FREEPORT — John Gaillot understands the Freeport football team has a big opportunity this Friday.

Knocking off undefeated Highlands at 7 p.m. at Swartz Field would allow the Yellowjackets to escape the four-way tie for third place in the Allegheny Conference.

Lose and Freeport will need to find a few more wins — and have Shady Side Academy stumble — to earn a playoff bid.

The Yellowjackets are in a three-game stretch against the “Fab 3” as Gaillot calls them.

Freeport lost to Kittanning 63-34 last week and will play Highlands (5-0, 5-0) and Apollo-Ridge (4-1, 4-1) the next two weeks.

“If things don't work out and we can't steal one of those games it will be tough,” Gaillot said. “I've been really pleased with the effort and overall performance of our team.”

Freeport's biggest area of concern for its game against the Rams is keeping the clock moving. Nine of the Yellowjackets' 11 starters play on both sides of the ball.

After throwing 37 times against the Wildcats last week, Gaillot wants to find a nice mix of passing and running.

“With our offense, we don't designate who's going to get the ball. That's based on progression,” Gaillot said. “They all have to run hard on every play. ... All those DBs running those routes on offense, it wasn't a lack of effort, it was exhaustion.”

He doesn't want to pull the reins back too much on Andrew Romanchak, who leads all Butler County area passers with 885 yards. Dylan Hochbein also leads the county in receiving yards with 365 and has caught four touchdown passes.

“This year, they present a problem because they throw the ball extremely well,” Highlands coach Sam Albert said. “The QB puts the ball on the money every time. The receivers are fast kids and run great routes. The linemen outweigh us up front.”

The Rams are led by quarterback Bradyen Thimons, who's thrown for 303 yards and five touchdowns this season.

At running back, Elijah Jackson will give Highlands some serious punch. He's averaging 9.8 yards per carry and has 627 yards on the season.

“We're hoping for a win,” Gaillot said. “It will be tough because they are so well-balanced. Coach Albert does a good job and they are aggressive on defense.”

Slippery Rock (5-0, 4-0) at Warren (1-4, 1-3)7 p.m., FridayLast week: Slippery Rock edged Hickory, 14-7; Warren fell to Sharon, 40-17.Numbers: Four players have thrown at least one pass for Warren this season, led by senior DJ Fehlman, who has completed 26 of 52 for 257 yards. ... Dragon QBs have also thrown seven INTs this season. ... Warren has two good RBs in senior Kyle Kulka and junior Solomon Gross. Kulka has rushed for 377 yards on 45 carries and Gross has gained 325 yards on the ground, also on 45 attempts. ... Slippery Rock's defense is surrendering only 196 yards per game. ... CB Brady Kadlubek has had two key INTs in close wins for the Rockets over Greenville and Hickory.Notes: Slippery Rock beat Warren 55-7 last season.

Moniteau (4-1) at Clarion (4-1)7 p.m., FridayLast Week: Moniteau fell to Karns City, 48-6; Clarion routed Keystone, 46-0.Numbers: Moniteau RB Josh McBride was limited to five yards on five carries last week because of a stinger that forced him from the game. McBride still leads the Butler County area in rushing with 885 yards. ... Warriors' QB Cody Skiver is second in the Butler County area with 629 yards. ... Clarion RB Ian Corbett has rushed for 660 yards on only 55 carries and has scored 13 TDs this season. ... Clarion junior QB Taylor Smith started for an injured Brendan Miller and went 4-for-10 for 74 yards against Keystone. Miller injured his knee late in the loss to Karns City.Notes: Moniteau coach Wade Vogan said McBride will play this week against the Bobcats. ... Tackling has been a problem for Moniteau, an area where Vogan said he and his staff have stressed this week.

Knoch (2-3, 2-2) at Hollidaysburg (3-2, 2-2)7 p.m., FridayLast Week: Knoch lost at Hampton, 33-10; Hollidaysburg lost at Gateway, 33-28.Numbers: Knoch QB Dan Farinelli has thrown for 617 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. ... Knoch workhorse RB Cody Milsom has 100 carries for 440 yards and six TDs. Ben Lowery is second among Knight running backs with 20 carries, amassing 98 yards. ... Knoch's Asa Adams has two TD receptions and two INTs on the year. ... Hollidaysburg QB Josh Bickley has thrown for 491 yards and four TDs, rushed for 359 yards and three scores. ... The Tigers' versatile running game includes Zach Kovach's 352 yards and three TDs, Zack Weaver's 222 and two scores. ... DE Michael Roberts has four QB sacks for Hollidaysburg.Notes: Knoch has defeated Hollidaysburg the past two years, 35-0 in 2012 and 22-17 last year. ... Homer DeLattre is in his second year as Tigers head coach and has already matched his win total from last season when Hollidaysburg finished 3-7.

