CHERRY TWP — Regardless of record, football coaches always want to see signs of progress from their teams.

Although the seasons of Union and Moniteau have gone in opposite directions, recent performances have given both coaches reason for encouragement.

Moniteau earned its first victory of the year two weeks ago with a 32-8 drubbing of Redbank Valley, while Union bounced back from its lone defeat with back-to-back routs of Kennedy Catholic and Clarion-Limestone.

The Warriors (1-6) will host the Golden Knights (6-1) on Friday at 7 p.m.

“We’ve shown a lot of improvement over the weeks and we’ve been in pretty much every game we’ve played,” said Moniteau coach Jeff Campbell. “I can’t ask for much more than that.”

The Warriors have dropped tight contests to Karns City, Brookville and St. Marys this season, while hanging around with elite teams such as West Middlesex and Clarion until the second half.

“It’s been a tough season from start to present. We’ve went through a lot of things together,” said Campbell. “It was a crushing loss Friday night (at St. Marys) because we needed to win our last four games (to make the playoffs) and when you see that’s not possible, it hurts.”

Moniteau held a 20-13 advantage through three quarters, but the Flying Dutchmen erupted for 16 unanswered points in the final frame.

Several injuries have not helped Moniteau’s cause, forcing the Warriors to play inexperienced sophomores and freshmen, especially in the trenches.

“We had a little bit of a letdown in the second half last week in the St. Marys game,” Campbell said. “We were down two defensive linemen. ... That hurts us because we like to rotate our linemen in there.

“We can’t seem to get a game with everyone healthy. Some of the guys are playing through it,” he added. “We look like the walking wounded out there, but right now, we’re probably as healthy as we’ve been all season.”

One positive for the Warriors has been a boost of offense since injury forced Dustin Geagan to move from running back to quarterback. With a spread attack, Moniteau has posted 52 points over the past two weeks after mustering just 43 in the first five games combined.

“He’s looked really good,” said Campbell of Geagan. “It’s more of a style that maybe we should have went to early on. We’ve improved the run game, but our passing game is still a work in progress.”

Geagan leads Moniteau in rushing with 677 yards and eight touchdowns. Trevor Shaffer has emerged as a threat, as well, with 314 yards and a score.

Andrew Armagost leads the Warriors on the defensive side of the ball with 15.7 tackles per game and a total of seven sacks.

The Warriors will be tested by Union quarterback Brody Shick, who has passed for 852 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. Kaden McGregor (13 catches, 220 yards), Aaron Graham (10-248) and Keenan Rankin (10-217) are all dangerous receiving threats.

“They’re a real good team,” said Campbell of Union. “Their quarterback is really elusive. He throws the ball well and the receivers go and get it.”

Union coach Dave Louder could not be reached for comment.

Indiana (2-5, 2-4) at Knoch (5-2, 4-2) 7 p.m., Friday

Coaches: Indiana, Mark Zilinskas; Knoch, Mike King

Last Week: Indiana was shut out by unbeaten West Mifflin, 29-0; Knoch shut out previously unbeaten Mars, 21-0

Numbers: The Little Indians held a West Mifflin offense averaging 43.7 points per game in check last week. ... Indiana managed only 144 yards on offense last week after rushing for more than 300 yards in an upset of Greensburg Salem the week before. ... Running back Miles Dietz rushed for 152 yards against Greensburg Salem, the first 100-yard rushing performance by an Indiana back this season. ... Knoch RB Ben Tackett has 993 yards from scrimmage — 865 rushing, 128 receiving — and 17 touchdowns this season. ... RB Mike Cunningham is averaging 7.4 yards on 34 rushing attempts, 21.1 yards on 11 pass receptions. ... Knights TE Luke Kroneberg leads the team with 18 catches for 284 yards. ... QB Dakota Bruggeman has passed for 726 yards and 7 TDs and leads Knoch’s defense with three interceptions.

Notes: Knoch leads the series between the teams, 7-5. ... Indiana must defeat Knoch and Hollidaysburg the next two weeks to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs. ... Indiana QB DeQuan West missed last week’s game with turf toe and is questionable this week. Backup QB Sean Thompson completed six of nine passes for 66 yards vs. West Mifflin.

Mars (6-1, 5-1) at Hollidaysburg (3-4, 3-3) 7 p.m., Friday

Coaches: Mars, Scott Heinauer; Hollidaysburg, John Barton

Last Week: Mars lost for the first time this season, 21-0 to Knoch while Hollidaysburg fell 35-0 to Franklin Regional

Numbers: In last week’s shutout loss to Knoch, Mars FB Josh Schultheis was held to a season-low 71 rushing yards and the Planets put up just 145 total yards, their lowest output in 2012. ...Hollidaysburg is forcing nearly three turnovers per game.The Golden Tigers have been shut out three times this season — Thomas Jefferson (55-0), Knoch (35-0) and Franklin Regional.

Notes: Hollidaysburg currently has sole possession of the fifth and final guaranteed playoff spot out of the Greater Allegheny Conference, but both Highlands and Indiana have a chance to secure it if the Golden Tigers stumble over the final two weeks of the regular season. ... The Planets and Golden Tigers last met in the first round of the 2010 WPIAL playoffs, with Mars winning 52-20.

Oil City (2-5) at Karns City (5-2) 7 p.m., Friday

Coaches: Oil City, Matt LaVerde; Karns City, Ed Conto

Last Week: Oil City downed Titusville, 35-21; Karns City edged Punxsutawney, 17-14

Numbers: The Oilers scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to erase a 21-14 deficit to capture their second consecutive win.. ... Kevin Daly rushed for 170 yards on 19 carries and three scores and pulled in two passes for 69 yards. QB Taylor Stamm added a touchdown pass while Frank Serbati added a 24-yard interception return to help the comeback effort. ... Wyatt Everetts rushed for 115 yards on 11 carries while Zach Moore added a 54-yard scoring run and the game-winning 32-yard field goal with 15 seconds left against the Chucks. ... Kepple has passed for 535 yards and rushed for 331 yards while Everetts leads the Gremlins with 460 yards on 58 carries and four TDs.

Notes: Oil City returned this season with seven starters on both sides of the ball. ... The Oilers, a District 10 Region 5 squad, have entered a co-op with Cranberry this season.

Franklin (1-6, 0-3) at Slippery Rock (6-1, 3-0) 7 p.m, Friday

Coaches: Franklin, Dave Smith; Slippery Rock, Brendan Hathaway

Last Week: Franklin was routed by Meadville 56-7; Slippery Rock fell to Grove City 34-14

Numbers: SR ran just 10 offensive plays in the first half against Grove City, but averaged nearly 10 yards per play. ... SR FB Frank Conlon has rushed for 111 yards on just 19 carries in the last two games and also returned a kickoff 93 yards for a score. ... Franklin is still employing a two QB system with mobile Forrest Wested rotating with pocket passer Kyle Ritchey. ... Wested is a triple threat, passing for 410 yards and four TDs, rushing for a team-leading 475 yards and five scores and catching 20 passes for 348 yards and three more TDs. ... Ritchey is 68-of-139 passing for 1,077 yards and seven TDs. He also had thrown eight INTs.

Notes: Slippery Rock is 3-4 all-time against Franklin, beating the Knights 23-10 last season.

Titusville (2-4, 1-4) at Grove City (6-1, 4-1) 7 p.m., Friday

Coaches: Titusville, Scott Salvo; Grove City, Jeff Bell

Last Week: Titusville lost to Oil City 35-21 while Grove City beat Slippery Rock 34-14

Numbers: Grove City didn’t throw a pass in last week’s win over Slippery Rock. It didn’t need to as the Eagles rushed for 363 yards and rolled up 25 first downs. ... RBs Foster Reznor, Chad Williams and Harold Price are within 34 yards rushing of each other. Reznor has 490 yards on the ground while Williams has 487 and Price, who missed a game with a knee injury, has 456. ... Titusville’s Jayce Corklin, who has played three different positions this season, has settled in at QB, leading the Rockets with 567 yards and two TDs. Corklin, who spent part of the season at RB, also has rushed for 292 yards.

Notes: Eagles OT Shaun Smoker injured his ankle against Slippery Rock is as questionable this week. ... Price is still battling a sprained MCL.

S.S. Academy (4-3, 4-2) at Summit Academy (2-5, 1-5) 12:30 p.m., Saturday

Coaches: Shady Side Academy, Dave Havern; Summit Academy, Steve Sherer

Last Week: Jeannette eked past Shady Side Academy, 31-26; Summit Academy fell to Valley, 22-16

Numbers: Chris Harp completed just one pass out of 10 attempts against the Vikings, but it went for a 39-yard scoring pass to La’Dale Cole to open the scoring. Robert Boyd added a 75-yard kickoff return. ... SSA QB Matt Granato completed TD passes to Tyrell Hill and Chuck Calabrese and rushed for another score in last week’s game while Mike Pohl added two field goals and two extra points in the non-conference loss.

Notes: Shady Side Academy defeated Summit Academy 43-20 last season.