BUFFALO TWP — Just two weeks into the new campaign, Freeport seems to be steady in all three phases. Quaker Valley, though, is one step behind, at least in terms of game experience.

The Quakers, who will visit the Yellowjackets Friday night, stayed home without a game last week. Their scheduled opponent, Mohawk, canceled amid a hazing investigation.

Quaker Valley (0-1) looked in Somerset, Erie, and even across state lines in Ohio for a replacement. Alas, nothing materialized and the Quakers tried to make the best of an unusual early-season bye week by answering a number of questions.

Who do we want to be? Where do we want to be? How are we going to get there?

“The whole week was about holding each other accountable and making sure that we’re doing everything in practice,” coach Jason Cappa said. “It actually worked out well for us. We were able to get healthy last week and work on those fundamentals.

“It was a big week for us for challenging one another to raise our level of play.”

It was a productive week for Freeport, too. The Yellowjackets (2-0) traveled to South Allegheny and came home with a commanding 22-point victory. Linebacker Colton Otterman had a sack that helped stonewall the Gladiators in the red zone, along with a pick-six in the third quarter that helped the Yellowjackets pull away.

Dating back to last season, they’ve held opponents to 15 points or less in nine of their last ten outings, including five in a row.

The offense took a step forward, as well. In senior signal-caller Gavin Croney and tailbacks Ben Lane and Zach Clark, the Yellowjackets have three ball-carriers who have averaged at least 50 yards a contest thus far.

“We’re getting better,” Gaillot said. “We’re starting to roll pretty well. Especially the offense, because it was new this year, you could really see them today, they know what they’re doing.

“It’s that learning curve. You come in and know something is going to take a bit, but you start to see it click.”

Of Cappa’s 37 players, less than half were on the Quakers’ roster last fall.

Senior Abe Djedid and junior Ethan Pesce — both captains — play large roles on both fronts. They kept senior quarterback Troy Kozar upright in their opener, not allowing the Bulldogs a sack.

Kozar, who hadn’t played competitive football in three years, is one of the bevy of newcomers. Senior receiver Christian Brown, too.

“Both of them had big-time games (against Freedom),” Cappa said. “It was as if they’d played the last four years. They stepped on the field and nothing bothered them.”

Gaillot would like for senior kicker to give them difficult field position. He registered five touchbacks a week ago.

“I could put my grandma out there to go down and cover, because I know it’s going through the end zone,” Gaillot joked. “That’s huge. People don’t understand. You can make them go the whole length of the field.”

Freeport has had Jacksen Reiser and Parker Lucas shelved with injuries. Others are getting their chance to fill in.

“We’re practically playing everybody on the roster at some point,” Gaillot said. “Kids are stepping up. No matter what the scoreboard says at the end, I can sleep at night proud as can be for their effort.”

Mars (2-0) at

Blackhawk (0-2)

7 p.m., Friday

Mars dismantled New Castle, 51-7, last week; Blackhawk was shut out at Highlands, 23-0.

The Planets feature Butler County’s current top ground-gainer this season in junior Evan Wright, who has chewed up 357 yards and scored 5 TDs in just two games. Sophomore QB Eric Kasperowicz has thrown for 256 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs.

Blackhawk has been outscored this season (in losses to Beaver Falls and Highlands) by a combined score of 45-7. The Cougars have passed for 182 yards so far while rushing for just 58. Junior RB Maurice Watson-Trent leads the team with 90 rushing yards on 15 attempts. The rest of the team has combined for minus-32 yards.

Knoch (0-2) at Beaver Falls (1-1)

7 p.m., Friday

The Knights fell just short of their first win at Indiana last week, losing in double overtime, 32-31.The Tigers lost, 19-16, in non-conference action against Beaver.

In the second quarter of their matchup, Knoch held a double-digit lead against the Little Indians after Sam Skurka’s two-yard plunge and a scoop-and-score on the hosts following possession. Despite the shortcoming, the Knights showed improvement after a blowout defeat in their opener.

Jaren Brickner quarterbacks Beaver Falls. He went 4-for-14 for 39 yards last week. On the ground, Drey Hall ran it 11 times for 52 yards. Brickner ran for 2 TDs. Last season, Brickner tallied over 3,000 yards between rushing and passing.

Greenville (0-2) at Slippery Rock (2-0)

7 p.m., Friday

In their home opener last week, the Rockets notched a second victory in a row to begin the season, dispatching Mercyhurst Prep, 38-24. The Trojans are coming off of a 14-7 loss to Wilmington, their second straight one-score defeat.

QB William Mokel passed for 305 yards last week for Slippery Rock, while the unit rushed for 148 yards. Four different receivers had at least 63 yards receiving in that contest.

On offense for Greenville, junior RB Malachi Hyde leads with 23 carries for 129 yards and a TD. Mason Dickens has one less tote and has rushed for 69 yards.

Moniteau (0-2) at

Cameron County (0-2)

7 p.m., Friday

The Warriors were edged by Elk County Catholic last Friday, 15-6. Cameron County lost, 22-6, on the road at Smethport.

Despite only conceding 154 yards and six first downs to the Crusaders on defense, Moniteau could only muster one score — that coming in the fourth frame. Senior RB Hunter Stalker had a big game on the ground, scampering 154 yards on 21 carries.

Jameson Britton caught the Raiders’ only TD against the Hubbers. The offense as a whole was stymied, gaining only 74 yards all night.

Ridgway (0-2) at

Karns City (0-2)

7 p.m., Friday

Both teams lost road contests last week. Ridgway dropped a 27-6 decision at Saint Marys while Karns City fell at Redbank Valley, 25-15.

Ridgway is having major troubles getting its offense going. Junior QB Cameron Larkin leads the team with just 22 rushing yards. He and fellow QB Luke Zimmerman, another junior, have combined to complete just 9 of 29 passes for 106 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs.

Karns City junior Mason Martin filled in at quarterback for an injured Eric Booher and the former played well, completing 10 of 16 passes for 111 yards while adding 61 rushing yards on 10 carries. Karns City’s offense gained 362 total yards, with Luke Cramer leading the way with 16 carries for 95 yards and 2 TDs.

Union/A-C Valley (1-1)

at Central Clarion (2-0)

7 p.m., Friday

Union/A-C Valley lost at home to Keystone last week, 43-7. Central Clarion edged Port Allegany, 29-24.

The Falcon Knights allowed 140 rushing yards and 3 TDs to Keystone’s Kyle Nellis last week. Union/ACV’s ground game, which was held to just 49 yards in a Week 1 win over Cameron County, tallied 133 yards on 34 carries in last week’s loss. RB Dawson Camper, a key cog in the backfield, did not figure into the rushing stats after being injured against Cameron County.

Central Clarion trailed Port Allegany last week, 16-0, before WR Dawson Hotchkiss scored three times in the second half to lead his team’s rally. The Wildcat defense tallied 3 INTs in the victory.

Summit Academy (0-2)

at Springdale (0-2)

7 p.m., Friday

The Knights rang in conference play with a performance they’d rather forget, bowing at home to Leechburg, 69-0. The night before, Springdale lost, 37-14, on the road to non-conference opponent Northgate.

Summit Academy will look to get on the board for the first time, as they’ve been outscored 118-0 over the initial two weeks.

The Dynamos showed some improvement last week after a 48-0 loss to Ligonier Valley in their opener. QB Chase Weihrauch missed that clash with an injury. Noah Bradley hauled in a score in the loss.