How much difference can a week make? Knoch football coach Mike King hopes a lot.

The Knights managed three first downs and 44 yards offensively in less than a half against Freeport last week in a weather-shortened 15-0 loss.

Knoch is home again this Friday - against perennial WPIAL Class AAA power Moon.

"They have a lot of size and a lot of experience," King said.

The Tigers have a lot of wins, too. They reached the WPIAL semifinals each of the past two years and were runner-up in the state in 1998.

Moon returns approximately half its starters from a 10-2 team last year that outscored its regular season opposition 251-52.

Mark Capuano is in his 20th year overall as Moon head coach, his 13th consecutively.

"We have a little more experience back defensively," Capuano said. "But we do have some nice veteran players back on offense."

Among them are quarterback Matt Dowdell, who threw for 141 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 29-6 win over Ringgold. The game was stopped by lightning in the third quarter.

Dowdell is 6-foot-0, 210 pounds, and passed for more than 800 yards last year.

Mitch Morsillo, a 230-pound fullback, missed all of last season with a dislocated shoulder. He is being recruited by Bowling Green, Akron and Buffalo. Blocking for him is 6-4, 260-pound John Bachman, who is being recruited by Indiana of the Big 10, Bowling Green and Akron.

"Those guys have been playing since they were freshmen," Capuano said. "We have 25 seniors on this team and these guys want to go out with a big year."

Among those seniors are receivers Jonathan Oberdick - who also handles the Tigers' place-kicking duties - and Bob Francis, tight end Chad Trenney, running backs Nick Peterson and Casey Williams.

"We're strong at the skilled positions," Capuano said.

King admitted his team will be under-sized by comparison up front - but expects that all of the time.

"Our kids have to use size and quickness as a way to challenge that," King said. "We have to use aggressiveness or choose the other option, which isn't very good."

Despite not playing a full game Friday, King saw some positives.

"Jordan Shoop did a nice job offensively and defensively and Bill Elliott had a good game at linebacker," King said. "We were getting manhandled up front defensively and couldn't get things together offensively.

"We shifted some people around this week, substituted different personnel. We'll keep working on it and gain more experience."

Moon uses a sophisticated blitz package and "we'll have to handle that," King said.

"We have our hands full," he said. "They have a lot of nice talent."

Knoch and Moon haven't played each other since the 1980's. Capuano admitted he knows little about the Knights.

"Their game got called early last Friday and their last scrimmage was in the rain," Capuano said. "We don't have a good feel for what they can do.

"Their quarterback looks strong and can throw the ball well. We'll go in there, play hard and try to keep things going."