JEFFERSON TWP — Freeport has dominated the series, though the teams haven't played each other in 13 years.

The Yellowjackets are headed to the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs next week. Knoch's season will likely end Friday night.

But don't expect Freeport to take a casual approach to its non-conference football matchup with the Knights when the neighboring schools meet at Knoch Stadium.

“We're very excited about this game,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said. “This is going to be an atmosphere like in the old days, when everyone in town went to the local football game on Friday night.

“They will have a lot of people in the stands and so will we. This should be a great game.”

Freeport owns an 11-2-2 lead in the all-time series. Knoch won the last meeting, 14-7, in 2005.

Gaillot said he doesn't believe in sitting out starters the week before the playoffs. The Yellowjackets (5-3) are locked into the fourth playoff position in the Big East Conference and have won five straight games.

“I would never short our seniors a game,” he said. “This is the last year they'll be playing for their school and I'm not going to let them miss a game against a neighboring rival like this.

“(Former Knoch head coach) Mike King is on our staff and is a Knoch graduate. (Defensive coordinator) Todd Durand is a Knoch grad. These two districts cross each other's paths all the time.”

Knoch (4-5) finished its Northwest Eight Conference schedule two weeks ago. The Knights are looking for their third straight win and a .500 season.

Knoch can enter the playoffs only if New Castle doesn't defeat Ambridge by more than a field goal.

“Realistically, this is our last game,” Knoch coach Frank Whalen said. “It's a shame because we're playing pretty good football right now.

“Our schedule configuration hurt us this year. Playing two non-conference games at the end like this ... If we were playing Beaver or Montour right now, I feel like we would win.”

The Knights lost to both conference foes earlier this season.

Gaillot said Freeport and Knoch had agreed to play each other in a Week Zero game last winter. But when the WPIAL schedule came out, the two were matched as a season-ending cross-over game.

Both teams bring plenty of weapons into the game offensively. Freeport quarterback Austin Romanchak needs 141 yards rushing to reach 1,000. Conor Selinger has rushed for 497 yards and 10 TDs despite missing a few games with injuries.

Garrett Schaffhauser, Patrick Keeley and Josh Bollinger have combined for 25 tackles for loss this season. Freeport has won five straight games, allowing only 36 points during that streak.

“They have fast, talented kids at the skilled positions,” Whalen said. “And they have a fast defensive team.”

Gaillot credited his young defense for maturing quickly.

“They've got a few games in now and they've gotten things down,” Gaillot said. “Coach Durand has done a great job with those kids.”

Knoch quarterback Chase Mullen has thrown for 752 yards and three scores, rushed for 625 and 13 touchdowns. He scored three TDs last week against Trinity.

Matt Goodlin has rushed for 1,363 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“When the triple option is going right, those are the two backs who are going to get a lot of yards,” Whalen said. “But you also have to have unselfish wingbacks and we have them in Jim Johnston and Noah Cetnar.

“They've done the job when we pitch the ball out, too.”

Gaillot praised the Knights' offense.

“Those kids are well-coached and they run that triple option so well,” he said. “We practice against it for a week. They've been running it for two years.

“It might give us fits.”

Mullen's return to the defensive side of the ball, along with Joey Wojciechowski coming back from injury “have made a big difference in our defense,” Whalen said.

“We didn't play Matt Goodlin on defense last week and (sophomore) Tyler Buterbaugh stepped in at linebacker and did a fine job.”

Whalen added that E.J. Simms has been his most consistent defensive lineman all year.

“Our kids would be up for no matter who we're playing,” Whalen said. “The fact it's a local rival may add some intensity to it.”