ADAMS TWP — Nothing different here.

Knoch and Mars are meeting up on a football field late in the season, plenty at stake for both teams.

The Knights (3-3, 2-3) are scrambling for a WPIAL playoff berth while the Planets (5-1, 4-1) remain in the hunt for the Greater Allegheny Conference title. The teams play at 7 p.m. Friday at the Mars Athletic Complex.

“Year in and year out, our kids know Mars is one of the best teams in our conference and that we’re going to have to play very well to win,” Knoch coach Mike King said.

“It’s a big rivalry and there’s always something on the line when we play them,” Mars coach Scott Heinauer said. “Last year, we didn’t play real well and they took it to us.”

The Knights have won three of the past four games between the rivals — including a 14-7 victory last year — and own a 23-12 lead in the all-time series.

“We had moved Cole Shinsky to quarterback before our game last year and we needed to win that game to get into the playoffs,” King recalled.

Shinsky is back at quarterback again, stepping behind center last week and guiding the Knights to a critical 21-14 win over Hollidaysburg. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown.

“The Shinsky kid brings them a dimension they didn’t have before,” Heinauer said. “He has a game under his belt now at quarterback this year and I’m sure they’ll have him doing some different things this week.

“Knoch is big and they’re physical. Shinsky and Mac Christy are 6-foot-4, standing alongside each other in the backfield.”

The 61-yard touchdown toss went to Jake Herrit, the player who surrendered the quarterback spot to Shinsky. Herrit caught six passes for 86 yards.

“Jake is one of the best athletes on our team, certainly one of the fastest,” King said. “He will be playing a lot of football at Knoch High School. He graciously stepped aside for Cole to assume the reins and had a big game himself. I’m glad it worked out that way.”

With Addis Crouch, Knoch’s top returning receiver from last season, out with an injury until possibly the season’s last week, Herrit has emerged as one of the Knights’ top receiving threats. Tight end Brennan McTighe has 16 catches for 263 yards.

Mars has plenty of threats of its own. Isaiah Johnson has rushed for 885 yards and 11 touchdowns and Sam Morrissey has thrown for 795 yards and 10 scores.

Eli Brooks has 11 catches for 368 yards and six TDs, John Castello 16 catches for 265 and four scores.

“I have a lot of respect for the Mars program,” King said. “They know what they want to do and they do it well. Those kids have been involved in the same offense since seventh or eighth grade.

“Against some run-oriented teams, you can stack nine in the box and force them to throw the ball. You can’t do that against Mars. If you can’t defend the run and the pass, they will make you pay.”

Defensively, Mars has been sparked by middle linebacker Max Chizmar, tackles Alex Tumminello and Nate Sablowski, end Castello and defensive back Nate Rosswog.

“We’ve had a solid unit on that side of the ball and this will be a physical game,” Heinauer said.

If it’s a close game, the Planets have no problem putting it on the foot of kicker Caleb Brake. He is 21 of 23 on PATs and has hit all three of his field goal attempts, including a big one in last week’s 31-21 win at Gateway.

“If the situation calls for it, we’ll put him out there,” Heinauer said. “We have the utmost confidence in him.”