WESTVILLE — After showing a bit of dominance over the Little Okaw Valley Conference in the two-week battle, the Vermilion Valley Conference might be feeling good about the results. As a group, the eight teams managed a total of 10 wins with only six losses. Three of the six losses were by five points or less.

But now, it’s time for the VVC to clash with its own blood, and as has been the case since the conference’s inception, perennial powers Salt Fork and Westville will clash in a Week 3 battle that has typically given a decided edge to the game’s winner.

Since 2004, the Salt Fork Storm and Westville Tigers have been the only two teams to claim the VVC crown, though Milford/Cissna Park shared last year’s championship with the Storm.

“If you win this game, you’re in the driver’s seat,” Westville coach Guy Goodlove said. “You control your own destiny. I believe the rest of the conference has caught up. It’s not the case just because you win this game it guarantees you a VVC championship. But it certainly puts you in a good position to win that conference crown.”

The Tigers (2-0) might be taking special aim at the Storm (1-1) this season after dropping the last two games against their conference rivals. The last time Westville defeated Salt Fork (in 2007), it went on to an undefeated regular season and its second consecutive state finals appearance.

“We’re going to try our hardest to beat them,” Westville senior running back/linebacker Brandon Pratt said. “They are a tough team. We’re going to have to come out and play our hardest to get past them.

“(A win) will give us great expectations for the rest of the season. People don’t think that we are going to be tough this year, but if we beat Salt Fork, it will make the conference realize how tough we are.”

Pratt and senior quarterback Matt Maser combined for over 300 rushing yards in last week’s 53-6 win over Martinsville. Pratt’s 184 yards included rushes of 55- and 62-yards. But the Tigers’ defense expects to have its hands full with a trio of Salt Fork backs in Cody Davis, Brandon Dixon, and Kye Draper.

In last week’s 38-14 win over Cerro Gordo, Draper accounted for four touchdowns including an interception return, a punt return, and a fumble recovery.

Bouncing back from a season-opening loss to Villa Grove was crucial, especially heading into conference play this week.

“It’s my senior year and I kind of realized how quick it’s going to go after that first week,” Draper said. “I tried to prepare myself. But the thing is, if my team wouldn’t have done their job, I wouldn’t have had any of those good plays. I still give them credit.

“We came out with a loss and we worked a lot harder than that in the second week of practice,” he continued. “I think it paid off for us. We got our confidence up a little bit and we’re playing better as a team.”

With the matchup of the two VVC powers happening so early in the season, Salt Fork coach Brian Plotner tries to avoid putting too much pressure on the game, realizing that win or lose, six games will remain on the schedule before playoffs begin. But considering the history of the rivalry, it’s hard to not focus a little more in preparation for the contest.

“We always tell the kids that this is one game and there is a lot of football to be played,” Plotner said. “There are certainly some very good teams in our conference this year. But traditionally, the team that wins this game has a leg up and has an opportunity to be 1-0 as opposed to 0-1.

“If you can be competitive and come out with a successful victory this week, that sets the tone for the rest of conference play. If you lose, you’re going to figure out the things you need to work on to get better, and certainly, there is still a lot of football to be played. Ultimately, getting to Week 10 is what we are trying to first and foremost come through with. If we can play well Friday night, that will set the tone for the rest of the year.”

While Salt Fork is still working through ironing out details of a new offense, Westville is also trying to fine tune a few wrinkles it has added this season. And though few teams are completely without injuries or missing players, Goodlove has a fairly good feeling about his team’s standing entering Friday’s contest.

“We have shown improvement (since the first game),” Goodlove said. “It’s really nice. This is the first time in three years that we haven’t dealt with off the field issues, and we’re healthy for the most part. Everybody who played the first two games of the season is playing this week. That’s something that we haven’t done going into this game for the past three years. That’s a very nice feeling to have as a head coach.”

And it could prove crucial in the final outcome as the Tigers attempt to start the season 3-0 for the first time since 2007.

Also playing for its third straight win will be Georgetown-Ridge Farm/Chrisman, which will travel to Hoopeston to take on a Cornjerkers team looking for their first win of the season.

Looking to bounce back from a close one-point overtime loss will be the Schlarman Hilltoppers who host Oakwood/Armstrong-Potomac. And the Bismarck-Henning Blue Devils will try to pick up their second win, playing host to Milford/Cissna Park.

All games are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.