GROVE CITY — The annual Grove City-Wilmington high school football game is always big.

This year, it’s even bigger.

For the first time in four years, the game will mean more than just bragging rights.

Grove City has been in Class AAA in District 10 for the past four seasons, but dropped back down to Class AA and back into the same region as the Greyhounds.

The two teams clash again at 7 p.m. Friday at Forker Field.

“It’s an important game, but we have to keep it in perspective,” said Grove City coach Jeff Bell. “It’s still only game No. 2. I would not call it a must win.”

Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli echoed those sentiments.

“Obviously it’s a little bit bigger because we are in the same region again,” Verrelli said. “They are one of the toughest opponents we play every year. It’s early, but the winner will get an edge.”

Last year, Grove City handed Wilmington its only regular-season loss, 17-0. The Greyhounds, though, were the only team to hold the Eagles, who stormed their way to the District 10 Class AAA championship, to fewer than 40 points in the regular season.

Grove City has won the last three meetings.

“They’re extremely well coached,” Bell said. “They play hard. They have good offensive and defensive lines and their linebackers get to the ball and make a lot of tackles. It’s the same old Wilmington.”

The Greyhounds are coming off a hard-fought 13-10 win over West Middlesex. Wilmingyon needed a 1-yard score on a sneak by quarterback Cody Llewellyn in the fourth quarter to topple the Big Reds.

Tyler Donati led Wilmington with 121 yards rushing on 19 carries.

Meanwhile, Grove City had an easy time with City League’s Carrick, rolling to a 40-0 win.

The Eagles, though, are dealing with a fair share of injuries.

Bell had a dozen players unable to practice on Monday and got only a few back on the field Tuesday.

Most of the injuries aren’t serious, but problematic enough to limit several players.

“This is the most injured players I remember having this early in the season,” Bell said. “That concerns me. You have to be careful in practice so you don’t lose any more kids.”

Bell was also dismayed by the number of penalties and penalty yardage the Eagles rolled up — 12 for 100 yards.

“We cannot do that this week,” Bell said. “We were able to overcome them against Carrick, but we cannot do that against Wilmington and expect to be successful.”

Trinity (1-0) at Knoch (1-0), 7:30 p.m., Friday

Coaches: Trinity, Ryan Coyle; Knoch, Mike King

Last Week: Trinity defeated Elizabeth Forward 14-7, Knoch defeated Greensburg Salem 28-14.

Numbers: Trinity had zero first downs in the second half last week ... Patrick Frey led the Hillers’ ground attack with 60 yards on 15 carries. ... Knoch was outgained 259-115 in yardage last week, but allowed just nine yards in the second half.

Notes: Coyle is in his first season as Trinity head coach after serving as an assistant coach at Mt. Lebanon ... Don McWreath played for injured QB Jason Vankirk last week. Vankirk threw for 872 yards and 10 TDs last season ... Knoch’s Ben Tackett scored all four of his team’s touchdowns against G-S, two by rushing, one on a reception, the other on a 93-yard kickoff return.

Derry (1-0) at Mars (1-0), 7 p.m., Friday

Coaches: Derry,Al Gaiardo; Mars, Scott Heinauer

Last Week: Derry beat Albert Gallatin 33-26; Mars upended host Franklin Regional 21-17.

Numbers: Derry RB Josh Wannamaker missed the last half of the 2011 season with a torn ACL, but showed no signs of the injury last week. He rushed for 146 yards and scored all five of his team’s touchdowns.

Notes: Derry moves to the Greater Allegheny Conference after spending 12 seasons in the Keystone Conference. In that span the Trojans compiled an overall record of 31-84 and made the playoffs just three times, the last appearance coming in 2009 ... Since moving up to Class AAA in 2008, Mars is 3-1 in home openers, including three straight victories.

Clarion (1-0) at Karns City (1-0), 7 p.m., Friday

Coaches: Clarion,Larry Wiser; Karns City, Ed Conto

Last Week: Clarion routed Clarion-Limestone, 57-0; Karns City downed St. Marys, 38-25.

Numbers: Clarion rolled up 435 yards in crushing the Lions, who managed just 13 total yards. Clarion-Limestone was limited to two first downs. ... Damien Slike and T.J. Armstrong scored two touchdowns apiece while Camron Kirkland, Ian Corbett and Destin Strauser also added rushing scores. ... Karns City rolled up 351 yards rushing in defeating the Dutchmen. Tyler Kepple, Wyatt Everetts and Tristan Rhoades combined for 14 carries for 281 yards and four scores with Everetts leading the way with 135 yards and two TD ... Kepple also passed for 132 yards on 9 of 15 passing.

