Dave Vestal's football background is centered on defense.

So to truly impress Seneca Valley's current head coach, an offense must be potent, resilient and physical.

He sees all three qualities in Mt. Lebanon.

“We have a number of films on them, including their games against Bethel Park and North Allegheny,” Vestal said. “One game, they will go big and be a run-heavy attack. The next week, they can go empty (backfield) and even run the Wildcat. It's a lot to prepare for.”

Seneca Valley (6-3) will be in search of the program's first playoff win under Vestal when the Raiders line up against the Blue Devils (7-3) in a WPIAL Class 6A quarterfinal playoff Friday night at Mt. Lebanon Stadium.

Against an offense that is so versatile, SV's linebackers will have a lot of responsibilities.

That group will include seniors Jake Holl and Dom Polochak, junior Gabe Miller and sophomore Jake Stebbins.

“They've gotten better at being disciplined and reading their keys,” said Vestal. “They'll be ready to go Friday.

“The thing about Mt. Lebanon's offense that sticks out the most for me is how well they run the football. They are big up front.”

The Blue Devils are averaging 221 rushing yards per game and 6.1 per attempt. Senior tailback David Harvey paces the team with 1,354 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Junior quarterback James Stocker has thrown for 1,700 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Of the WPIAL's 14 Class 6A teams, only Central Catholic (456) has scored more points than Mt. Lebanon (376), but the road to postseason play was not a smooth journey for the Blue Devils.

“At one point this season, we were 1-2 and had lost our first conference game,” said Mt. Lebanon coach Mike Melnyk. “There was a long road ahead of us, but the kids buckled down and got after it.”

In last week's 35-14 win over Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon relied heavily on its ground game as Harvey gained 193 yards and scored four touchdowns. The victory clinched the Southeastern Conference title for the Blue Devils for the first time in four years. It was Mt. Lebanon's fourth straight win, a run that also included wins over Norwin, Peters Township and Penn Hills.

Melnyk has no shortage of respect for the Raiders.

“They are extremely well-coached and they play hard,” he said. “Their quarterback (Jack Cook) is mobile and can throw on the run. But we take a lot of pride in our defense. If we have to rely on our defense to win, we have the utmost confidence in it.”

Cook has turned in a second straight all-star caliber season, totaling 1,906 combined yards between passing and rushing and accounting for 22 total touchdowns.

Senior receiver Payton Skalos has become the reliable target the Raiders desperately needed entering the season. Despite catching just four passes last year, Skalos leads the Butler County area in receptions (41). He's turned them into 479 yards and seven touchdowns.

“He's heady and has great chemistry with Jack,” said Vestal. “He's very elusive and can take it the distance every time he touches the ball.”

Senior halfback Hank Royal became the first Raider to reach 1,000 yards rushing in a season since Forrest Barnes in 2012. Royal enters Friday's game with 1,016 yards to go with 12 touchdowns on the ground.