JEFFERSON TWP— The rematch won't be at home and it won't be played on grass or in mud.

The final score probably won't be 41-13 again, either.

Nonetheless, the Knoch football team will try to repeat its win of two weeks ago over Highlands when they battle at 7 p.m. Friday at Fox Chapel High.

The Greater Allegheny Conference title was at stake last time. A berth in the WPIALClass AAAsemifinals, opposite the Montour-Trinity winner, is at stake this time.

"That first game isn't going to affect our kids' approach toward this game,"Knoch coach Mike King said. "This is still a good rivalry, Highlands is 8-2 and a very good football team.

"Things went our way two weeks ago. That doesn't mean it's going to happen that way again."

Highlands coach Sam Albert hopes not.

"They are an excellent football team,"Albert said. "We're going to have to play a near-perfect game to beat them."

Highlands' forte usually is running the football, though the Rams have thrown with success this year, and Knoch surrendered 391 yards rushing to New Castle in last week's 42-24 first-round playoff win. The Rams allow an average of 110 yards rushing per game and the Knights ran for 229 yards against them in the regular season finale.

Tim McNerney had 29 carries for 187 yards and two touchdowns that night. He had 296 yards and four touchdowns against New Castle.

Highlands earned a rematch by rallying to defeat Blackhawk 21-19 on the road last week in their playoff opener. Quarterback Jeff Sinclair led his team on a seven-play, 64-yard drive that ended with his 1-yard plunge with 42 seconds remaining.

Josh Susa caught a 15-yard pass on a fourth-and-4 play to extend that march.

"Josh made a great catch, going up against three guys to get that ball,"Albert said. "I'm proud of the way our kids responded with the game on the line.

"It's tough playing a team that knows you well in the playoffs. It's not as much fun. They know your tendencies."

King knows what to expect Friday.

"I'm not expecting a whole lot of change out of them this week,"King said. "They know us and we know them. I mean, you can tweak things here and there, but it's cold outside, the weather's nasty. ... You don't get three or four hours out there with your kids anymore.

"Both teams have to practice what they do and hope they execute it well on game night. They're going to want to throw it more, we're going to want to run it more."

Sinclair has completed 87 of 167 passes for 1,151 yards and nine touchdowns. His top receiver is Steve Panchik with 27 catches for 461 yards and two scores.

Highlands shuttles numerous running backs in and out of the lineup. Marty Karlo has been the most productive, accumulating 71 carries for 455 yards and seven touchdowns. He had seven carries for 75 yards and a scoreagainst Knoch two weeks ago.

McNerney has 235 carries for 1,727 yards and 23 touchdowns for the Knights. Zach Gross has thrown for 877 yards, 11 TDs and only two interceptions.

Kyle Reiser has 20 catches for 380 yards and five TDs, Michael Gallagher has 14 catches for 211 yards and two scores, and tight end Rob Briggs has 14 catches for 171 yards and three TDs.

Defensively, tackle Tyler Krahe, end John Zellhart and Briggs keyed Knoch's recovery from a 17-14 halftime deficit vs. New Castle last week. Briggs recovered a critical fumble and Zellhart had an early sack in the third quarter.

"That sack was a big play that turned momentum in our favor,"King said. "It inspired our entire team. Tyler Krahe made a lot of tackles that night."

Now, Albert and his team get another shot against the Knights.

"They did a nice job at Blackhawk and beat an excellent team on the road,"King said. "We're probably going to see a different Highlands team this time around."

Knoch has won four of its last five games against Highlands, dropping a 20-0 decision to the Rams last year.

"All four playoff teams from our conference made the second round last year,"Albert said. "We played Pine-Richland and lost. This year, we have three teams in the second round. That says a lot for our league."

***Watch for Butler Eagle Videographer, Brandon Gerthoffer, at this game!***