JACKSON TWP — Both Seneca Valley and Pine-Richland are on the outside looking in when it comes to the WPIAL football playoffs.

The Raiders and Rams are looking to change that starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday at NexTier Stadium.

The top four teams in the Northern Seven Conference will qualify for postseason play.

Shaler currently is the fourth-place team, with Pine-Richland (1-4, 1-2), SV (2-3, 0-2) and Butler (0-5, 0-3) also below the Titans in the standings.

"Looking at our schedule, we have to win two of our (final three section) games to make the playoffs," said Rams coach Clair Altemus.

Pine-Richland's lone victory to date was a 35-7 win over Butler in Week 4. The team is coming off a hard-fought 29-25 loss to Erie McDowell.

Against a powerful Trojans offense, the Rams trailed just 3-0 at halftime.

"McDowell made some adjustments and our defense ended up being on the field a lot more in the second half," said Altemus. "But there were eight lead changes. It was a back and forth game."

Pine-Richland's offense is led by four players: quarterback Andy Borgen, tailback Justin Williams, and wide receivers Colin Ryan and Tommy Berexa.

Borgen, a senior, has completed 70-of-106 passes (66 percent) for 932 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions.

"He was our starting quarterback at the beginning of last year, but he blew his ACL," Altemus said. "It was a shame he missed last season, but he's been maturing in front of our eyes.

"We're going to need that to continue down the stretch this season."

Williams has rushed for 362 yards and four touchdowns.

Ryan (15 catches, 292 yards, three touchdowns) and Berexa (39-441-2) have allowed Borgen to spread the ball all over the field.

Berexa tallied 45 catches last year for a team that failed to make the WPIAL playoffs.

"He was the leading receiver in the WPIAL before the playoffs started," Altemus said. "He runs his routes full speed and is also physical. He'll go up against anybody and pull the ball away from them."

SV coach Don Holl was impressed watching the Rams' passing attack on film.

"They throw the ball better than any team we've faced this season," Holl said. "Our cornerbacks (Mike Martin and Brian Wahl) will be tested."

Seneca Valley lost to North Allegheny last week, 47-10, but sophomore quarterback Jordan Brown was a bright spot.

Making his first varsity start, Brown threw for 256 yards and a touchdown.

"We didn't feel like we could go into a cocoon on offense," said Holl. "We knew we were going to have to throw the ball to have a chance.

"We wanted to keep things comfortable for Jordan, and he ended up being comfortable with a good bit of the offense," Holl added.

The Raiders are averaging 144 rushing yards per game, but a lot of that came courtesy of senior quarterback Donny Holl (189), who is out for the season with a knee injury.

Last week, the Raiders lined up in a Wildcat formation several times, with running back David Hall taking the snap.

"Jordan (Brown) is more of a (running) threat on the perimeter than Donny," said Holl. "Troy Witt (137 yards), David Hall (157) and Forrest Barnes (195) are all still threats as well."

The Raiders defeated the Rams last season, 19-17.