Cove’s Eli Marsh and the Leopards are back home and taking on Imbler on Thursday, Oct. 5.

OSAA ranking in parentheses

Imbler at Cove

Time: Thursday, 7 p.m.

Records: Imbler 4-1 overall, 2-1 1A 8-Man Special District 2; Cove 3-2 overall, 1-11A 8-Man Special District 2

Overview: A pair of the state’s top 10 8-man teams meet in Cove with Imbler (6) sporting a two-game win streak coming after the Panthers’ lone loss of the season to Crane, a game that saw the Mustangs steal a win in the closing seconds. Imbler remains healthy late in the season and sits second in the league standings behind Crane.

Cove (10) also comes into this game on a two-game win streak, the most recent a six-point victory over Union. Coach Levi Wiseman will have the Leopards ready to move up the league standings as Cove currently sits tied for fourth.

Elgin at Adrian

Time: Friday, 6 p.m.

Records: Elgin, 3-1 overall, 1-1 1A 8-Man Special District 2; Adrian 3-2 overall, 2-1 1A 8-Man Special District 2

Overview: This is an interesting matchup as both teams take the field after experiencing their first losses of the season in their last games. The Huskies (12) rolled through the opening weeks of play before meeting and falling to Imbler on Sept. 22. Elgin sat at home last week with a bye, time to heal the bumps and bruises from the Imbler game. Neither team can afford a loss as Crane remains undefeated with Adrian (7) sitting third in the league standings followed by Elgin in fourth.

Union at Powder Valley

Time: Friday, 7 p.m.

Records: Union, 1-3 overall, 0-2 1A 8-Man Special District 2; Powder Valley 0-5 overall, 0-3 1A 8-Man Special District 2

Overview: This is a chance for both these teams to turn a season around and place a win in the district standings. Union (11) has dropped their last two games while the Badgers (18) have struggled since game one. More importantly than the district standings, a victory in this game will be a tremendous confidence boost for one of these teams.

Union faces three top-10 teams to round out the season while Powder Valley will end the year with a nonleague game followed by road games against league opponents.

Madras at La Grande

Time: Friday, 7 p.m.

Records: Madras, 1-4 overall, 0-1 4A Special District 5; La Grande 1-4 overall, 0-1 4A Special District 5

Overview: After two losses on the road, the Tigers (30) are home with arguably, the Tigers’ best chance to pick up a district victory. The White Buffaloes (29) won the team’s opener on Aug. 31 and have dropped four games since that victory, the most recent a shutout loss to the Buckaroos on Pendleton/Nixyaawii.

La Grande head coach Dalton Sheets will again be starting young players against Madras due to the injury list continuing to grow.