Seneca Valley’s football game at Bethel Park Friday may be viewed by some as a trap game.

The Raiders (3-2) earned a crucial Northern Seven Conference win last week by clobbering Penn Hills 32-7. Two Fridays from now, they will meet rival North Allegheny in a game with similar playoff implications.

In between is the upcoming game against the Black Hawks. Will the Raiders be emotionally invested in the non-conference affair?

Head coach Dave Vestal certainly expects them to be.

“Just from a standpoint of staying on track and improving each week, this game is important,” he said. “Bethel Park is the top dog in the (Southeastern Conference) and we could see them in the playoffs. Our kids understand how important this game is.”

The Black Hawks (3-2) defeated Hempfield 48-13 last Friday. Bethel’s two losses have come against North Allegheny (21-14 in Week 1) and Pine-Richland (31-24 in Week 4).

“We run the ‘I’ on offense. There’s not too many of us around anymore,” said veteran Bethel Park coach Jeff Metheny. “We don’t have any senior (offensive) linemen, but they’re getting better. Those guys need to grow up fast.”

Junior tackle James Gmiter (6-foot-4, 305 pounds) is the Black Hawks’ lone starter on the line who returned from last season. He has been offered a scholarship by West Virginia University.

He has been helping to open holes for senior tailback Terron Murphy (5-6, 145) who rushed for 1,225 yards and nine touchdowns last season and totaled 178 yards and two scores last week against Hempfield.

“He’s a speed back,” Metheny said. “If he gets through the hole, it’s tough to catch him.”

Senior quarterback Cole Rogers is in his first year as a starter, but Metheny likes what he offers.

“He played a bit last year when Levi (Metheny) got hurt,” he said. “Cole is completing a high percentage of his passes. He’s got a good arm and can run.”

The Raider pass defense received a strong effort from senior cornerback Walik Shabazz in the Penn Hills game.

“He played the ball well, broke up a pass in the third quarter and stopped a bubble screen,” Vestal said. “He rotated in a bit last year on varsity, but saw a lot of time on junior varsity. It’s nice to see him stepping up as a senior and he’s still getting better. He’s really a hard worker and loves the game.”

Defensively, Metheny knows his team is in for a challenge as it prepares for a Raider offense featuring dual-threat quarterback Jack Cook and halfback Hank Royal, who has totaled 553 yards and six touchdowns on the ground this season.

Senior receiver Payton Skalos leads Cook’s targets with 29 catches for 383 yards and four scores.

SV’s offensive line performed well last week, including right guard Drew Robertson, who played in place of the injured Shane Stadtfeld.

The latter is expected to miss Friday’s game.

The rest of the front includes center Evan Schillero, left guard Nolan Nagy, left tackle Eric Hudanick and right tackle Jake Warner.

“Any time you move a new guy in there, you have to make sure there’s a comfort level,” Vestal said. “The best thing is our guys are blocking to the whistle.”

Bethel Park leads the all-time series 7-4. The teams last met in 2013, with Seneca Valley winning 39-3.