For Union/A-C Valley football coach Brad Dittman, his team's game at Cameron County Oct. 14 proved a bit too close for comfort.

The Falcon Knights won that night, 20-6, but the score was tied 6-6 at halftime.

The teams will meet again at 7 p.m. Friday in Rimersburg for a District 9 Class 1A quarterfinal playoff at Vidunas Stadium.

“This time, it's win or go home,” Dittman said. “(In the first game), we had some penalties take points off the board. Cameron County is a team with good athletes and they're disciplined. We have to be the same.”

It has been a turnaround season for the Raiders (5-4), who last reached the playoffs in 2014. From 2015-20, they went 5-47, including winless campaigns the last two years.

Sophomore quarterback Maddox Baughman has passed for 897 yards and nine touchdowns, but has also been intercepted 13 times. And with the Falcon Knights (7-2) having already picked off 18 passes this season (seven by junior defensive back Skyler Roxbury), the Raiders may decide to stay predominantly on the ground.

They have an effective duo in the backfield, with Lathan Reed (673 rushing yards and six scores) and Dylan Reider (516-4) combining for 1,189 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Running the ball, however, would require the Raiders to win the battle in the trenches and Dittman considers his defensive line to be his team's biggest strength on that side of the ball.

The group includes Mikey Card, Landon Chalmers and Colton Murray.

“It might not always show up in the stats, but they've created havoc for opponents all season,” said Dittman. “They've done a great job of keeping our linebackers clean.”

All three of the defensive line stalwarts have also contributed much to Union/A-C Valley's offense. Murray, a guard, and Chalmers, a tackle, join Carter Terwint, Zander Laughlin and Kaiden McNany on the offensive front.

Card has teamed with Dawson Camper to give the Falcon Knights a bruising ground attack. The former has rumbled for 776 yards and five touchdowns while Camper has 519 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“Mikey and Dawson have really stepped up for us this year,” Dittman said. “They've shown a lot of selflessness, too, because both of them could have a lot more yards, but we like to spread the carries out.”

Junior quarterback Bailey Crissman has passed for 771 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Ryan Cooper has five scoring receptions to go with 219 receiving yards.

Friday's winner will face the team that survives the quarterfinal between Smethport and Curwensville. The semifinal game will be played Nov. 12 at a site to be determined.

Cameron County coach Ryan Neyman could not be reached for comment.