SLIPPERY ROCK — It’s still high school football. It’s just not under normal circumstances.

Karns City (9-2) will take on undefeated Hickory (11-0) in a PIAA Class 3A playoff contest at 1 p.m. Saturday at Slippery Rock University’s Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

“We haven’t played on a Saturday yet this year and that’s a concern,” KC coach Ed Conto admitted. “Hickory has played the last two Saturdays, so they’re more accustomed to this.

“Playing Friday nights, our kids are used to the fish bowl effect. Go to school, get home, get ready to play. This will not be that routine.”

The unbeaten Hornets are averaging 43.6 points per game while allowing just 12.6. They defeated Slippery Rock and Sharon by a combined 78-23 margin in cruising to their sixth consecutive District 10 championship.

Neither Karns City nor Hickory has scored fewer than 22 points in a game all season. The Gremlins are averaging 41 points per game.

“Karns City is the total package,” Hickory coach Bill Brest said. “They’ve been a machine down there.

“They excel in all three facets of the game.”

Brest is 76-14 in seven years at Hickory. Conto is 159-46 in 17 years at Karns City.

“Good teams welcome good challenges,” Conto said. “As coaches, we’re excited to be playing them and I think our kids are, too.

“Hickory has excellent defensive backs who tackle well. You can’t break long plays on them. We’re going to have to execute drives and finish.”

And not turn the ball over.

“In our losses to Armstrong and Clearfield, we turned it over three times in both games. We can’t afford to do that again,” Conto said.

Hickory’s offense begins with senior running back Chuck Carr, District 10’s all-time leading rusher. He has 273 carries for 2,182 yards and 41 touchdowns this season, 6,748 rushing yards for his career.

“He’s worked hard on speed development and film study in his career,” Brest said. “Chuck also has great vision and footwork. He follows blocks well and is a definite north-south runner.”

Conto agreed with that assessment.

“He’s a little bigger than (Armstrong’s Zane) Dudek,” the Karns City coach said. “He hits the hole with power. He’ll run over people.”

Sophomore quarterback Hayden Gallagher will be making his fourth start for Hickory since taking over for junior Luke Brennan, out for the season with a knee injury. Gallagher has thrown for 321 yards, five touchdowns and only one interception.

He threw a pair of touchdown passes covering 20 and 40 yards to Will Gruber (28 catches-655 yards-8 TDs) in the District 10 title win over Sharon. Gruber is also a dangerous punt and kick returner.

“Hayden knows the entire offense and he’s done a good job managing the game for us,” Brest said.

Cameron Pica (10 catches, 248 yards) is also dangerous in the passing game for Hickory. Linebacker Nate Marchand (45 tackles), tackle Tyler Bishop (5 QB sacks) and cornerback Caleb Gagliardi (5 interceptions) are standouts defensively.

The Gremlins have been hampered by injuries in recent weeks, but are healing up. Running backs Chandler Turner and Aaron Hutchison were pulled early from last week’s 54-36 win over Perry and should be good to go “unless they tweek something again,” Conto said.

KC tackles Bryant Oddo and Dalton Jones both sprained ankles in the Perry game. Conto hopes to have then available Saturday.

“We’re a little nicked up, but we should be OK,” Conto said.

Jake King has completed 76 of 140 passes for 1,215 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions this year. Turner has 962 yards and 13 TDs rushing to go with 11 catches for 276 yards and three scores.

Kaiden Powers has rushed for 577 yards and nine TDs, caught 15 passes for 306 yards and five more scores. Cullen Williams has rushed for 532 yards and nine TDs.

“Hickory is similar to us in a lot of ways,” Conto said. “They run the trap and counter, play physical defense, are good on special teams and have a good kicker.

“We have to stay close in this game and that means taking care of the football.”

The teams have split their four previous meetings. Hickory has won the last two, however, 28-14 in 2010 and 42-20 in 2011.