BUFFALO TWP — The football schedule worked out in Freeport's favor this season.

All the Yellowjackets have to do now is deliver.

Freeport (4-2, 3-1) hosts Seton-LaSalle (4-2, 3-2) in a critical Allegheny Conference game at 7 p.m. Friday.

“We have a young team this year and our goal all along has just been to get a little better each week,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said. “Our schedule wound up giving us the top tier of the conference here at the end and that could be good for us.

“But I feel like we regressed last week and that bothers me.”

The Yellowjackets took a 36-7 loss at Apollo-Ridge as Duane Brown rushed for 129 yards and scored three touchdowns for A-R. This week, Freeport faces another standout back in Seton-LaSalle junior Lionel Deanes.

The 5-foot-7, 185-pound Deanes rushed for 1,291 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore. He has 1,291 yards and 12 TDs so far this year.

“It will be a big task holding him down,” Gaillot said. “The kid has a low center of gravity, an excellent stiff-arm and powerful legs that make him tough to bring down.”

The Rebels can also succeed through the air as Matt Banbury has thrown for 450 yards, six TDs and only two interceptions. Nolan Abbiatici has 10 catches for 304 yards and three TDs. He is averaging 30 yards per catch.

Seton-LaSalle has been to the WPIAL playoffs six consecutive years and 11 of the past 12.

“If we want our kids to experience postseason this year, we have to find a way to beat programs like this,” Gaillot said.

The Yellowjackets do have some standout players of their own. Austin Romanchak has passed for 370 yards and seven TDs, rushed for 457 and three scores. Conor Sellinger has 395 yards rushing, Jake Sarver five combined TDs running and receiving, along with four field goals and only one missed PAT.

Linebacker Travis Wisniewski leads the defense with 70 tackles.

“We had trouble getting Travis on the field last year because of the seniors playing in front of him,” Gaillot said. “Now we never take him off the field.

“Jake is only a junior and I believe he has the talent to become a Division I college kicker down the road. He consistently hits from 52 yards in practice.”

Freeport is 0-3 all-time vs. Seton-LaSalle. The teams last met in 2002, when the Rebels scored a 28-21 playoff win.

Mars (5-2, 4-1)

at Ambridge (0-6, 0-6)

Friday, 7 p.m.

What to look for: Mars was dominated last week in a 48-10 home loss to Thomas Jefferson. Ambridge lost 56-7 at Blackhawk. .... Mars RBs Isaiah Johnson and Garrett Reinke have combined for 1,431 yards and 16 TDs on the ground this year. ... The Bridgers have been outscored 284-26 this season. Ambridge's roster includes less than 40 players and is comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomores. This will be the first-ever meeting on the gridiron between the schools.

New Castle (4-3, 4-2)

at Knoch (1-5, 1-4)

Friday, 7 p.m.

What to look for: The teams are meeting for the first time since 2007, when Knoch scored a 42-24 WPIAL playoff win. The Knights are 1-2 all-time against the Red Hurricane. ... New Castle has been outscored 71-20 in its past two games, losses to South Fayette and Mars. ... New Castle QB Geno Stone has passed for 662 yards and 7 TDs, rushed for 412 yards and 8 scores. ... Knoch QB Mac Christy has 1,048 yards and 11 TDs combined passing and rushing. He also leads the team with 46 tackles as its middle linebacker. ... Jayden Renfrew has been a versatile player for the Knights, rushing for 326 yards and catching seven passes for 138. ... Knoch has lost three straight games, losing 14-point leads in each of the last two.

Moniteau (3-3)

at Clarion-Limestone (4-2)

Friday, 7 p.m.

What to look for: Clarion-Limestone is coming off a 45-6 loss to Karns City. ... The Lions gave up more than 600 yards of offense to the Gremlins in that game. ... Clarion-Limestone's ground attack is led by senior Mike Macefe, who was the lone bright spot last week against KC when he rushed for 149 yards on 30 carries. ... Moniteau continued it trend of winning on the even weeks with a 37-14 victory over Brookville. ... Chance Nagy, who had struggled at QB recently, bounced back with a 10-of-14, 125-yard performance. He also rushed for three TDs.

Sharpsville (5-2)

at Slippery Rock (2-5)

Friday, 7 p.m.

What to look for: Bailey Merten scored on a QB sneak from the 4 to lift Slippery Rock to a 19-14 win last week against Lakeview. ... Mertens also threw a TD pass to Patrick Shea. ... The Rockets defense held the Sailors to 165 yards. ... Sharpsville is coming of a 56-26 loss to Hickory. The Blue Devils led 19-7 in that game ... The Blue Devils have outscored their opponents 182-49 in their five wins, but have been outscored 119-47 in their two losses. ... Kobe Joseph led Sharpsville with 83 yards rushing against Hickory. Bobby Besser was right behind him with 71 yards rushing.

Grove City (7-0) at Fairview (3-4)

Friday, 7 p.m.

What to look for: Grove City QB Kameron Patterson continues to shine. The senior threw for 311 yards and four TDs and rushed for another 126 and two scores last week in a 54-14 win over DuBois. ... Patterson completed passes to nine different receivers last week. ... Patterson now has 24 TD passes and just two INTs this season. ... Fairview is coming off a 34-27 loss to Mercyhurst Prep. ... The Tigers like to run the ball — a lot. Fairview has already rushed for 2,134 yards as a team with Clayton Halmi leading the way with 1,275 yards on 179 carries.

Summit Academy (2-4)

at Sto-Rox (4-3)

Friday, 7 p.m.

What to look for: Sto-Rox has struggled running the ball this season, averaging just 3.8 yards per carry. ... Davonte Williams leads the Vikings in rushing with just 197 yards. ... Sto-Rox has four players who have thrown at least five passes. Senior Brady Doubt leads the Vikings with 1,013 yards passing and seven TDs. ... Summit Academy QB Tacore Penn led the Knights with 77 yards rushing last week in a 16-8 loss to Shenango. He was just 3-of-12 passing for 58 yards.

C.W. North Catholic (4-2, 3-1)

at Riverside (4-2, 4-1)

Friday, 7 p.m.

What to look for: Last week, CWNC beat Laurel 54-14 while Riverside dropped a 20-13 decision at Neshannock. ... In CWNC's win, junior WR/DB Jack Cassidy scored on a 17-yard reception and a 23-yard interception return. The winner of this game will have the inside track to a second-place finish in the Midwestern Conference.

Union/A-C Valley (2-4)

at Brookville (1-5)

Friday, 7 p.m.

What to look for: The Falcon Knights were dominated in a 30-6 home loss to previously winless Punxsutawney last week. Brookville fell 37-14 at Moniteau. ... Brookville's lone win this season was a 20-14 victory over Punxsutawney Sept. 16.