CADIZ — The Harrison Central Huskies are still searching for that first victory and are working toward finding balance offensively.

Friday begins the first of a two-game stretch that anyone outside of the Harrison Central locker room would point to as winnable.

Head coach Anthony Hayes is not one to look at records and say “we should win this game.” He’s more worried about his team taking care of what it can control, executing, and playing hard as a team, whether that be against a highly skilled, unbeaten team, or a team down on its luck.

Hayes wants his team focused and at its best, no matter the opponent.

So, a solid week of practice, working hard, and staying healthy are the key factors for any week of preparation in Cadiz.

Next up is the Akron North Vikings (1-3), a Division II team reeling after two tough losses to unbeaten Hoover (4-0) and three-win Lexington (3-1).

The Vikings lone victory came in a Week 1 opener against winless St. Thomas Aquinas, 23-6, a team playing in Division VI.

Does that mean that Friday’s game in Cadiz is a gimme? Certainly not.

North is led by junior quarterback Jair Bell, who leads the Vikings in both rushing and passing at 93 and 123 yards per game, respectively.

His top backfield mate is sophomore Quincy Terry (5-8, 145 pounds) who averages just under 50 yards per game.

Bell does have a favorite receiver in senior Jaden Wardlaw (6-0), who averages around 50 yards and six catches per game. When North needs a big play, the Vikings look to Wardlaw.

The Huskies are coming off a tough 27-3 loss to Union Local.

Harrison struck first, with a 32-yard field goal in the first quarter and led into the second until Brody Perzanowski started getting untracked, helping the Jets to 257 yards rushing as part of a 351-yard offensive showing.

Harrison, meanwhile, was limited to 148 yards of total offense. Beua Rinkes had a solid game, rushing for 50 yards on 12 carries, but Harrison totaled only 52 as a team.

Brady Hyre threw for 76 yards on 9-of-17 passing while freshman Kingston Smith came in to complete 3-of-4 passes for 20 yards.

Bell does the majority of rushing for the Vikings, but if the Huskies can keep him wrangled and limit the big plays in the passing game, that first victory may only be four quarters away.