JACKSON TWP — The WPIAL football playoffs have arrived a week early at Seneca Valley.

It's not that the Raiders (3-6, 3-4) haven't already qualified — they are in and locked into the No. 5 seed in Class 6A. But a loss in Friday's regular-season finale against visiting Norwin (2-7, 1-6) would hang a third straight defeat on the Raiders entering the postseason. They desperately need a shot of confidence.

“We're treating this week like a playoff game, it's that important,” said SV coach Ron Butschle.

Adding to the Raiders' task will be the absence of junior running back Ethan West, who will not play due to an injury sustained in last week's 35-21 loss to Pine-Richland.

West has been vital to both the passing and running game. He leads the team with 20 receptions and is averaging nearly 18 yards per catch. He's also gained a team-leading 512 yards on the ground with five touchdowns.

“He definitely won't play Friday,” Butschle said of West. “He's getting checked out, but we're hoping he could be back for the playoffs.”

Matt Stanger, who has 239 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, will become the focal point of SV's running game.

“Matt's a downhill runner and we have confidence in him,” Butschle said. “He's a senior and this is his chance to make a splash.”

Stanger may just go out with a bang in his last game at NexTier Stadium.

“Our Achilles heel this year has been not being able to stop the run,” said Norwin coach Dave Brozeski. “And Seneca has good size on their line and they move well.”

SV has had its own issues this year.

“We've had an up-and-down season,” Butschle said. “There's been flashes of success and also rough patches. When we don't have a lot of penalties and don't give up big plays, we win.”

Norwin senior quarterback Jack Salopek hopes to attack a Raider secondary that will be without West, a cornerback.

A senior and Western Michigan recruit, Salopek has thrown for 1,929 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.

“Pine-Richland's quarterback (Cole Spencer) is really good and I think this guy is right up there with him,” said Butschle. “(Salopek) is bigger (6-3, 180), he can throw it all over the place and can run. We need to make him uncomfortable.”

The Raiders will rotate three players in at their top two cornerback spots — Connor Lyczek, Nic Cook and Cole Mrkonja. The secondary will be tested by a Norwin receiving corps that features five players with at least 20 receptions.

Tanner Krevokuch leads the group with 28 catches while Sean Pavlic paces the Knights in yards with 441.

Norwin, which fell 45-16 at home last week to Mt. Lebanon, relies almost exclusively on its passing game as the Knights have rushed for just 262 yards all season.

“We haven't been able to sustain a ground game,” said Brozeski. “We've had some injuries, especially early in the season. Injuries are part of the game, but we've had a higher number than normal.”

The Raiders defeated the Knights last year, 21-13.