Knoch is seeking a playoff spot. Mars is seeking a win.

Each would love to ruin the other's search when the neighborhood rivals clash at 7 p.m. Friday in a critical Greater Allegheny Conference football game at the Mars Athletic Complex.

The Knights are 1-2, 2-4, and the Planets 0-3, 0-6.

“I don't care what their record is. Mars is still Mars,” Knoch coach Brandon Mowry said. “And they are going to be ready for us.

“I'm sure they'll stay with their spread (offense) as they keep working on it. We won't take them lightly, believe me.”

The Planets began the season looking to move the football predominantly through the air with junior quarterback Rafael Bartley, but struggles in the passing game had them move back to a more ground-oriented attack, though their scheme has not changed.

“We're still running a spread offense,” said Mars coach Scott Heinauer. “The kids are familiar with it and we're committed to it.”

Bartley has completed 40 of 97 passes for 299 yards, one touchdown and nine interceptions.

The success of the offense is, in large part, now on the shoulders of sophomore running back Evan Wright, who has rushed for 478 yards, three touchdowns and a 4.9-yard average per carry this season.

In the last two weeks, the Planets have been shut out, first against Plum (29-0) and against Armstrong (37-0) last week.

“We need to get a couple of scores up on the board,” Heinauer said. “That would make things easier on everybody.

“We need to sustain blocks better ... had a couple of opportunities to score early last week and didn't capitalize. We've put our defense in bad positions with turnovers.”

Coming off a 27-26 win over Indiana for its first conference win, Knoch finds itself only one game out of a playoff spot. For that matter, Mars is not eliminated from the race, either.

“Mars would like nothing better than to knock us off of that path,” Mowry said of the Knights' playoff push. “We know we can't afford to drop this one.

“We're just gonna play one week at a time and let the chips fall where they go.”

Knoch will continue to use Carson Kosecki and Keagan Fraser at quarterback as Mowry likes “the different dynamic those two guys give us.”

Gavin McGowan has joined Fraser as an effective ball carrier. He's been stellar at linebacker as well, returning a fumble 25 yards for a key touchdown last week. Alex Cotton assisted on the tackle that sprung the ball loose on that play.

Mowry said his team continues to look for more consistent play.

“We have to stay away from mistakes and turnovers,” he said. “When we're not hurting ourselves, we're a pretty good football team.”

“They don't throw the ball a whole lot,” Heinauer said of the Knights, “but they run the ball well and they got a big win last week.”

Canon-McMillan (2-1, 4-2) at Seneca Valley (2-1, 4-2)

7:30 p.m., Friday

The Big Macs won at home last week against Hempfield, 45-27 ... The Raiders were shut out by Central Catholic, 35-0. Big Mac sophomore QB Mike Evans has passed for 803 yards, 9 TDs and 3 INTs ... senior RB Ryan Angott is averaging 102 yards rushing per game and has scored a team-leading 7 TDs.

Seneca QB Graham Hancox passed for 293 yards last week, but was also picked off twice ... Junior DB Chris D'Appolonia paced SV's defense with 8 tackles, including 1 for a loss ... WR Brandon Ross caught 5 passes for 97 yards.

SV defeated the Big Macs last year, 31-17.

North Catholic (6-0) at South Park (2-3)

7 p.m., Friday

North won its fourth shutout of the season last week, beating host Burrell, 56-0 ... South Park lost at Elizabeth Forward, 48-0.

In last week's win, North RBs Jack Fennell (4-95-1) and Kyle Tipinski (6-58-2) combined for 153 yards and 3 TDs on just 10 carries ... The Trojans have allowed just 31 points all season.

South Park RB Adam Johnson is the team's biggest threat on offense. He has gained 327 yards on the ground and caught 8 passes for 67 yards while scoring 4 total TDs.

North defeated the Eagles last year, 28-2.

East Allegheny (1-2, 2-4)

at Freeport (1-0, 2-3) 7 p.m., Friday

East Allegheny was upset by Deer Lakes in a low-scoring affair last week, losing 9-7 ... Freeport pulled away in the second half against Valley, notching a 33-6 victory.

The Wildcats opened their schedule with a trouncing of Jeannette — last year's Class A state runner-up ... since the win, EA has dropped four of five meetings, with its only other win coming against winless Burrell.

In their first conference matchup of the season, the Yellowjackets broke a two-game losing skid last week ... the defense scored 26 points off turnovers in the third quarter ... both Zach and Vinnie Clark brought back INTs for TDs within 30 seconds of each other.

Kane (3-3, 3-3) at Karns City (4-1, 5-1) 7 p.m., Friday

Kane succumbed to a rash of giveaways last week, bowing to previously winless Central Clarion, 34-26 ... Meanwhile, time ran out on Karns City as Saint Marys struck last and handed the Gremlins a 35-28 loss.

The Wolves have alternated between triumphs and defeats every week this season, a pattern they would like to stay true to this week after most recently tripping up on the road ... senior quarterback Harley Morris exited the Central Clarion game with an injury in the third quarter, replaced by the team's leading rusher, junior Ricky Zampogna.

In their loss last Friday, the Gremlins conceded 407 yards and five scores through the air ... senior Luke Garing rushed for a pair of TDs and led the team on the ground with 68 yards ... Dating back to 2008, KC has beaten Kane all six times they've clashed, including four instances in the postseason.

Moniteau (1-4, 1-4) at

DuBois Area (3-2, 3-3)

7 p.m., Friday

Moniteau lost last week, 39-6, at Brookville, which sits atop the District 9 table ... DuBois Area stifled Bradford's passing game last week in a 55-0 victory.

Moniteau senior Cooper Boozel had 170 all-purpose yards last week, including 111 on kick returns ... sophomore QB David Dessicino threw for 126 yards and ran for another 91 in the loss.

DuBois Area has picked up three straight wins after stumbling out to an 0-3 start ... the defense brought back a pair of interceptions for scores in the second quarter against the Owls ... the offense beats to senior QB Austin Mitchell's drum, as he paces the group in both passing and rushing.

The Warriors were defeated, 19-16, at DuBois Area last year, with the Beavers' go-ahead score coming with seconds remaining.

Steel Valley (1-0, 5-0) at Summit Academy (0-1, 0-6) 12:30 p.m., Saturday

In a battle of unbeatens last week, Steel Valley clobbered Ligonier Valley, 40-0 ... Summit Academy fell, 41-22, at Apollo-Ridge.

Steel Valley senior RB NiJhay Burt has piled up 1,056 rushing yards this season, a 12.3-yard average per carry and 18 TDs ... The Ironmen have allowed just 31 points in five games.

Summit stats are not available.

Eagle intern Brendan Howe contributed to this report