ADAMS TWP — Both teams have clinched WPIAL Class AAA playoff berths, but there will still be a lot at stake when the Mars football team travels to Knoch on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

Both the Planets (5-3, 3-1) and Knights (3-5, 3-1) are tied with Franklin Regional for the top spot in the Greater Allegheny Conference standings.

The Mars-Knoch winner will, at the very least, finish second in the conference and likely get a home game in the first round of the playoffs, but it would also win the conference title outright if Franklin Regional loses at Indiana.

The Knights began the year 0-5, getting outscored 155-47 in the process. The team has since won three straight, including victories over Hampton (10-7), Indiana (37-14) and Highlands (35-21).

"This has been a lot of fun. This is why you coach," Knoch coach Mike King said of having a chance to win the conference title.

The Knights won the Greater Allegheny crown in 2007. Their most recent league title before that was in 1992.

Planets' coach Scott Heinauer is impressed with the way Knoch has turned its season around.

"They've gained a lot of confidence and continuity," said Heinauer. "When that happens, kids start approaching games and practices differently. I think that's the case with Knoch."

The Planets defeated Indiana last week, 17-14, but Heinauer admits his team is not playing its best football.

The team's offense has scored just two touchdowns in the last two games, though the defense has been solid for much of the season, giving up an average of just 215 yards per game.

"Our offense has struggled, but our defense has kept us in games," he said. "We did not turn the ball over last week and that gives you a better chance at winning."

For the year, Mars is plus-6 in the turnover battle while Knoch is minus-1, though the Knights are plus-2 in their current three-game winning streak.

Mars' Austin Miele is up to 1,143 rushing yards to go with 11 touchdowns. Knoch's leading rusher is Adam Tuzikow with 383 yards ,though the Knights have had three backs enjoy 160-yard rushing games this season.

One of those, Andrew Rumburg-Goodlin, is likely out for the season with a torn hamstring.

"It's the type of injury that's very slow to heal," King said.

Knoch has not thrown a touchdown pass all season and Mars isn't known for putting the ball in the air, either.

"This game may very well come down to a battle of will," King said. "Mars has used the same system for a long time. The kids believe in it and perform it well.

"This is a backyard game at the end of the season with the conference championship on the line. It doesn't get much better than that."

Both teams will bring capable placekickers into the contest.

Mars' Christopher Karns contributed to last week's win with a 30-yard field goal and the senior has now made four on the year, as has Knoch senior Kevin Wood.

"We've got a good kicker and so do they," said Heinauer. "I'm sure they're as confident in their guy as we are in ours."

Though the two schools are big rivals in other varsity sports, the football version was just renewed last season, with Mars winning 28-0 at home.

"We have scrimmaged Knoch at their place, but we have not played a game there since, I think it was 1982," said Heinauer.

Sports editor John Enrietto contributed to this story.