JEFFERSON TWP— The Knoch football team is finally healthy — and just in time.

The Knights (2-4, 1-1) host Indiana (4-2, 0-2) in a critical Greater Allegheny Conference match-up at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

"They're all critical games at this point,"Knoch coach Mike King said. "Our conference is pretty much up for grabs and you play so few league games to begin with."

Still without outside linebacker Preston Saxton, who is sidelined with a fractured jaw, the Knights are healthy otherwise. Wide receiver-safety Michael Gallagher saw his first action of the season in last week's 21-16 win at Hampton.

"We were able to work Michael in a little bit,"King said. "It's a lift for the kids just to see him back in uniform. I'm happy for him because football is a big part of his life and I know he's missed it.

"This is his second week of practice. He's getting his wind back and we'll work him into the rotation a little more this Friday. When Michael needs a break, we'll certainly give it to him."

Highlands is 2-0 in league play while Indiana is 0-2. The other teams are 1-1. Tiebreakers likely will play a role in determining the conference's WPIALplayoff participants.

Indiana coach Mark Zilinskas is well aware of that. His team defeated Knoch 28-27 last season, but that didn't prevent the Knights from winning the conference title.

The Little Indians' loss to Franklin Regional prevented them from making the playoffs.

"In this league, you have to beat the right teams,"Zilinskas said. "We haven't been doing that."

Indiana hasn't reached the playoffs since 2003, its final year in Quad-A.

"We had to beat Knoch in 2004, 2005 and 2006 to make the playoffs and we lost every time,"Zilinskas said. "That school has tough, physical kids, and they've just handled us.

"Our kids know we pretty much have to win our final three games to get in. It all starts this week."

Senior quarterback Ben Fiscus leads Indiana. The team's starter since the final two games of 2006, Fiscus ran for 727 yards and threw for 728 last year. He's had similar balance this year.

"That kid is a very versatile athlete. Last year, he was the deciding factor against us,"King said.

Fiscus and fullback Jay Pettina lead the Indiana rushing game.

Fiscus threw for 167 yards, including touchdown passes of 73 yards to Kevin Stapleton and 5 yards to Tyler Rinehart, in last week's 21-14 loss to Highlands.

"They run a midline option and they're very methodical in how they move the football,"King said. "If you bite on the fullback, the quarterback will eat you alive.

"We've been getting solid play from defensive linemen like Henry Cypher and Bobby Yenik. We need that to continue."

Beating Knoch begins with containing tailback Tim McNerney, who rushed for 165 yards against Hampton last week.

"McNerney is just a great back,"Zilinskas said. "You have to stop him first. We did a good job on him last year, but they were able to throw on us."

The Knights completed five of six passes last week and King said he has no concerns about his air game.

"Mitchell Shaw is a transplanted tailback and he's settling in at receiver now. And Michael (Gallagher) will help there,"he said.

Zilinskas described his defense as "a bunch of no-names who just swarm to the ball carrier."

Defensive backs Stapleton, Rinehart, Pettina and Fiscus have intercepted passes this season for the Little Indians.

"You look at scores around our league each week and nobody is getting pounded on,"King said. "It's a hard-nosed, physical conference that plays entertaining, competitive football. That's what we're in store for Friday night."