In the one-game-at-a-time approach that coaches like to impart on their players, the game this week for local gridders Oxford and Greene means everything.

The Blackhawks and Trojans, who played to a 20-15 final won the Greene to start this season, have playoff bids on the line.

Oxford has the tougher road, and they head to Delhi Saturday with the loser playing a meaningless non-league game in week nine, while the winner will face Candor in the Class D semifinals. “We’ve been pretty loose and haven’t shown any nerves,” said Oxford coach John Curtis of his team’s mindset. “We’ve been pretty loose all year, but we’ve been tough in the games.”

Greene, meanwhile, faces a Seton Catholic Central team that is off back-to-back losses. As things stand right now, a victory for the favored Trojans would vault them into a Class C semifinal next week against Division V champion Lansing. Only a loss combined with a Unatego upset of unbeaten Sidney would keep Greene from its first playoff appearance since 2000. “We haven’t been there in a while, and the kids are excited to be playing at Alumni Field (in Binghamton) this weekend,” said Greene coach Jeff Paske. “If we win this week, we get to go back and play there again.”

Other than those two matchups, Norwich plays at Oneonta tonight, S-E faces Jordan-Elbridge, and Walton hosts B-G Saturday. UV-Edmeston has a bye. Please read on for capsules of this week’s games: