Looking for a crossroads game?Look no further.

Knoch (2-2) plays host to Hampton (1-3) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday in a critical Greater Allegheny Conference contest for both teams.

"This shapes up as quite a game,"Knoch coach Mike King said. "Both teams are coming off disappointing losses and both teams are going to be hungry.

"Besides, it's conference play. There's no more time to wait to get things turned around."

Hampton coach Greg Mihalik couldn't agree more.

"You figure Pine-Richland and Franklin Regional have two of the playoff spots and that leaves two spots left for a bunch of good football teams to fight over,"Mihalik said.

The Talbots' lone win was a 23-8 decision over Peters Township in Week 2. Hampton dropped decisions of 24-21 to Blackhawk, 35-21 to Trinity and 24-7 to defending Class AAAstate champion Franklin Regional.

Hampton returns running back Steve Paskorz, who needs about 270 rushing yards to become the 35th player in WPIALhistory to surpass 4,000 in a high school career. Paskorz is headed to Notre Dame next season.

Quarterback Bob Bartley is also back for the Talbots. He has passed for more than 600 yards in three games, but missed most of the Franklin Regional game with a sore knee and ankle. Bartley has thrown for 3,600 yards and 48 touchdowns in his career and is being recruited by Division I schools.

"People figure with those two guys back, we'd win every game,"Mihalik said. "But it takes 11 players on each side of the ball to win. We lost nine offensive starters and seven defensive starters from last year."

Paskorz has rushed for a little more than 250 yards, less than 70 yards per game.

"We've told our kids that he's looking for that break-out game and we have to be very diligent in our approach toward him,"King said. "But our kids played against him last year and I think we'll be up for the challenge."

Two key players for both teams could miss Friday's contest. Bartley is still sore and will be a game-day decision for the Talbots.

Knoch running back Alex Whisler aggravated his hamstring during a long screen-pass play against Greensburg Salem two weeks ago. He sat out the Knights' 35-0 loss at Pine-Richland last week and his status remains questionable.

Sophomore Jeff Cully filled in at quarterback against Franklin Regional and threw for 99 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown pass to Joe Cangilla, Hampton's leading receiver with 19 catches for 307 yards this year.

"That was a tough assignment for Jeff because Bartley got hurt during the first series of that game,"Mihalik said. "Jeff hadn't had many reps in practice and he's suddenly out there facing the state champions.

"We're getting him ready to play this week, but we're still hoping to have Bob back in there."

Knoch is in a similar situation with Whisler. Tim McNerney and Erik Christensen are getting work at tailback in practice.

"We're going to be patient with Alex all week and see what happens,"King said. "Those other kids are coming along. They may have to do so quicker than expected, that's all."

Receiver Rob Briggs also missed the Pine-Richland game because of an ankle injury, but is expected to return to action Friday night.

"In some respects, you want the kids to have a short memory in regards to that (35-0) loss,"King said. "In another way, you want them to recognize that that type of effort is unacceptable.

"We're not only working on schemes this week, we're working on the mental aspect of the game. And we'll be ready to play.'