With just five Class 6A football teams in the WPIAL, the time to prove that you belong in the district playoffs is short.

Four of the five teams qualify and last year, Seneca Valley was the odd team out as the Raiders went 1-3 and the path that ended in disappointment began with a 33-21 Tri-County Conference loss to Canon-McMillan.

The two teams meet Friday in Canonsburg and a sense of urgency pervades on both sides.

The Big Macs (1-1, 0-1) have already tasted defeat in conference play, dropping a 30-6 decision to North Allegheny last week. The Raiders are hoping to avoid that same ominous start.

“Nobody in our conference is excited about (having just four conference games),” said SV coach Ron Butschle. “You lose a conference game early and you feel like you’re climbing uphill the rest of the season. That’s what happened to us last year.”

Raiders senior running back Kai West has 104 yards on 19 carries this season, but was held to just nine yards on five attempts in last week’s 48-7 loss at Peters Township.

“He was hobbled last week, was injured a bit, but he’s a competitor and wants to be out there,” Butschle said. “He’s looking better in practice this week.”

As a team the Raiders ran for just 11 yards against Peters. While the Indians have a very strong run defense, Butschle is looking for an improved effort up front.

“We’ve had some injuries on the line and it’s been like musical chairs there with guys moving in and out,” he said. “The wheels fell off pretty early in last week’s game. We had some things go against us and we’re not experienced or savvy enough to overcome that at this point.”

Like the Raiders, Canon-McMillan has a lot of new faces being counted on to make plays. Mike Evans is not one of them. The team’s quarterback, he has 23 varsity starts under his belt. As a junior last year, Evans passed for 1,448 yards, 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The effort earned him first team All-Conference honors.

“He’s our only returning starter at the skill positions from last year,” said Big Macs coach Mike Evans, father of the starting quarterback. “Offensively, we know where the bar is for us.”

Coach Evans said running back Zach Welsh (127 yards, two TDs thus far) is his team’s leading threat on the ground. Tight end/defensive end Kaeden Singleton (6-foot-2, 230 pounds) has verbally committed to play at the University of Delaware.

“I have a ton of respect for Ron Butschle, always have,” said Coach Evans. “We were fortunate to win at their place last year. We know they’re coming for us.”

The Yellowjackets continued the home-field success they enjoyed last year by putting away South Allegheny, 47-0, last week; Quaker Valley lost to Mohawk Area, 42-8, at home.

Freeport might have found an extra angle to their attack in senior Colton Otterman, who rushed for over 100 yards and 2 TDs against the Gladiators. ... QB Drew Ross settled in with 2 first-half passing TDs.

Similarly to their hosts this week, the Quakers graduated last year’s statistical leaders in every offensive category. ... Quaker Valley allowed five TDs through the air in its loss to Mohawk.

The ‘Jackets won last year’s encounter, 61-7.

The Cougars dropped a 33-20 decision to Highlands last week; Mars defeated New Castle 42-6.

Blackhawk QB Stephen Knallay has passed for 183 yards, 2 TDs and 4 INTs this season. ... The Cougars are averaging 84.5 rushing yards per game.

Through two games, Mars receivers Gabe Hein and Aidan Alessio have combined for 24 receptions for 434 yards and 3 TDs. ...Safety Mason Childress leads Mars with 14 tackles, has recovered one fumble and caused another.

Blackhawk defeated Mars, 15-14, last year

North lost to Shady Side Academy in overtime last week, 34-28; Aliquippa opened its season with a 37-19 win over Armstrong.

The Trojans have allowed 757 yards and 10 TDs through the air in two games. ... RB Jack Fennell has rushed for 273 yards and 3 TDs. ... Gavin Kamody scored 2 TDs last week — 93 yards on a kickoff return and a 24-yard pass from Jason Siket.

The Quips won the WPIAL Class 4A title last year and lost to Bishop McDevitt in the state title game. ... Aliquippa RB Tikey Hayes rushed for 170 yards and 3 TDs last week.

The Quips beat North 26-0 last year.

Knoch topped Indiana last week 30-24; Beaver Falls fell to Beaver 31-28.

Knoch has allowed its first two opponents to rush for just three yards per carry (64 for 191 yards). ... The Knights WR duo of Jackson Bauman and Kaden Spencer has combined for 24 receptions for 493 yards and 3 TDs.

Beaver Falls’ offense is powered by a strong ground attack, led by RBs Da'Talian Beauford and Brixx Rawl and QB Da'Sean Anderson. The trio has amassed 455 yards on 70 carries and 6 TDs.

Beaver Falls earned a 44-6 victory over Knoch last season.

Central Clarion crushed Port Allegany last week 57-6; Union/A-C Valley beat Keystone 24-13.

Central Clarion QB Jase Ferguson is in his 3rd season as a starter. He has passed for 375 yards, rushed for 247 and accounted for 7 total TDs this season.

The Falcon Knights are getting 8.8 yards per carry from speedster Logan Skibinski, a sophomore RB who has scored 2 TDs on 17 carries.

The Wildcats handled Union/A-C Valley last year 43-6.

The Knights bowed to Leechburg, 59-20, on Friday. Springdale was outclassed by Northgate, 35-21.

The Dynamos are on a 13-game losing streak. ... Chase Weihrauch plays QB for Springdale. He threw for 389 yards and 3 TDs and rushed for another 199 and 3 scores last year.

Summit Academy’s 20 points last week tied their high over the last two seasons. The Knights scored the same total in a loss to Rochester last go-round, part of a 1-21 skid over the past three seasons.

Summit Academy’s only win in that span came against the Dynamos, 18-14, last year.

The Rockets didn’t have too fun a time against Mercyhurst Prep last Friday, ending up on the wrong side of a 49-7 decision; Greenville was outlasted by Wilmington, 21-14.

Slippery Rock QB Eli Anderson and WR Sam Schwartz have connected for TDs in each of the team’s first 2 games. ... The Rockets aim to avoid an 0-3 start, which they last had in the fall of 2016.

The Trojans are averaging 127.5 yards from scrimmage per game. ... RB Malachi Hyde has 85 yards rushing on 22 carries thus far. Nick Solderich has added 62 yards on the ground on 15 totes.

Slippery Rock defeated Greenville, 24-7, last year.