If you shut down Alex Whisler, do you shut down Knoch?

Highlands might employ such a strategy Friday when the Rams (6-2) host the Knights (4-4) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

Knoch must win this game to have a shot at a third consecutive WPIALplayoff berth. AKnights win coupled with a Hampton win over Pine-Richland should extend Knoch's season another week.

"That's how I understand it,"Knoch coach Mike King said. "If Hampton loses and we win, we're involved in a three-way tie for third (in the Greater Allegheny) and we lose out in Gardner points.

"If Hampton wins, we tie for the fourth spot with Highlands and we'd go based on head-to-head."

Whisler has rushed for 475 yards on 82 carries, including three 100-yard games, in Knoch's four wins this fall. He has rushed for only 131 yards on 26 carries in the Knights' four losses.

Whisler also has scored nine touchdowns this year. Fullback Justin McGowan has scored three with the rest of the team scoring three.

"You can't be one-dimensional at this time of year,"King said. "The opposition's coaching is too good. The other teams are too good.

"Zack Gross can make plays for us in the passing game if we give him time. And a solid passing attack helps open up the running game."

Gross has completed 40 of 82 passes for 531 yards, but for only two touchdowns. Dan Pickard leads the Knights with nine catches for 196 yards.

Highlands coach Sam Albert knows all about a balanced attack. What he doesn't know is who will be on the field for him Friday night.

Senior quarterback Jimmy Nagle has completed 38 of 68 passes for 637 yards and six touchdowns for the Rams. Senior running back Ben Douglas has 521 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.

Neither played in last week's 24-6 loss to Franklin Regional. Sophomores Jeff Sinclair (quarterback) and Justin Myers (running back) replaced them.

"Nagle and Douglas are both questionable this week,"Albert said. "It comes down to whether they're cleared medically and are ready to play."

Nick Glesk is Highlands' top receiver with 15 catches for 381 yards and four touchdowns.

Even if the Rams' offense is somewhat crippled, their defense produced consecutive shutouts against Indiana, Uniontown and Greensburg Salem earlier this season.

Inside linebacker Jeff Graham, defensive end Justin McConville and defensive backs Jared Eiserman and John Duffy key Highlands' defensive unit.

"A lot of our guys started as sophomores two years ago,"Albert said. "They paid their dues and grew up some over the summer.

"We play in a conference where every game is tough. It reminds me of the schedule we played when I was at Butler. It's a meat-grinder."

King agreed.

"There's not much margin for error," he said. "Ours was against Hampton (7-0 loss) and we didn't have Whisler that night. We played well defensively, but our mistakes came on offense.

"Had we won that game, we'd be looking at a different situation right now."

King said Highlands will give his defense a number of different looks.

"They'll line up in a wishbone on one play and use trips the next," he said. "We have a lot to prepare for."

Highlands has a 6-foot-7, 315-pound guard in Matt Ostrowski who is being recruited by Pitt, Penn State and Maryland. Duffy is getting Division I looks from Mid-American Conference schools and has returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns this season.

"We've got some good kids,"Albert said. "But Knoch is always a good football team. They're well-coached and they're always in the playoff hunt."