Dalrymple said.

But being able to win close games could help the Tigers in the playoffs.

“We’re hoping that’s a positive,” Dalrymple said.

Delaney has a positive outlook on things.

“I feel good about this game,” Delaney said. “There’s no pressure on us.

“We’ve got a chance to continue playing to the next week and No. 1 we have to play week one.

“There’s no pressure on us. We’re going to roll the dice Friday and see what happens.”

Dalrymple is happy the Tigers are a No. 3 team.

“We’re glad to get a good seed,” he said. “That’s just part of it.”

Dalrymple said the playoffs are sudden death games, so teams cannot stumble one time.

Anything the Tigers do not do correctly he said must be fixed in a hurry.

Delaney said he has seen the Panthers play well in many areas during the regular season.

“I think our game plan has been solid,” Delaney said. “We just have to execute.”

Delaney said the way the Panthers have to execute for yards is by blocking well offensively and successful handoffs.

Merryville’s quarterback is Austin Moore, the tailback is Daven Hardwick and Cory Carlson is the fullback.

“First thing offensively is protect the football,” Dalrymple said. “That’s pretty much a standard.”

Dalrymple said the Tigers are balaned with the run and pass.

Senior Jimmy Pepmiller has been the starting quarterback for the Tigers for four years.

Oak Grove’s tailback is Kendrick Jackson, Jacob Pippen is the fullback, the receivers are Ervin Kraft and Dala Myers and James Walen is the tight end.

Delaney discussed the areas Oak Grove plays well.

“They play defense,” Delaney said. “They’ve got good speed. They’re going to have somebody by the ball if it’s thrown.”

Dalrymple said Carlson is capable of gaining positive yards every time he touches the ball and Hardwick is capable of making a big play.

“I thought that fullback is a real hard running kid,” Dalrymple said.

Linebacker/wide receiver Caleb Branch, who has been out for four weeks, is probable for tonight’s game for Merryville.

Everyone is available for both teams.

However, Dalrymple said some Tigers players are not at 100 percent, which is part of the game.

The Panthers, who have already traveled three hours for a game at Hanson Memorial Academy and played three consecutive road games earlier in the season, are experienced travelers.

That should benefit Merryville.

“We’re not new to traveling, being able to get off a bus and being able to play,” Delaney said.