ADAMS TWP — The Mars Planets have already clinched a WPIAL Class AAA playoff berth out of the Greater Allegheny Conference.

Hollidaysburg is trying to join them.

The Golden Tigers (3-4 overall) are 3-3 in conference play after last week’s 54-7 loss to Franklin Regional. Despite the lopsided defeat, the team remains in the thick of the football playoff chase.

“When it comes to the playoffs, it’s nice to be in the mix,” said Hollidaysburg coach Homer DeLattre. “We need to win one of our last two games because we don’t want to back in. We want to feel like we deserve a playoff spot.”

Mars (6-1, 5-1) will host Hollidaysburg Friday with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

“I don’t know what to expect out of them,” Heinauer said of the Golden Tigers, who are in their first season under the direction of DeLattre.

“When you are facing a team that needs a win, you never know what they’re going to throw at you. Against Knoch last week (a 40-7 win), they changed up their offense on us. Fortunately, we were able to adjust.”

Hollidaysburg runs the spread offense and its ground attack is by committee. Quarterbacks Josh Bickley and Caleb Parnell and halfbacks Reid Miller and Colton Ruggery have combined to rush for 702 yards and eight touchdowns this season.

“Our running game has not performed the way we need it to, not even close,” said DeLattre. “We need to run the ball better than we have.”

Bickley has done most of his team’s passing, throwing for 624 yards, five touchdowns and just one interception.

Junior receiver Ryan Waltz leads the team in catches (17), receiving yards (343) and touchdowns (five).

Hollidaysburg’s defense, while shredded by Franklin Regional last week, has tallied 22 quarterback sacks this season. Junior lineman Michael Roberts (6-foot-0, 200 pounds) has six of them.

“We need our offense to be aggressive and to get on people,” said Heinauer. “We can’t lose focus.”

The Planets defeated Hollidaysburg last year 49-7.

Knoch (3-4, 2-4)at Indiana (2-5, 2-4)7 p.m., FridayLast Week: Knoch was downed by Mars 40-7; Indiana fell to West Mifflin 21-14Numbers: Indiana has lost three straight games by seven points. ... The Little Indians held undefeated West Mifflin to under 300 yards of offense. It was the first time this season the Titans were held under 300 yards. ... Sophomore Jacob Zilinskas, the son of Indians’ coach Mark Zilinskas, started his first game at QB and tossed two first-quarter TD passes. He finished 9-of-23 for 176 yards. ... Knoch RB Cody Milsom leads Knoch with 682 yards on 164 carries and eight TDs. ...Notes: Indiana led West Mifflin by two touchdowns before falling last week. ... Knoch beat Indiana 20-14 last year.

Karns City (6-1)at Oil City (6-1)7 p.m., FridayLast Week: The Gremlins dominated Punxsutawney 56-6; Oil City blanked Titusville 49-0Numbers: Karns City has a versatile rushing attack featuring five players with at least 200 yards. Tristan Rhoades leads the gang with 551 yards on 39 carries. ... Quarterback Tyler Kepple has given the Gremlins balance with 881 yards and 17 touchdowns through the air. ... Dakota Mohney leads KC in receiving with 15 catches for 317 yards and seven TDs. ... Oil City has scored at least 40 points in four straight games, led by running back Kevin Daly’s 804 yards and 13 TDs on 133 carries. ... Sophomore QB Jackson McFall has completed 54-of-93 passes for 871 yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. ... Logan Way leads the Oilers with 36 catches for 509 yards and seven TDs.Notes: Daly tied the school record of 37 rushing touchdowns last week and could break Oil City’s all-time rushing mark on Friday. ... The Oilers defeated Karns City 33-21 last season.

Freeport (2-5)at Washington (6-1)7 p.m., FridayLast Week: Freeport lost to East Allegheny 38-14; Washington was blown out by Mt. Pleasant 47-22.Numbers: Wash High’s streak of 21 straight regular-season wins was snapped last week. ... The Prexies were held to 161 rushing yards last week, well below their season average. ... Until last week, Wash High’s offense hadn’t suffered much after the loss of RB Shai McKenzie, who is considered one of the best prep backs in the country. McKenzie was lost for the season with a knee injury against Charleroi Sept. 13, but the Prexies have still averaged 38 points per game without him. ... Freeport has struggled on offense this season, averaging just 3.9 yards per carry and 3.5 yards per pass attempt.Notes: Wash High routed Freeport 60-6 last season with McKenzie rushing for 257 yards and four TDs on just seven carries.

A-C Valley (0-7)at St. Joseph’s Acad. (2-5)7 p.m., FridayLast Week: A-C Valley lost to Keystone 30-14. The Wolves fell to Kane 50-14.Numbers: A-C Valley junior Cody Jones has recently started at quarterback in place of sophomore Evan Redding, who began the season as the starter. Redding is available this week. Both QBs have combined to pass for 509 yards, three TDs and eight INTs. ... The Wolves have just 18 players on their roster, but have defeated Mercyhurst Prep (46-6) and Elk County Catholic (44-12) this year. ... St. Joe’s junior receiver Mike Jabco has grabbed 25 passes for 400 yards and three TDs.Notes: St. Joseph’s is a Catholic school located in Boalsburg, just east of State College. This is the first season the school has fielded a varsity football team. ... Friday’s game was originally scheduled to be played at Lock Haven University, but will be played on the Wolves’ home turf.

Slippery Rock (7-0, 3-0)at Franklin (2-5, 1-2)7 p.m., FridayLast Week: Slippery Rock rolled past Grove City 49-21 while Franklin was edged by Meadville 36-34Numbers: Franklin has given up 278 points this season (39.7 per game) while Slippery Rock has rolled up 346 points (49.4 per game). ... The Rockets have rushed for 3,002 yards as a team through seven games and are averaging 10.2 yards per rush. ... . ... Franklin is led by QB Kyle Ritchie, who has completed 48-of-134 passes for 787 yards, six TDs and six INTs this season. ... The Knights have only rushed for 624 as a team this season (2.8 yards per carry).Notes: Slippery Rock beat Franklin 55-13 last season.

Grove City (4-3, 3-2)at Titusville (0-7, 0-5)7 p.m., FridayLast Week: Grove City fell to Slippery Rock 49-21; Titusville was shut out by Oil City 49-0.Numbers: Senior RB Foster Reznor has been a bright spot in what has been a disappointing season for the Eagles with 547 yards rushing, 234 yards receiving and 12 total TDs. ... Eagles’ QB Jared Graham has copmpleted 24-of-43 passes for 520 yards and seven TDs this season. ... Titusville has scored just 49 points and has given up 318 this season.Notes: This is the first time Grove City has lost three games in the regular season since 2009. ... Grove City beat Titusville 42-6 last season.

Summit Academy (4-3, 4-2)at Shady Side Academy (7-0, 6-0)7:30 p.m., FridayLast Week: Summit Academy upended Valley 26-6; Shady Side Academy edged Jeannette 28-21.Numbers: Summit’s ground game is paced by Elijah Hardy, who has 771 yards and seven touchdowns on 99 carries. ... Larry Richardson (306 rushing yards), Kush Wilkerson (209) and Nate Cofer (161) have also been reliable weapons for the Knights. ... Shady Side’s defense has recorded three shutouts and is allowing just 8.1 points per game. ... Jarred Brevard leads the Indians with 524 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, while Dennis Briggs has 281 yards and five TDs on the ground. ... Shady Side QB Chuck Calabrese has completed 13-of-38 attempts for 276 yards with five TDs and one interception. He also has 242 rushing yards on 38 carries.Notes: Shady Side Academy shut out Summit Academy 15-0 last season.