Seneca Valley football coach Ron Butschle sees his team's game at Hempfield Friday as a meeting of squads facing a similar dilemma.

A loss for either team would deal a heavy blow to its playoff hopes.

The Raiders (2-4, 2-3) and Spartans (2-4, 1-4) will settle things beginning with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

“The next four weeks are very big for us,” said Butschle. “Hempfield is in the same boat as us. If we play like we did last week, we're not beating anybody.”

SV was throttled last week at home by North Allegheny, 40-7. The Tigers led 31-0 after the first half, out-gaining the Raiders in that span 275-65.

“Nobody felt good about Friday night,” said Butschle. “We actually gave the kids the weekend off, didn't bring them in on Saturday. Rehashing that loss would have been counter-productive. We need to be positive and coach 'em up. We need to move forward, not backward.”

A focal point this week will be the Raiders' secondary against Hempfield's passing attack, led by quarterback Blake Remaley.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior has passed for 993 yards and nine touchdowns this season. A running back, Nathan Roby, is the top target with 30 catches for 373 yards and three scores. Wideout Roman Pellis has caught 20 balls for 248 yards and four touchdowns.

SV's secondary includes safeties Gabe Lawson and Conor Hayes and a combination of cornerbacks Ethan West, Connor Lyczek and Cole Mrkonja.

“The guys have made some plays, but we need to do a better job of stopping the long ball,” Butschle said. “Conor is the only guy back there with experience and it is a work in progress.”

Roby has added balance to the offense with 520 rushing yards and five scores.

Adding to the challenge facing SV's defense is a Hempfield offensive line described by Butschle as “the biggest we'll see all year.”

Seneca Valley could be without offensive guard/defensive tackle Davin Beahm, who left last week's game with a leg injury. If he is unable to go, Purdue University recruit Josh Kaltenberger will move from center to guard and junior Chase Nething will be snapping the ball.

The Raiders won last year's meeting with Hempfield, 18-0.

Hempfield coach Rich Bowen could not be reached for comment.