JEFFERSON TWP— Knoch met Montour in its first football game this season.

The Knights are hoping they won't be meeting the Spartans in their last.

Montour (11-0) edged Knoch (9-2) 21-14 in a mutual season opener and the teams face each other at 7:30 p.m. Friday at North Hills' Martorelli Stadium, a trip to Heinz Field and the WPIALClass AAAchampionship game awaiting the winner.

"That first game was so long ago and both teams are so different now that it means nothing anymore,"Montour coach Lou Cerro said. "We've matured as a team and so have they.

"Knoch doesn't make mistakes. They never hurt themselves. If we're moving on, we have to go out there and make enough positive plays to beat them."

This game had shaped up as a showcase for two of the top running backs in the WPIAL. Montour's Christian Wilson has 254 carries for 1,725 yards this season, failing to surpass 100 yards rushing only once in 11 games. Knoch's Tim McNerney has 246 carries for 1,785 yards and 24 touchdowns, but is not expected to play Friday because of a sprained ankle.

The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Wilson had 32 carries for 141 yards and a touchdown against Knoch during the regular seasdon.

"Besides his size and power, Christian's biggest asset is his vision,"Cerro said. "He reads holes so well as a running play and sees how his blockling will develop before it even happens."

Wilson committed to the University of Michigan before this season.

"Our kids won't be intimidated by the fact he's a major Division I player,"Knoch coach Mike King said. "Having played against him once already helps, but nothing seems to faze our guys.

"They've proven that playing on the big stage doesn't bother them. In fact, they thrive on it."

The Knights will likely have to thrive this Friday without McNerney. The running back had 58 yards on 11 carries barely a quarter into last week's 28-7 win over Highlands when he suffered a strained tendon in a foot and a sprained ankle.

"It's very doubtful Tim's going to play,"King said. "He's been to a few doctors and saw a specialist (Tuesday) ... I don't see him being ready. We're not expecting it, anyway."

If McNerney can't play, the Knights will go with any combination of Mitchell Shaw, Lance Christie or John Zellhart at tailback, or a double-fullback formation with David Govan and Kevin Brodeur.

"Our kids aren't bothered by the idea of not having Timmy out there,"King said. "We were all on collective pins and needles at halftime of the Highlands game — the kids, the coaches, the fans — then we came out, played solid football in the second half, and it was like, 'Well, OK, let's play.'

"That's the feeling we've had in practice this week."

Both quarterbacks can throw the football. Gross has completed 70 of 117 passes for 1,046 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. Kyle Reiser, Mike Gallagher and Rob Briggs have combined for 55 catches, 909 yards and 12 of those scores.

"All three of those guys start on the basketball team,"King said. "For them, catching passes is like going up for a rebound. They know all about body positioning."

Montour quarterback E.J. Banks has thrown for 1,000 yards as well. Milton Banks, with 27 catches, is his leading receiver.

The Spartans won only four games in Cerro's first two seasons before reeling off 11 straight wins this fall.

"We won two games at the tail end of last year and the kids realized they could do it,"Cerro said. "We've been a second-half team all year. Our kids believe in our halftime adjustments and come out firing."

Linebackers Wilson and Rob Nieder lead a defense that hasn't allowed more than 14 points in a game since a 28-20 win over New Castle in Week 4.

Special teams have been a problem for the Spartans. The team has used two placekickers — Matt Bellay and Tom Birko — and both have been erratic.

"The second kid missed an extra point last week and we're hoping to get the first kid back from injury,"Cerro said. "We're hoping this outcome doesn't come down to the kicking game.

"Knoch has talent all over the field. We feel like we do, too. This is what a semifinal game should be like."

The Knights have reached the WPIALsemifinals for the first time since 1992. Montour hasn't been this far since 1995.

***Watch for Butler Eagle Videographer, Brandon Gerthoffer, at this game!***