JACKSON TWP — There are two sides to every story.

The unfinished tale of the 2011 Seneca Valley football team is no different.

On one hand, the Raiders are on pace to be the highest scoring team in program history.

Quarterback Jordan Brown (1,037 yards, 10 touchdown passes) and running back Forrest Barnes (894 yards from scrimmage, 10 total touchdowns) are in the midst of great individual seasons.

On the other hand, the Raiders (3-2 overall) are 0-2 in the Northern Seven Conference standings. How the team fares in its final four regular season games will determine whether or not Seneca Valley reaches the WPIAL Quad A playoffs for the second time in three seasons.

That test begins Friday with a visit to Pine-Richland. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

“I certainly hope that our team enters any section game with a sense of urgency,” said SV coach Don Holl, whose team suffered a 49-28 loss to North Allegheny last week. “We’re still in a position where, if we can win out, we can end up third in the section, even second depending on what McDowell does.”

In the loss to the Tigers, the Raiders allowed seven scoring drives from an average distance of 61 yards.

“There’s no secret to it, it comes down to fundamentals,” said Holl. “Things like lining up properly and in the right stance, reading your keys correctly.

“You give credit to NA for making plays, but there were an awful lot of correctable mistakes on our end.”

Pine-Richland’s defense will be stretched all over the field by the Raiders, who have a plethora of weapons.

But Rams’ coach Clair Altemus believes SV’s potency begins with Barnes, who brings a 7.1 yards-per-carry average (598 yards on 84 carries) into the game.

“We have to try and take the pitch to Barnes away,” he said. “We can’t let him get to the outside because no player on our defense has the speed to catch him.”

SV will be facing a Rams squad in desperate need of a win.

A 28-10 loser at McDowell last week, Pine-Richland (1-4, 1-2) claimed its lone win with a 35-0 rout of Butler in Week 4.

“What I am seeing out of a lot of our young kids is that they are maturing,” Altemus said. “They are getting a better concept of the game. It may not pay off for us this year, but hopefully it will down the road.”

The Rams feature senior Austin Whipple at quarterback. The first-year starter has completed nearly 57 percent of his passes (59 of 104) for 656 yards and five touchdowns.

His 67-yard strike to wideout Luke Wagner accounted for P-R’s lone touchdown last week.

“When you look at any quarterback, you ask yourself, ‘Does he have an understanding of what they’re trying to do offensively and is he able to throw to a variety of routes?’

“With (Whipple), the answer is yes to both of those questions,” said Holl. “He’s a smart quarterback.”

One player Whipple will have to contend with is Raiders’ senior linebacker Joe Duggan.

SV’s leading tackler with 41 (26 solo), Duggan has also intercepted two passes and caused three fumbles so far in 2011.

Duggan’s effort has helped the Raiders to 11 takeaways this season.

“He worked hard in the offseason,” Holl said. “He’s in great shape and he’s faster and stronger than you would think. The kid’s got a great motor.”

As a unit, SV’s defense has intercepted four passes this season, Brad Gresock and Gabe Edwards accounting for the other two.

Pine-Richland defeated Seneca Valley 37-29 last year.