Visit facebook.com/ButlerEagleSports for our high school football show “Upon Further Review” along with present and past local sports coverage.

Things can change quickly for a high school football team: sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad.

Mars has been on the wrong end of that lately.

Following a victory over North Hills Oct. 4, the Planets were 3-1 in Northern Conference play and sitting in second place. A top five or six seed in the WPIAL playoffs seemed a very real possibility.

Mars is now licking its wounds after back-to-back losses to Fox Chapel (30-28) and Kiski Area (10-7). The Planets have not yet officially clinched a playoff spot, but both Mars (5-4, 3-3) and Hampton (2-7, 2-4) can punch their ticket with a win when the two rivals square off Friday with a 7 p.m. kickoff at Fridley Field.

“Hampton/Mars is always a big game, no matter what the records are,” said Mars coach Scott Heinauer. “It's always a dogfight.”

Heinauer is not concerned about his team's mind-set after slipping three spots in the standings over the last two weeks.

“Our confidence is not shaken,” he said. “Mistakes that we have made have led to our demise and our kids are aware of that.”

The Planets will try to get fullback Teddy Ruffner back on track after he was held to 76 rushing yards last week. He entered the game averaging 204 per game.

“He's explosive and runs angry,” said Hampton coach Jacque DeMatteo. “Obviously, he must have some guys playing well up front for him.”

Mars' passing attack struggled to complement the ground game for much of the season, but sophomore quarterback Quinn Fuller passed for 232 yards and three touchdowns over the last couple of games. He was splitting time at the position earlier in the year, but now is the team's starter.

“He's a young guy, but brings a lot to the table,” said Heinauer. “He's getting better and better every week.”

Hampton won its first two conference games, but has not tasted victory since then, dropping six straight, including a 56-7 non-conference defeat to Penn-Trafford last week.

“We've had a rash of injuries, I've never seen anything like it,” said DeMatteo. “The guys in there are giving their best effort and they're very coachable.

“Except for two games, I thought we had a chance to win every one.”

One bright spot for the Talbots is running back Luke Lindgren, who has tallied 902 yards and scored six touchdowns.

Hampton can still salvage a playoff berth if it can regain its form from earlier in the season.

“I think it's cool that it comes down to a rivalry game with Mars,” DeMatteo said.

If Mars loses, the Planets could still get in the playoffs via Class 5A's one wildcard spot.

Mars defeated Hampton last year, 30-6.

7 p.m., FridayMars Athletic ComplexLast week, Deer Lakes was shut out by Derry, 42-0. North defeated Yough, 48-13.The Lancers were 3-1 in Big East Conference play at one point, but have dropped three straight conference games and four overall. ... Deer Lakes QB Aris Hasley has thrown for 2,100 yds. and 21 TDs this season.Despite last week's blowout win, North converted just 2 of 9 third-down attempts. ... WR/SS Nick Maher caught 3 passes for 56 yards and 2 touchdowns. On defense, 5 of his 6 tackles went for a loss.The Trojans crushed Deer Lakes last year, 64-3.

7 p.m., FridayTitusville was shut out by Girard,. 39-0, last week. Karns City defeated Bradford, 42-13.The visiting Rockets are riding a six-game losing streak and have scored only six points in their last three games. ... QB Garrett Knapp has thrown for 650 yards, 4 TDs and 8 interceptions. ... RB Charlie Nicholson has rushed for 671 yards and 7 TDs.The Gremlins have rushed for 2,676 yards and 32 TDs this season, including 475 yards last week. ... QB Anthony Kamenski has 940 yards on the ground, RB Hunter Rowe 648 and FB Luke Garing 462. .. Half of WR Kaden Scherer's 8 catches have gone for touchdowns. He has over 1,000 all-purpose yards this season. ... LB Garing has 60 tackles and 10 TFL's.Karns City defeated Titusville 34-12 last year in the only previous game between the teams.

7 p.m., FridayMoniteau is coming off a 45-21 win over Punxsutawney. Keystone edged Elk County Catholic, 44-41, last week.The Warriors lead the series between the teams, 30-20-3, including a 36-12 triumph last year.Keystone has won eight straight games since a season-opening 29-8 loss to Redbank Valley. ... QB Isaak Jones has thrown for 1,103 yards, 14 TDs and 5 interceptions. ... Jayden Blazosky has 18 catches for 303 yards and 4 TDs, Alex Rapp 13 catches for 318 and five scores. ... RB Nick Weaver has 945 yards and 12 TDs on the ground, RB Taylar Altman 825 yards and 7 TDs.Moniteau FB Nick Martino ran the Wildcat last week. He has 514 yards and 5 TDs on the ground. ... RB JD Dessicino has 686 yards and 5 TDs rushing to go with 1,188 all-purpose yards. ... Martino leads Moniteau with 81 tackles.

7 p.m., FridayRimersburgRidgway topped Brookville last week, 28-14. Union/ACV beat Redbank Valley, 28-7.Union/ACV outgained Redbank 230-176. The Falcon Knights held the Bulldogs' powerful ground game to just 65 yards on 34 carries. ... RV was playing its first game without injured QB Gunner Mangiantini.Ridgway is the defending D9 Class 2A champion. The Elkers' lone loss this season was a 25-21 setback against Kane in August. ... Ridgway is the only team to defeat Clarion this season, blanking the Bobcats 42-0. ... The Elkers are averaging 225 yards rushing per game and 157 yards through the air.The Elkers defeated Union/ACV last year, 21-7.

7 p.m., FridaySummit was defeated at home by Steel Valley last week, 33-16. Mohawk won for the first time this season by beating winless Ellwood City, 17-13.Summit's two touchdowns against Steel Valley both came on passing plays. Paul Hines caught a 25-yard TD toss from Camer Curry. The duo then switched positions, with Hines throwing a 50-yarder to Curry, who was forced from playing QB due to a hand injury.The Warriors have been outscored 247-68 this season.Mohawk won last year's meeting with the Knights, 34-20.