GROVE CITY — The goal is obvious.

Don’t let Journey Brown take any long journeys down the football field.

The Meadville senior star running back has piled up 1,451 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns on just 129 carries this season for the Bulldogs (6-2, 5-0), who will travel to Grove City (8-0, 5-0) for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday with the Region 5 title on the line.

Grove City coach Sam Mowrey, though, said stopping Brown is important, but not the sole focus of his defense.

“I think like against any team, you pick out what things they do the best, the four or five things they do the best and try to stop that,” Mowrey said. “Obviously, Journey is operating at a level far advanced than anything else you see. He’s a talented kid, a talented football player. But our guys on defense can’t do anything outside their responsibility.”

Meadville has other dangers beyond Brown.

While the Bulldogs don’t pass often (they haven’t had much need to this season), quarterback Kirk Mumau has been efficient.

Isaiah Manning has also been a strong complement to Brown in the running game with more than 700 yards.

“Those other guys are doing a good job, too,” Mowrey said.

So is the often maligned Meadville defense, which has given up just 36 points in the last five games after coughing up 115 in the first three games of the season.

The Bulldogs are coming off 70-0 and 70-6 wins the last two weeks.

“They are definitely very athletic and very physical (on defense),” Mowrey said. “Manning is a very good middle linebacker and Journey hasn’t been tested at cornerback this season.”

Grove City, though, is certain to test all of the Meadville DBs.

Senior quarterback Kameron Patterson continues to put up gaudy numbers.

He has completed 122-of-160 passes (76.2 percent) for 1,989 yards and 27 touchdowns. He’s only thrown two interceptions.

What has made the Eagles’ passing game so dangerous is its balance. Nine players caught at least one pass two weeks ago against DuBois. Eight players had at least one reception last week vs. Fairview.

“That’s something we knew coming in, that we had a lot of athletes and a lot of guys who could catch passes,” Mowrey said. “And Kam is comfortable. He hasn’t fallen into that trap of having to throw the ball to a certain guy. When you are 21-of-25 passing each week, you’re making a lot of good decisions.”