Don't let last year's 28-0 score fool you.

Freeport's victory over McGuffey was just that - last year. And Yellowjackets coach Bill Dillen knows it won't be as easy this time around.

"I think they're better this year," said Dillen. "They're a little more experienced with kids who played a lot."

That would include the team's top two rushers in Garrett Hunter (541 yards) and Chris Sibert (538 with seven touchdowns).

McGuffey went 3-7 overall last year and 2-5 in the Interstate Conference. In their season-opener last week, the Highlanders dropped a 14-0 decision to Peters Township.

"They have a good defense, but they are a power team," said Dillen. "They come at you. They will run the ball."

Freeport is coming off a tough 14-7 loss to Class AAA Knoch, which took the lead with 1:16 left on quarterback Jordan Shoop's 36-yard run.

The game was scoreless at the half and 7-all after three quarters. Josh Schreckengost caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Brian Zimmerman in the third quarter to tie the game.

Friday's game against McGuffey is set for 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Stadium, which is located at the district's middle school. McGuffey's stadium will not be ready in time for the game.

Harbor Creek at Grove City, 7 p.m. Friday -

This will be the third meeting between the two schools in the last 12 months.

Harbor Creek beat Grove City 34-21 in the season opener last year, but the Eagles got a measure of revenge, downing the Huskies 33-7 in the District 10, Class AA title game.

Jesse Alfreno is adapting to his third position change in three seasons for Grove City. The senior is now the quarterback and has looked good in scrimmages.

But Grove City has just one offensive player starting in the same position he did last season, when the Eagles advanced all the way to the state championship game.

Cambridge Springs at Union, 7 p.m., Friday -

Union suffered through a dreadful 2004 season, going 0-10. But the numbers are up from 18 players last year to 34 this year.

Colton Davis is a bigger featured back (215 pounds) without sacrificing speed and coach Tom Kidder has had more than a year to increase the strength of the team, particularly in the trenches where all but one starter returns.

Cambridge Springs didn't have a season to write home about in 2004, either, going 1-8.

This is one of the few Class A opponents Union will face this season, and Kidder is looking at this one as a chance to get off on the right foot in 2005.

A-C Valley at Clarion, 7:30 p.m. Friday -

Stopping Clarion's Chris McSwain was the key for A-C Valley's defense last year in this match-up and things haven't changed much.

McSwain rushed for 1,441 yards last season, the fourth-best mark in all of District 9.

In Clarion's 13-0 shutout of the Falcons in the regular season finale, McSwain did gain 104 yards, but he needed 24 carries to do it.

"We stopped him on most of his runs," said A-C Valley coach Randy Lemmon. "But he broke a few big ones. We've got to keep him from those big runs this time."

New Brighton (0-1) at Summit Academy (0-1), 12:30 p.m. Saturday -

The Knights are coming off a 28-0 blanking by Beaver last Friday and hope to reverse their fortunes against the Lions.

New Brighton lost to top-ranked Class A Rochester 35-20 despite a 123-yard passing performance by Harry Girting, who rushed for one score and passed for another.

The Lions also received a touchdown run from Brandon Mosley.