Freeport wants to unseat the two-time defending conference champions. North Catholic seeks to grab another crown while adding to its string of 23 consecutive regular-season victories.

Friday night, the Yellowjackets (3-0, 4-3) will welcome the Allegheny Seven Conference rival Trojans into Freeport Area Stadium for a tilt between the league's two foremost teams.

North (4-0, 8-0) has prevailed in the teams' last three gatherings, but there are resemblances between the competitors.

“I think both teams are very tough teams,” North coach Patrick O'Shea said. “They're led by coaching that believes in hard work. I always say, it's kind of those blue-collar values that a lot of us grew up with.”

“We're pretty much mirror images,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said, talking about the similarities in offensive and defensive sets.

Yielding 17.0 points per game, Freeport's defense trails only North Catholic's as the stingiest in the conference.

The Trojans allow just over three points per matchup, the least in all the WPIAL. They enter having shut out six of their eight challengers this year and have won their last three contests by a combined score of 132-0.

“I know people think you only have eleven starters,” O'Shea said. “We can make an argument that we have 16-17 starters on defense. All of them have performed at a really high level for us.

“I think, when you look at that defense, it should provide you with a level of confidence.”

The group figures to face a challenge in junior quarterback/running back Ben Lane and Co. It looks forward to seeing how it can match up against the Yellowjackets' style of offense.

Lane leads Freeport with 352 yards throwing and 372 rushing. Senior Shane Jack has been featured at tailback, going for 157 yards on 48 totes. He carried the ball eleven times for 65 yards and a score in last week's 42-9 win at Burrell.

The 'Jackets counterparts have an offensive line whose play O'Shea said has improved each week. Made up of center Tyler Primrose, guards Justin Smith and Andrew Stephens, and tackles J.J. Iaquinta and Shamus Straub, the Trojan front has opened holes and kept the quarterback upright.

“The performance our offensive line has given so far this year has allowed the skill guys to get their stats,” O'Shea said.

North sophomore running back Jack Fennell has rushed for 338 yards this year, while senior Kyle Tipinski has added 263 more. The duo has combined for 22 total scores.

The Yellowjackets began the season 1-3. They've reeled off three straight victories since bowing to Serra Catholic, 14-3, in a non-conference game last month. Worth noting, no team has played the Class 2A Allegheny Conference-leading Eagles as closely as Freeport did in that loss.

“The three games we lost were at home,” Gaillot said. “Hopefully, we kind of got rid of that monkey off our back with the win (two weeks ago) against East Allegheny.”

The Trojans don't see being a visitor as a disadvantage.

“It kind of feels like we're always on the road,” O'Shea said. “Until we get our own stadium, we're always packing up, whether it's us playing at Mars or us playing away.”

Of course, O'Shea wants to win the conference, but he recognizes that the outcome of the showdown mainly awards bragging rights.

“If you have a game like this Friday, where you're playing for the conference championship, you have the comfort of knowing that, ultimately, win or lose, you're still going to be in the playoff race,” O'Shea said.

“I'd love to see (my players) experience (a title),” Gaillot said. “We have to win the next two. It's one game at a time, like always.”

Hampton (5-0, 8-0) at Knoch (1-4, 2-6)

7 p.m., Friday

Undefeated Hampton dropped Indiana, 42-6, at home last Friday ... Knoch was dispatched by Plum, 39-0.

The Talbots have beaten each of their previous four opponents by 20 points or more ... Sophomore Brock Borgo and senior Christian Liberto are a big reason why their team sits atop the Greater Allegheny Conference. The RB tandem has combined for 210 carries, 1,644 rushing yards and 27 scores this year.

Aside from Mars, Knoch's offense has had the hardest time in the conference in getting going this season ... The Knights have allowed over 33 points per game ... Against the Mustangs last week, the defense conceded 255 yards on the ground and another 234 through the air.

Indiana (2-3, 4-4) at Mars (2-3, 2-6)

7 p.m., Friday

Indiana dropped a 42-6 decision at Hampton last week ... Mars fell, 19-12, at Greensburg Salem.

The Indians have passed for just 279 yards all season ... The team is led by a potent ground game with senior QB Devin Flint rushing for 769 yards and 13 TDs ... Senior RBs Zach Herrington (685-6) and Korbin Wilson (433-7) add punch to the attack.

