The offense is starting to click. The defense is shutting people down.

The Grove City High School football team is in playoff form right now.

The only thing missing is a playoff spot.

But the Eagles still have a chance at the postseason. Tonight's game at Brookville will go a long way toward determining Grove City's fate.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. Grove City may not know if it has made the District 10 playoffs until 48 hours later.

"Well, we still have a glimmer of hope," said Grove City coach Jeff Bell. "They are talking about taking six teams into the playoffs (instead of four)."

Last year, the District 10 committee only allowed four teams into the postseason. This season, under more and more pressure to add more teams to the field, the committee appears likely to chose at least six teams to fill out the playoff field. They may chose as many as eight and skip the bye week that is built into the schedule.

"In basketball, eight go," Bell said. "Why let (eight) in in basketball and not in football?"

The debate appears to revolve around rewarding the Region 3 and Region 4 winners. The committee would like to reward them with a week off.

If six teams are chosen, the two region winners will receive byes with the remaining four teams squaring off in the first round.

Grove City is hoping to be one of those four teams.

But the Eagles (5-3 overall, 4-3 in Region 3) have some obstacles to overcome first. They are in a four-way tie with Slippery Rock, Hickory and Sharon for third place in the region.

Grove City beat Slippery Rock in overtime, downed Sharon 19-6 last week, but fell to Hickory 14-9.

"It's just unfortunate," Bell said. "If we had beaten Hickory, we'd be talking about who we are going to play in the playoffs right now. We just have to hope someone up there (in the District 10 committee) says, 'hey, give them a shot.'"

Grove City may have an edge because of what happened last season.

The Eagles were on the bubble, but received the final playoff spot and turned that into a run to the state championship game.

"Our attitude is just like last year," Bell said. "We'll play anyone, anywhere. We just want a shot."

Brookville may hold the key to Grove City's season.

Last year, the Eagles defeated the Raiders 28-0 in the season finale to secure a playoff spot. Grove City then beat Brookville again in the PIAA playoffs a few weeks later.

Bell hopes history repeats itself.

"They are pretty much the same team," Bell said. "It's a lot of the same kids. They've won three in a row after starting the season playing DuBois and Clearfield. That's a tough thing to ask a double-A team to do."

Brookville (4-4) has been very balanced this season.

Quarterback Korey Brownlee has completed 40-of-82 passes for 6-16 yards and three touchdowns this season.

His favorite target is Tyler Ross, who has caught 17 passes for 285 yards and two scores this season.

The Raiders have spread the ball around in the running game with Max Kutz leading the way with 377 yards on 77 carries. Joe Gailbraith had gained 228 yards on 57 carries this season.

Grove City has also shown some balance this season.

Eagles' senior quarterback Jesse Alfreno has thrown for 952 yards this season. Sophomore fullback Chris Clark has rushed for 551 yards on the ground.

Grove City has gotten freshman Dwayne Martin more involved in the offense. He rushed for 71 yards on just two carries against Sharon last week.

"He gives us a little bit of a threat back there," Bell said.

The key may be Alfreno, who has looked sharp at quarterback at times, but uncertain at others.

Bell said Alfreno is starting to get the feel of the passing game. He also said his team is finally starting to show gell.

"Every game he learns a little bit more," Bell said. "Our line is coming around and we've played a lot of kids. Our defense is starting to understand where they have to be on every play."

That makes wondering if there will be another game to play all the more difficult for the Eagles.

"If we get in," Bell said, "I like our chances."

Keystone at A-C Valley, 7 p.m., Friday —

Both teams wrap up their KSAC slate in a battle of one-win teams.

Both the Panthers (1-7, 1-5) and Falcons (1-6, 1-5) defeated Union, but have found the going tough elsewhere.

Keystone will miss the District 9 playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.

Entering last week's action, Panthers quarterback Mike Switzer had tallied 669 passing yards with eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

His most reliable target is senior wideout Kyle McMunn, who is one of the top receivers in the district with 28 catches worth 393 yards and four scores through seven games.