Notes: Wiser is in his 24th season and has compiled a 154-81-1 record. Armstrong has made a verbal commitment to Old Dominion. He rushed for 1,123 yards and 16 touchdowns and also made 123 tackles and seven sacks and was named to the Class A all-state team and D-9 Defensive Player of the Year.

Slippery Rock (1-0) at Meadville (1-0) 7 p.m. Friday

Coaches: Slippery Rock, Brendan Hathaway; Meadville, Mike Feleppa

Last Week: Slippery Rock edged Brashear, 32-26 while Meadville won a squeaker over Northwestern, 38-36.

Numbers: Both teams needed late touchdowns to eke out a win last week. Meadville RB Artel Foster scored on a 20-yard TD run late for the decisive score while Slippery Rock QB Ryan Currie scored on a short run for the Rockets’ game-winner. ... Foster led Meadville with 73 yards rushing and also caught a 59-yard TD pass from QB Tyler Minnis. ... Meadville’s win was the first for Feleppa as the Bulldogs’ head football coach.

Notes: Slippery Rock beat Meadville 25-18 last season. ... The Rockets have won five out of the last six meetings between the two teams.

A-C Valley (0-1) at Clay-Battelle (2-0), 7 p.m., Friday

Coaches: A-C Valley, Brad Dittman; Clay-Battelle (W.Va.), Ryan Wilson

Last Week: The Falcons fell 16-14 at Union; Clay-Battelle beat Bishop Donahue (W.Va.) 21-7.

Numbers: Despite their loss last week, the Falcons did outgain Union in total offense 227-142. ... Junior running back Mike Suto tallied 88 yards from scrimmage on 11 total touches (seven carries and four receptions) and scored a touchdown on the ground. ... The Cee Bees feature several playmakers on offense, including QB Tristan Haught, who has completed 8-of-18 passes for 234 yards with three TDs and an interception. RB Shayne Hinkle has gained 231 yards and two TDs on the ground on 18 carries.

Notes: Clay-Battelle has outscored its first two opponents 86-7.

Summit Academy (0-1) at Waynesburg (0-1), 7 p.m., Friday

Coaches: Summit Academy,Steve Sherer; Waynesburg, Russ Moore

Last Week: East Allegheny defeated the Knights 29-12; The Raiders were blanked by Mt. Pleasant, 38-0.

Numbers: Waynesburg surrendered 219 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns to junior Tyler Mellors in the loss. ... The Raiders trailed just 7-0 after one quarter before allowing 31 points over the second and third quarters. ... Javon Cooper hauled in a 74-yard scoring pass from Chris Harp that knotted the game at 6 in the first quarter before the Wildcats scored the next three touchdowns to take an insurmountable 26-6 lead during the third quarter.

Notes: Moore had coached the Raiders back in the 1990s, including a WPIAL Class AA title in 1999. Waynesburg has had just one winning season in the past five campaigns.

Punxsutawney (1-0) at Union (1-0) 7 p.m., Friday

Coaches: Punxsutawney, Alan Nichol; Union, Dave Louder

Last week: Punxsutawney slipped past Brookville, 26-23; Union outlasted A-C Valley, 16-14.

The numbers: Jamie Bush rushed for 65 yards and two touchdowns and Christian Falgout 78 yards on 23 carries and a score as well as 105 yards on three kickoff returns. ... Brody Shick led the way for the Golden Knights, rushing for one score and returning an interception 35 yards for another to build a 16-8 halftime advantage. Shick also completed 4 of 6 passes for 83 yards.

Notes: Despite a 3-7 record a year ago, Nichol has a 24-11 record with the Chucks. Punxsutawney was the District 9 Class AAA runner-up and KSAC Large School champion in 2010 and was the district champions in 2009.

Moniteau (0-1) at West Middlesex (0-1) 7 p.m., Saturday

Coaches: Moniteau, Jeff Campbell; West Middlesex, Jason McElhaney

Last week: Moniteau was blanked by Sharpsville, 35-0; West Middlesex fell to Wilmington, 13-10.

The numbers: The Warriors managed just five first downs and 94 total yards in the non-district opener. ... Dustin Geagan was held to just 22 yards on 12 carries. ... Luke Patten rushed for 67 yards on 15 carries and scored a TD for the Big Reds while freshman Trey Staunch completed 9 of 14 passes for 77 yards and Jeremy Jancso 2 of 6 for 37 yards but also caught three passes for 30 yards. Jancso had thrown for 1,148 yards and 13 scores last year.

Notes: West Middlesex was the District 10 Class A runner-up last season — losing to Sharpsville — despite a 5-4 record during the regular season.