ADAMS TWP — As impressive as the Mars football team has been in Greater Allegheny Conference play, the Planets still have some unfinished business to address.

Having already clinched a WPIAL Class 4A playoff berth, the Planets will over the next two weeks face the two foes that still have a chance to claim at least a share of the conference title — Hampton (3-5, 3-1) and North Catholic (4-4, 3-1).

The backyard rival Talbots will host Mars with a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday at Fridley Field.

"When I was coaching at Pine-Richland, just because of proximity, North Allegheny was our biggest natural rival," said Mars coach Eric Kasperowicz. "As coaches, we try to do the same things every week, but when your players are preparing to face kids they grew up playing against, kids they know well, tensions rise a bit and the tempo picks up in practice."

Hampton will try to slow down the Planets (6-2, 4-0), who have outscored conference opponents 185-35. For Talbots coach Steve Sciullo, his team's chances of an upset begin up front.

"We've hung our hat on the play of our defensive line for the last four or five years," he said. "We go as they go and hopefully, they go well on Friday."

The starting three on the line include Gabe Gannelli, Brady Long and Gryffin Keller. Gannelli is a three-year starter. The trio's task is to lead the charge in containing Mars' stable of playmakers, which is easier said than done.

Planets' junior quarterback Luke Goodworth (1,569 yards, 17 touchdowns and two interceptions) broke the school's record for passing yards in a single season in last week's 38-0 shutout of Armstrong.

Evan Wright has gone over 1,000 rushing yards in back-to-back seasons. The passing game may be without star sophomore receiver Gabe Hein (43 catches, 774 yards and eight scores). He left last week's game with injury and it is not known if he will play Friday.

A string of success, as the Planets have had on both sides of the ball, has not dulled the team's desire to dominate.

"The players aren't focused on the attention they're getting, the press clippings," said Kasperowicz. "Our job as coaches is to make sure they don't get complacent. Our goal is to go 1-0 this week and we're focused on Hampton."

The defense has received a number of standout efforts, including from junior safety Mason Childress, who leads the secondary.

"He was named All-Conference last year as a sophomore and came back with a lot of experience and confidence. He's been tremendous," Kasperowicz said. "When Eric (Kasperowicz, junior) was unable to go at quarterback this year, we moved him to safety and Mason helped him early on in those first few games at the position."

Hampton defeated Indiana 35-7 last week. The Talbots had Willy Haselrig and Josh Carr both return a kickoff for a touchdown.

"We've done well on returns this season," Sciullo said. "A touchdown on a kick return is the best offensive play call you can have."

Indiana (2-6) at

North Catholic (4-4)

7 p.m., Friday

Indiana lost at home last week to Hampton, 35-7; North Catholic fell 42-21 at Avonworth.

Indiana dropped to 2-3 with a 28-21 loss to Highlands on Sept. 22. Since then, the Little Indians have dropped three straight games, scoring just seven points in each contest, while allowing a combined 104.

North (3-1 in conference), Hampton (3-1) and Mars (4-0) are the three teams still alive to claim the Greater Allegheny Conference title.

North shut out Indiana 41-0 last season.

Bradford (3-5) at

Karns City (3-5)

7 p.m., Friday

Bradford dropped a 28-20 decision to Saint Marys last week; Karns City bowed at Brookville, 44-14.

Bradford junior QB Talan Reese has thrown for 1,511 yards, 13 TDs and three INTs this year.

Karns City freshman QB Cole Johnston left last week’s game with an undisclosed injury and did not return. His status for Friday’s contest is not known. RB Braden Slater finished the game calling signals. ... KC’s ground duo of Luke Cramer and Hunter Scherer have combined for 956 yards and 16 TDs. ... LB Cramer leads the team’s defense with 53 tackles while DE Mason Bell has 46 stops, including seven for loss.

KC defeated the Owls 42-14 last year.

Ridgway (2-6) at

Union/A-C Valley (4-4)

in Rimersburg

7 p.m., Friday

Ridgway was defeated by host Brockway last week, 51-7; Union/A-C Valley won 51-26 at Smethport.

The Elkers have been held to 14 or fewer points in five of their eight games this season.

Senior LB Luke Wilson has made 90 total tackles and 62 solo stops for the Falcon Knights. ... U/ACV’s defense has just 3.5 sacks this season, but has picked off opposing QBs 15 times.

The Falcon Knights earned a 26-19 victory over Ridgway in 2022.

Valley (2-6) at

Freeport (2-6)

7 p.m., Friday

The Yellowjackets were blanked, 19-0, in a rivalry matchup with Knoch last Friday; Valley was beaten at home by Shady Side Academy, 43-14.

Freeport has lost 5 games in a row in the same season for the first time since Gary Kepple’s crew dropped 6 straight to start the 1994 season — that team finished 2-8. ... The ‘Jackets need to win this game and their next to likely enter the playoffs.

Valley has conceded at least 39 points in each of their previous 3 tilts — all section losses. ... The Vikings are giving up an Allegheny 6 Conference-high 30.1 points per game.

Freeport won last year’s clash, 62-19. ... Valley hasn’t beaten the ‘Jackets since 2016.

Moniteau (1-7) at

DuBois (3-5)

7 p.m., Friday

The Warriors dropped their sixth in a row last week at home to Punxsutawney, 49-6; Central Clarion raced past DuBois, 70-0.

During its skid, Moniteau has been outscored by an average of 32.3 points per outing. ... Sophomore Brendin Sankey — who’s also shared time at QB — leads the Warriors with 59 total tackles this year, and also has 2 sacks.

The Beavers have a ground attack led by senior Garret Nissel (126-705-7) and assisted by junior Danny Dixon (69-364-1). ... DuBois has fallen in 3 of their last 4, their only win being a 21-14 overtime win over Saint Marys 2 weeks ago.

The Beavers beat Moniteau, 42-0, a year ago.

Summit Academy (0-8) at

Laurel (2-6)

7 p.m., Friday

The Knights lost against Shenango, 37-8, last Saturday; Laurel fell short at South Side, 35-7.

Only Ringgold (47.7 points allowed per game) gives up more on average than Summit Academy (44). ... The Knights have 2 chances to avoid their second winless season in the last 3 years.

Both sophomore Luca Santini and junior Jackson Sauders have played QB for the Spartans this go-round. ... Senior Ben Hennon has run for 734 yards and 4 TDs.

Laurel beat Summit Academy, 68-14, last year.

Farrell (8-0) at

Slippery Rock (1-7)

7 p.m., Saturday

On the road, the Rockets bowed to Wilmington, 55-20; Farrell shut Sharon out, 20-0.

QB Eli Anderson is 50 yards from reaching 1,000 through the air for Slippery Rock this season. ... Anderson also leads the Rockets in rushing with 444 yards. ... Slippery Rock is giving up 37.6 points per game.

Farrell is averaging 30.8 points per game. ... The Steelers have won their last 3 games by a combined score of 116-12. ... QB Kabron Smith has thrown for 1,461 yards, 19 TDs and just 3 INTs this year.

The Steelers won these 2 teams’ first matchup in 41 years last season, 41-0.

Staff writer Brendan Howe contributed to this report