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“We’re missing quite a few starters,� Huffman said. And some others may be in doubt.

Left guard Johnathan Welch is out, Huffman said, as is tight end/defensive end Riley Gilmore. Dasani McCallister, a junior, will be asked to step in at quarterback for X’Zayveon Whitestone, who was injured in last Friday’s loss at Capital.

Two other players are in doubt, according to Huffman, Riverside’s first-year coach. Other ailments, such as wisdom teeth extraction, have made still other players game-time decisions.

Riverside (0-3, 0-1 MSAC) has already had a tough season, but now come the Highlanders (2-1, 2-0) to renew a series in which the Warriors have lost the last 10 games.

“We’re digging down in the pile [for starters],� Huffman said. “We’ve got two guys that we can rotate them in on the line.�

Those players will be Kyle Epperly and Gabe Williams, playing varsity for the first time for Riverside this season.

They’ll be charged with limiting a Huntington running game that few teams (again, see Martinsburg) have been able to contain, much less stop.

“We have to keep them on the sideline,� Huffman said.

Controlling the clock will be crucial, and Huffman said McCallister will be charged with helping to improve the short-yardage passing game.

Using his running game will be key too, and it’s one aspect of the Warriors that troubles Huntington coach Billy Seals.

“Malakhi Hope doesn’t run like a freshman,� Seals said. “They’re not bad up front. They stay engaged with their block. They’re getting better.�

Seals said he is also wary of playing at Warriors Stadium for the second year in a row. It’s a field, he said, where Huntington has been slow to get started, although that start isn’t reflected in the final score of the Highlanders’ last two visits, won by Huntington by a combined score of 126-7.

Hope may be going at it alone in the offensive backfield for Riverside, Huffman said. Thomas is “50/50� on whether he can play on Friday, Huffman said.

While the Warriors are battling injuries, Seals said Huntington is close to full strength and no one is expected to be out of action for the Highlanders.

“We’re working to improve everything,� Seals said. “Up front on both sides of the ball, there are things that need to get better. I don’t see finishers on the offensive line. We’re engaged with the defensive lineman, and then turning to see what’s going on behind them.�

Turnovers are another area where Huntington has struggled, Seals said. The Highlanders have a turnover margin of minus-two this season, according to team statistics, whereas Seals said Huntington has been “plus-20 in years past.�

Huntington leads the all-time series with Riverside by just 11-8, but the Warriors have not defeated the Highlanders since Seals’ first season in 2009.