ADAMS TWP — The last thing Mars wants to do is stumble a week before the WPIAL playoffs.

And Knoch has proved to be a tough obstacle for the Planet football team to step over.

The two rivals meet at 7 p.m. Friday as the Knights (2-6, 2-5) do battle with Mars (7-2, 6-1) in a Northwest Nine game at the Mars Athletic Complex.

“This is definitely one of the better rivalries in the area,” Knoch coach Mike King said. “We respect them and I think they respect us.”

Knoch leads the series between the teams 23-12, but they have split the past six meetings. Mars secured wins of 21-0 last year, 40-7 in 2013 and 23-12 in 2010. Knoch has won by decisions of 14-7 in 2014, 21-0 in 2012 and 28-3 in 2011.

Mars coach Scott Heinauer remembers the 2014 game well. His Planets entered that contest with a 4-2 record while the Knights were 2-4.

“Knoch didn't have a great record, but they handed it to us,” he said. “This game is important to us from a rivalry standpoint and from a (playoff) seeding standpoint. Our kids understand that.”

Both teams have relied on running the football this season. Knoch quarterback Mac Christy has rushed for 757 yards and eight touchdowns, Jayden Renfrew 611 yards and 10 scores.

Renfrew ran for 222 yards and five touchdowns in the Knights' 48-0 win at Ambridge.

“Our offensive line had a big night. We didn't make mistakes up front and Jayden found the holes. We definitely can't make mistakes against Mars,” King said.

“You know what type of package they're going to run, but they run it so well.”

Heinauer is concerned about all the roles Christy fills for the Knights.

“He can run, he can throw, he does it all,” he said. “On defense, they've had him at inside linebacker and also have him going man-to-man in pass coverage. He's their go-to guy. He is Knoch football.”

Isaiah Johnson leads the Planets with 1,186 yards and 19 touchdowns rushing. Sophomore Garrett Reinke has added 657 yards and seven TDs.

“You can't totally key on Johnson. That Reinke is having a good year for them,” King said.

Mars senior quarterback Noah Wright has completed just 11 passes for 260 yards this season. He completed just one pass over the last two games, wins over Ambridge (49-0) and Indiana (49-14).

“Last week, it was raining and the last two weeks, we had a big lead in both games,” said Heinauer. “So it just wasn't conducive to throwing the football. But we absolutely have more confidence in Noah now than we did in August.”

The Knights came close to having a good year. If not for a one-point overtime loss to Blackhawk and 14-point leads lost to Montour and Indiana, Knoch would be possessing a 5-3, 5-2 record right now.

“I was thinking about that when I was driving home the other night,” King admitted. “It just didn't happen for us. But our kids are resilient and are excited about playing this game.”