JEFFERSON TWP — Talk about close quarters.

The Greater Allegheny Conference standings are tight. The Hampton-Knoch football series is tight. The final scores of that series have been tight.

Expect nothing different when the teams clash at 7 p.m. Friday at Knoch Stadium.

“It's typical Knoch,” Hampton coach Jacque DeMatteo said. “They're big and physical. They're going to try to punch us right in the mouth.”

The Knights are 6-5 against Hampton in their last 11 meetings. Seven of those games have been decided by a touchdown or less. Three of the last four have been decided by a field goal, including the Talbots' 20-17 win last year.

“We've been playing those guys forever,” Knoch coach Mike King said. “They're as big a neighborhood rival as anybody to us. We've had some great games.

“Nobody figured we'd be good enough this year to be one of the teams contending for the league title. I'm sure Hampton feels the same way. We've both got something to prove.”

Hampton (2-2, 1-2) is coming off a pair of lopsided wins, knocking off Greensburg Salem 30-9 and Laurel Highlands 47-0. The Talbots ran and threw the ball well last week.

Nick Grabowski completed 16-of-21 passes for 181 yards. Jon Floss caught seven passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. C.J. Arch rushed for 180 yards and three scores.

“We're throwing the ball a little more than I'd like to,” DeMatteo said. “I like to stay grounded most of the time.

“Our line is jumbled up and we're still trying to settle things up front. That group has been playing better, though.”

The Knights (3-1, 2-1) have won three straight games, including a come-from-behind 22-17 win at Hollidaysburg last week.

“To be down 17-7 at the half and come back to win a game like that after such a long bus trip says a lot for our kids,” King said. “I can't say enough about the way our defense is playing.”

Ty Gornick made two tackles, Cory Godlewski and Peyton Maziarz also made key plays during a goal-line stand that preserved that win.

Cody Milsom has 100 carries through four games and Dan Farinelli has thrown for 488 yards for Knoch.

“Cody has become our workhorse and he starts on defense, too,” King said. “We expect a lot from him and he delivers, but we need to get other people to run the ball and take some of that load off him.”

Union (1-3, 1-1)

at Clarion (4-0, 2-0)

7 p.m., Thursday

Last Week: The Golden Knights were downed 53-20 by Karns City; Clarion rolled to a 62-0 win over Moniteau

Numbers: Union junior QB Lane Cicciarelli has converted 35-of-67 passes for 661 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. ... Shane Murphy and Chet Carmichael have 12 catches apiece this season. Murphy has racked up 273 yards and six TDs receiving, while Carmichael has 219 yards and one score. ... Dylan Shirey has rushed for a team-high 299 yards and three TDs on 49 carries. ... Tyler Wiser leads Union with 49 tackles. ... Clarion's Damien Slike owns a team-high 460 rushing yards and 10 TDs on 36 carries, while Ian Corbett has 392 yards and seven scores on 23 totes. ... Cody Hearst — the only Bobcat with more than two catches — has hauled in 13 receptions for 251 yards and three TDs.

Notes: Clarion earned a 28-7 win over Union last season. ... In prior KSAC Small matchups this season, the Bobcats outscored Clarion-Limestone and Moniteau by a combined 136-0 margin.

Greensburg Salem (1-3, 1-3)

at Mars (3-1, 3-1)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: Greensburg Salem lost to Franklin Regional 42-20 while the Planets crushed Highlands 39-0.

Numbers: Following a 20-14 win over Knoch in Week 1, the Golden Lions have been outscored 108-35 in consecutive losses to Hollidaysburg, Hampton and Franklin Regional. ... Senior RB Dom McKinley leads Greensburg Salem with 261 rushing yards on 56 carries (4.7 avg.). ... Last week's victory over Highlands was Mars' first turnover-free game in 2013. ... Planets' senior K/P Matt White has converted on 16 of 18 extra-point attempts and two of three field goal tries. He also has seven touchbacks on kickoffs and a 38-yard average on eight punts.

Notes: Mars beat the Golden Lions last year 49-7. ... Greensburg Salem is led by first-year head coach Dave Keefer, who had been an assistant with the Lions since 2006.

East (0-4, 0-2)

at Slippery Rock (4-0, 2-0)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: East fell to Strong Vincent 30-14 while Slippery Rock routed Bradford 62-12

Numbers: East has struggled on offense this season, running the ball in particular. The Warriors are averaging a mere 2.6 yards per carry and don't have a runner with 100 yards this season. ... East has scored just six touchdowns as a team. ... Slippery Rock QB Jake Whitmer has seven rushing touchdowns. He also has completed 6-of-9 passes for 194 yards and four TDs and is the leading rusher with 343 yards on 39 carries. ... Rockets' WR Chris Reeseman has caught five passes for 172 yards and three scores. ... Slippery Rock has six players with 83 or more yards rushing.

