Last week was bad enough for Knoch. This week doesn’t look much better.

At least, not on paper.

Coming off a 52-14 loss to unbeaten South Fayette, Knoch (1-3) travels to Montour (4-1) for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday. The Spartans’ lone loss is a 26-15 decision to Mars.

“If it wasn’t for their turnovers that night, that Mars game could have turned out differently,” Knoch coach Frank Whalen said. “Montour is a very, very good football team.”

The Spartans have rolled up 42 points on New Castle, 51 on Indiana and 42 on Ambridge this season. Quarterback Kavon Morman has thrown for 592 yards, seven TDs and only one interception. Running back Bryden Jones has rushed for 403 yards and four scores.

The Knights did receive some good news this week. Quarterback Jake Herrit, who left the South Fayette game early with a pinched nerve, will play Friday night.

“His hand swelled up to almost twice its normal size last week. There was no way he could continue,” Whalen said. “Jake is also our shut-down corner and our strong safety, Scott Fraser, was playing with a broken arm.

“That made it even tougher for us to try to contain South Fayette’s passing attack.

Fullback Ivan Stapchuck continues to lead Knoch’s triple option attack with 481 yards rushing. Heath Erdos, a sophomore, replaced Herrit behind center last week and completed five of 11 passes for 51 yards.

“Heath will be a very good quarterback in this system the next two years,” Whalen said.

The coach said Montour “runs a very diverse offense that puts a lot of pressure on a defense.”

The Knights have not defeated Montour since 2003. The Spartans have won the last four meetings between the teams. Two of those were WPIAL playoff games — including a 42-14 win in the 2011 WPIAL Class AAA title game at Heinz Field.

Montour defeated the Knights, 34-21, last year.

Freeport (3-1, 2-0)

at Burrell (1-4, 0-3)

7 p.m., Friday

The Yellowjackets hold a 21-15 lead in the all-time series between the rivals, including a 24-20 win last season.

Freeport QB Austin Romanchak has thrown for only 198 yards and one touchdown through four games, but has rushed for 350 yards and seven scores. RB Conor Selinger has 251 yards and two TDs rushing. Sophomore Isiah Bauman leads the receiving corps with five catches for 98 yards.

Austin Kemp leads Freeport defensively with 42 tackles, including 20 solo stops.

Burrell has dropped four straight since a season-opening 39-12 win over Springdale. QB Seth Tatrn has thrown for 379 yards, four TDs and four interceptions. Seth Fischbach is the Bucs’ top receiver at 13 catches for 106 yards. RB Logan Bitar has 778 yards rushing and five TDs.

C.W. North Cath. (3-2) at Avonworth (2-2) 7 p.m., Friday

CWNC rallied last week from a 21-point deficit to defeat host New Brighton, 31-28. The comeback was capped with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Zach Rocco to Nikhai Hill-Green, the duo’s second scoring strike of the game.

Joe Meinert led a productive ground game for the Trojans, gaining 174 yards.

Avonworth earned a 20-6 win over Brentwood last week. Quarterback Derek Johncour passed for 140 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the victory.

CWNC and Avonworth used to be Eastern Conference rivals. Though both programs are in Class AA, they now meet in non-conference play, with the Trojans residing in the Midwestern Conference and the Antelopes in the Three Rivers Conference.

Karns City (3-2)

at Keystone (2-2)

7 p.m., Friday

Karns City coach Ed Conto will secure the 200th victory of his prep coaching career if the Gremlins win this game. KC is riding a three-game winning streak.

The Gremlins own a 44-12-1 lead in the series between the teams and KC has not lost to the Panthers since a 28-23 decision in 1995. The Gremlins’ 21-game win streak against Keystone includes last year’s 55-0 triumph.

RB Dalton Beham has fueled KC’s current three-game win streak and has 663 yards and 14 TDs rushing on the year. Sebastian Troutman has rushed for 270 yards and leads the receiving corps with five catches for 35 yards. Clay Garing has rushed for 280 yards and three TDs.

Middle linebacker Trevor Knox has 34 tackles to lead the Gremlins. Strong safety Garing has 30 tackles.

Keystone snapped an overall 12-game losing skid with a 34-26 win over Union/A-C Valley earlier this season. QB Nate Wingard has thrown for 582 yards and seven TDs. RB Corey Rapp has 215 yards and four TDs rushing, along with 21 catches for 327 yards and 4 TDs.

Moniteau (2-2, 1-1) at Clarion (4-0, 2-0)

7 p.m. Friday

Moniteau will have to contend with Clarion running back Colton Rapp, who has rumbled for 603 yards and eight touchdowns this season.

The Warriors have their own dangerous running back in Manny McLean. A home-run hitter out of the backfield because of his speed, McLean has 335 yards on just 54 carries.

Clarion is coming off a tight 25-20 win over rival Clarion-Limestone last week. It was the Bobcats’ only true test this season; they rolled over their previous three opponents by a score of 162-28.

Moniteau is coming off a disappointing loss to Keystone, 27-16.

Clarion holds a 35-9 advantage in the all-time series.

Red. Valley (2-2, 2-0)

at Union/ACV (1-4, 0-2)

7 p.m., Friday

in Rimersburg

The Falcon Knights earned their first win of the season last week, a 23-20 triumph against Saint Marys.

Senior WR Brendan Price has become a threat in the passing game for Union/ACV, catching eight passes this season for 233 yards and two TDs.

Junior LB Brady Cullen leads the Falcon Knights with 54 tackles this season.

Last week, Redbank Valley fell, 53-22, in a non-division meeting at Brookville.

Bulldogs’ senior RB Clint Thurston has chewed up 739 yards on the ground this season with a 9.2 yards-per-attempt average and 15 TDs.

With a win Friday, the Bulldogs would clinch the KSAC-Small School Division title.

Redbank Valley beat Union/ACV last year, 14-0.

Summit Acad. (1-3, 1-3)

at Union (4-1, 2-1)

7 p.m., Friday

Summit Academy lost a 26-18 decision to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart last Saturday.

Union was undefeated before running into Western Beaver last week and suffering a 30-6 defeat. The Scotties struggled against the run in the loss, allowing a combined 220 yards on 27 carries to Raven Chandler and Louie Hapach.

Summit Academy defeated the Scotties last year, 26-20.