If it's possible, Knoch might be catching Class AAA football power Thomas Jefferson at the right time.

When the Knights (3-6) take on the defending WPIAL and PIAA champion Jaguars (8-1) in the first round of the playoffs Friday night, Thomas Jefferson's quarterback, leading running back and wide receiver will be slowed by injuries.

"We thought about sitting them all out of this game," Thomas Jefferson coach Bill Cherpak said. "But you can only be so conservative. If we lose, we're done."

Quarterback Kevin Franz, who missed two games earlier this year because of injuries, has a dislocated finger on his throwing hand.

He played last week and threw for 205 yards, but had five interceptions in a 28-15 loss to West Mifflin that snapped the Jaguars' 27-game conference winning streak.

"He had some type of compressed splint on his hand," Cherpak said. "He was having trouble throwing the ball. He couldn't get a good grip on it."

Franz is expected to play Friday. Running back-linebacker Dan Giegerich, the Jaguars' leading rusher with nearly 800 yards, has a separated shoulder.

Giegerich didn't play offense against West Mifflin and saw part-time duty on defense. Receiver Dom DeCicco, Franz's favorite target, has a broken arm and didn't play last week.

"If they're looking at the long haul and making a run for the title, maybe he (Cherpak) does try to rest those kids against us," Knoch coach Mike King said.

That decision will come later in the week.

"If they're injured, they won't play," Cherpak said. "If they're hurting and can play without getting hurt any worse, they'll play. That's a big difference. We'll wait and see."

Don't feel too badly for Thomas Jefferson. This is still a team with four Division I-caliber players on defense. And it's a program that has been to the WPIAL semifinals eight times in the past nine years.

Nate Nix, a middle linebacker who already committed to the University of Pittsburgh, rushed for 120 yards in a 10-7 win over Quad-A Gateway three weeks ago. He rushed for 73 yards against West Mifflin.

Fellow middle linebacker Jason Kolodziej, end Chris Drager and defensive tackle Lucas Nix also are Division I prospects — and the younger Nix is only a sophomore.

"He's 6-foot-6, 265 pounds and the major schools are already all over him," Cherpak said.

Thomas Jefferson outscored its first six opponents 279 to 7 this season, recording five successive shutouts to begin the year.

The Jaguars had allowed only 17 points all year before the loss to West Mifflin.

"We have a lot of speed and size on defense and we don't make mistakes," Cherpak said. "And we've done a good job of forcing turnovers."

T.J. also has a solid kicker in Ryan Brown, who has connected on five field goals.

While the Jaguars appear to have the total package, King insists Knoch won't be intimidated.

"I feel better going into the playoffs this year than I did last year," King said. "Last year, we were coming off a pretty good whipping by Pine-Richland."

That was followed by a 41-6 loss to top-seeded West Allegheny in the first round of the playoffs.

"Our confidence level is much higher this year," King said. "Obviously, this is a very good football team we're facing, but we've seen our share of good football teams this year."

The Knights might receive a lift in the return of tailback Curtis Howard. He had six carries for 150 yards against Pine-Richland before leaving the game with an ankle injury.

"It was a shame because Curtis was on his way to having one of the best games ever by a Knoch running back," King said.

"I thought his ankle was broken at first. It turned out to be only sprained. I list him as questionable for this game," he added.

Senior quarterback Jordan Shoop has 1,254 yards and 13 touchdowns combined through the air and on the ground. His prime targets are Joel Berger (9 catches-156 yards), Eric Farmer (9-139) and Dan Pickard (7-110).

"Our receivers have been going up and pulling the ball in of late," King said. "Jordan has some targets to go to and we won't be afraid to throw the ball this week."

Cherpak said the key to his team winning Friday is preventing the big play.

"We feel comfortable that teams can't drive the ball on us," he said. "We can't allow the big play, and that quarterback can produce a few for them."