Notes: Slippery Rock beat East 45-20 last season. ... East has lost 12 straight games.

Moniteau (0-4, 0-1)

at Brookville (3-1, 1-1)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: The Warriors were blanked 62-0 by Clarion; Brookville pounded Keystone, 46-13.

Numbers: Cody Skiver has paced the Warriors on both sides of the ball. The junior QB owns team-high totals with 257 passing yards, 165 rushing yards and 45 tackles this season. He also has one of Moniteau's two interceptions on the year. ... Senior fullback Stephen Hagg is the Warriors' second-leading rusher with 146 yards and two TDs on 37 carries. He has recorded a team-high three sacks, as well. ... Zach Vroman has carried the load for Brookville with 924 yards and nine TDs rushing on 75 carries this year. The senior opened the season with back-to-back 300-yard performances and has scored at least twice in every game. ... Raiders QB Bobby McGranor has connected on 19-of-44 passes for 262 yards, while Braiden Smith is the top receiving threat with 12 catches for 187 yards.

Notes: Brookville edged Moniteau 19-14 last season. ... The Warriors' first four opponents this season — Sharpsville, West Middlesex, Karns City and Clarion — have a combined record of 13-3.

Grove City (3-1, 2-1)

at Greenville (4-0, 3-0)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: Grove City lost to Hickory 37-7; Greenville edged Sharon 21-16.

Numbers: Greenville is off to a perfect start in large part because of its defense. The Trojans have given up just 47 points this season. ... The defense has helped prop up an average offense. Greenville is averaging 5.3 yards per carry and 126 passing yards per game. ... Greenville RB Trey Vanaken leads a balanced Trojan running game with 231 yards. ... Greenville WR Luke Houpt is a big threat with 14 receptions for 289 yards and six TDs. ... The Eagles gained just 104 yards last week against Hickory. ... GC is led by RB Foster Reznor, who has gained 301 yards rushing and 155 yards receiving this season and has scored seven touchdowns.

Notes: Grove City suffered its worst home loss since a 38-7 setback to Greenville in 2009. ... The Eagles haven't lost consecutive games since that same season. ... The Eagles beat the Trojans 19-14 last season.

A-C Valley (0-4, 0-2)

at Redbank Valley (2-2, 2-0)

7 p.m., Friday

Last Week: A-C Valley lost at home to Punxsutawney 26-23. The Bulldogs fell at Farrell 40-22.

Numbers: Falcons' senior WR/DB Evan Slater leads the team with a 24.1-yard average on six kickoff returns and has added 21 tackles on defense. ... Redbank Valley senior RB Mark Strothers leads the Bulldogs with 560 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. Strothers plays linebacker on defense and, along with Kaven Hornberger, leads the team with 35 tackles.

Notes: Ed Wasilowski, who coached the Bulldogs from 1997-2007, is now in the second year of his second stint with the team. ... The Falcons defeated the Bulldogs 47-13 last year, which ended with a 1-8 record for Redbank Valley.

Freeport (1-3, 1-3)

at Shady Side Academy (4-0, 4-0)

2:30 p.m., Saturday

Last Week: Freeport was shut out by Valley 42-0. Shady Side Academy thumped Burrell 49-14.

Numbers: The Yellowjackets still have not scored a point in the first half this season. ... Freeport is averaging just 199 yards of offense per game this season. QB Andrew Romanchak has been a bright spot for Freeport this season. He leads the team with 240 yards rushing and three TDs. ... SSA is rolling behind a stifling defense. The Indians have surrendered just 22 points this season. ... RB Jarred Brevard leads SSA with 278 yards on 37 carries. ... The Indians have attempted just 24 passes this season, completing seven. ... Four SSA runners have at least 100 yards this season.

Notes: Freeport won last year's game 28-14.

Ford City (2-2, 1-2)

Summit Academy (1-3, 1-2)

12:30 p.m., Saturday

Last Week: Ford City edged Southmoreland by a 9-6 margin; the Knights fell 15-6 at Kittanning.

Numbers: The Sabers' ground attack is paced by Chantz Schreckengost, who has 369 yards on 59 totes. ... Hermie Rush is the No. 2 running option for Ford City with 133 yards on 32 carries. ... Nate Cofer supplied the Knights' lone score last week with a 40-yard fumble return. ... Elijah Hardy, Larry Richardson and Kush Wilkerson are all threats out of the backfield for Summit.

Notes: Summit Academy defeated Ford City 20-14 in last season's matchup.