Mars' 29-0 loss to Plum in late September has been changed to a forfeit win for the Planets due to the Mustangs using an ineligible player. That development has Mars right in the thick of the WPIAL Class 4A playoff race in the Greater Allegheny Conference ... The Planets are now tied with three other teams that have 2-3 conference records — Indiana, Highlands and Plum ... After struggling early in the season, Mars junior QB Rafael Bartley has turned in solid back-to-back efforts, throwing for 408 yards and 3 TDs combined in the last two games.

Bradford (0-8, 0-8) at Karns City (6-1, 7-1)

7 p.m., Friday

Hapless Bradford fell at home last week against Central Clarion, 38-7 ... On the road, Karns City shut out Ridgway, 35-0.

The Owls have dropped their last three outings by a combined score of 142-28 ... Senior WR Dalton Dixon leads the team in receiving with 47 catches for 861 yards and 7 TDs ... Last week, the offense enjoyed its best rushing output so far this season, putting up 134 yards on 26 carries.

The Gremlins have beaten down on their last two competitors after bowing to St. Marys earlier this month ... Senior RBs Jayce Anderson (79 carries, 673 yards, 7 TDs) and Luke Garing (88-620-15) are both averaging over 7 yards per tote ... KC's ground game has gone for over 200 yards in every game this season.

Moniteau (1-6, 1-6) at Punxsutawney (1-6, 1-6)

7 p.m., Friday

Both teams' only win of the campaign came against Bradford.

Losing 42-6 at home last week, Moniteau was the latest victim of Saint Marys' seven-game win streak ... Punxsutawney was whacked at DuBois Area, 35-0.

In 5 contests this year, the Warriors have failed to score more than 7 points ... Junior Hunter Stalker paced the offense on the ground last week, tallying 53 yards on 11 carries ... Cooper Boozel's 37-yard TD reception in the opening frame was Moniteau's lone score against the Flying Dutchmen.

Punxsy's offense could generate a paltry two first downs and 50 yards of total offense last week ... The Chucks followed up their season's best ground effort — 359 yards against Bradford — with an unimposing 38-yard performance while visiting the Beavers ... Junior Zeke Bennett was kept in check after scampering for over 250 yards against Bradford.

Slippery Rock (5-1)

at Girard (0-6)

7 p.m., Friday

Slippery Rock closed region play with a 35-33 victory over visiting Sharon last week ... Girard lost, 36-23, to North East.

Rockets' head coach Larry Wendereusz will be back on the sideline after missing the last two games due to exposure to COVID ... QB William Mokel and RB Brett Galcik both missed last week with injury. Their status for Friday's game is unknown ... Grove City has been recognized as champion of Region 3. The Eagles (4-1) have a better record in region play than Slippery Rock (3-1), even though the Rockets' dealt GC a 34-7 loss last month ... Slippery Rock has played one less region contest because its game against Titusville was canceled due to the latter's concerns over COVID.

Girard has been outscored this season, 218-66.

Redbank Valley (3-1 7-1) at Union/A-C Valley (2-1 6-1) 7 p.m., Friday in Rimersburg

Redbank crushed visiting Coudersport last Friday, 52-6 ... Union/A-C Valley won at Cameron County, 20-6. The Bulldogs feature senior QB Bryson Bain, who has passed for 1,109 yards, 21 TDs and 4 INTs this season ... Senior RB Ray Shreckengost has gained 477 yards on the ground with 9 TDs ... RV's defense has tallied 15 sacks, led by 7 from senior lineman Joe Mansfield.

Junior WR Skyler Roxbury paces U/ACV with 14 catches for 249 yards and a pair of TDs. He also has 7 INTs on defense and has returned the thefts for a combined 153 yards.

Summit Academy (0-3, 0-8) at Serra Catholic (3-0, 9-0) 7 p.m., Friday

Summit lost at Ligonier Valley last week, 43-14 ... Serra Catholic defeated Apollo-Ridge, 62-20, to remain unbeaten.

Serra QB Max Rocco has passed for 1,375 yards and 21 TDs this season ... The Eagles picked up 2 wins in Week 5. Their game against Carlynton turned into a forfeit win when the Cougars backed out of the matchup early in the week. Serra was then able to schedule a game against Freeport and defeated the Yellowjackets, 14-3

Eagle Staff Writer Derek Pyda contributed to this report.