MONROEVILLE — Their respective offenses will be challenged when Knoch and Gateway collide on the football field Friday night.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Gateway in a game that features two of the stingier defenses in the WPIAL so far this season.

“I expect this game could be similar to last year,” Knoch coach Mike King said, referring to the Knights' 8-7 home loss to the Gators.

Knoch (2-1, 1-1) is coming off consecutive shutout wins, blanking Greensburg Salem (23-0) and Carrick (57-0). Gateway (2-1, 1-1) has allowed just 19 points this season, defeating Greensburg Salem (28-10) and Perry (49-0) before dropping a 9-3 decision to Hampton last week.

“We've been playing good defense and I know Knoch has a good defensive team,” Gateway coach Tom Nola said. “They've got some big guys up front.

“Both teams may have trouble moving the football.”

Linebackers have played a key role in the success of both defenses. Gateway's Damion Reed and Ahmad Wilson — both juniors — lead the Gator defense.

Knoch linebackers Brennan McTighe and senior twins Josh and Garrett Trettel have backed up a solid defensive line for the Knights.

“Josh and Garrett are first-year senior starters,” King said. “When you have new people at linebacker, a learning curve has to develop. Those two guys have mastered it well.”

Nola said the Gators' defense is “set up for the linebackers to make plays and Reed and Wilson have done nice work there.”

Offensively, Jake Herrit has settled in at quarterback for Knoch and has thrown for 239 yards and two touchdowns. He leads a struggling ground game with 109 yards and three scores.

Knoch averages 3.7 yards per carry through its first three games.

“Our tailbacks have been running the ball by committee this year and that's hurt us a bit,” King said. “Tailbacks have to get into a groove, start seeing things, and it takes reps to do that.

“We've been using multiple formations and personnel. Sometimes it's better to hone in on things and execute.”

Brady Walker, a 6-foot-1 sophomore, is Gateway's quarterback. His top receiver is University of Virginia recruit Aidan Howard.

Adam White is the Gators' leading rusher with 289 yards. He's had a pair of 100-yard games.

“The plays are there and our players are capable, we're just not executing them,” Nola said. “We had opportunities to win that game against Hampton and we failed to execute.”

Gateway drove to the Hampton 7-yard line in the final seconds before throwing an interception to end the threat.

“The (Greater Allegheny) Conference is the toughest among the three (Triple-A conferences) without a doubt,” Nola said. “Hampton is the only team in the league without a loss and they should have one. Every team is good in this league.”

King agreed.

“We are two of many teams that are 1-1 in the conference,” the Knoch coach said. “Besides our blowout loss at Franklin Regional, every game in this league has been very competitive.

“It really is anybody's conference. This week — like any week — we're going to have to play well to win.”