Union (2-3) at Karns City (5-0)7 p.m., FridayLast Week: Union lost at Redbank Valley, 36-28; Karns City won at Moniteau, 48-6.Numbers: Union QB Lane Cicciarelli is second in the county with 757 yards passing. He's thrown nine TD passes. ... Golden Knights WR Chet Carmichael has 225 yards and four TDs receiving. He also has 638 all-purpose yards, including 225 on kick returns, 117 on punt returns. ... Karns City's QB duo of Caleb King and Cody Deal has combined for 778 yards passing, five TDs and no interceptions. ... Gremlins all-purpose back Tristan Rhoades has 350 yards and four TDs rushing, 185 yards and three TDs receiving. ... Deal leads KC defensively with 33 tackles while Reese Barger has four QB sacks and Evan Stitt three interceptions. ... Union DE Tyler Wiser has 63 tackles.Notes: Karns City has outscored its opponents 221-25 this season and has yet to allow more than one score in a game. ... Union's 28-18 win over KC in 2012 marked the Golden Knights' first win in the series in 16 years. ... KC's 53-20 win over Union last year marked the ninth time during that stretch the Gremlins have scored more than 50 points in the match-up.

A-C Valley (0-5) at Punxsutawney (3-2)7 p.m., FridayLast Week:A-C Valley dropped a 27-14 decision to Clarion-Limestone; Punxsutawney fell 69-26 to DuBois Area.Numbers: A-C Valley is averaging just 115 yards of offense per contest. ... Punxsutawney senior QB Dakota Thomas' favorite target is junior wide receiver Braxton Giavedoni, who has caught 19 passes for 482 yards and six TDs. No other player on the team has more than seven receptions. ... The Chucks are averaging 222 yards per game on the ground, led by senior Perry Arrington's 564 yards and five TDs.Notes: Punxsutawney won last year's meeting 26-23.

Sharon (3-2, 3-1) at Grove City (0-5, 0-4)7 p.m., FridayLast Week: Sharon routed Warren, 40-17; Grove City fell to Titusville, 39-34.Numbers: Sharon has won three straight games after dropping the last two games in 2013 and the first two in 2014. ... The Tigers rallied from down 7-6 at halftime to Warren to win easily. ... Tigers' RB Da'mon Rudolph rushed for 120 yards on nine carries and QB Andrew Tomko threw a pair of TD passes in the win over the Dragons. ... Grove City sophomore QB Kameron Patterson continues to impress since taking over the starting spot in Week 2. Patterson threw for 308 yards and five TDs in the loss and now has 719 yards passing in four games this season.Notes: Grove City will try to avoid its first losing season since 2003.

CWNC (5-0, 4-0) at Fort Cherry (2-3, 2-2)7:30 p.m., FridayLast Week: North Catholic beat Riverside, 50-16; Avonworth beat Fort Cherry, 42-13.Numbers: Nick Cook leads the Rangers in rushing, picking up 602 yards on 74 carries. ... Fort Cherry is tied for third place and would be in line to get the last playoff spot out of the Black Hills Conference. ... Sophomore Devin Brown leads Fort Cherry in passing with 220 yards. ... North Catholic opened up its passing game for the second straight week. Vashon Graham, who had 103 yards receiving, became the first Trojans to go over the century mark this season. ... North Catholic QB Adam Sharlow passed for 145 yards against Riverside, three short of his season high vs. Brentwood. ... P.J. Fulmore leads the Butler County area with 78 points scored, four ahead of teammate Jerome Turner.Notes: North Catholic has won 21 straight games.

Summit Academy (0-5) at Waynesburg Cen. (3-2)7 p.m., FridayLast week: Freedom beat Summit Academy, 34-14; Waynesburg Central beat Charleroi, 49-7.Numbers: Senior QB Colby Collins leads the Raiders with 247 yards passing. ... Waynesburg Central is in fifth place in the Interstate Conference, a half-game behind McGuffey and Southmoreland for the last playoffs spot. ... Senior RB Hunter Cenname leads the Raiders with 807 rushing yards. ... Summit Academy quarterback Javon Thomas passed for a season-high 160 yards last week against Freedom.Notes: The all-time series is tied at 1-1. Waynesburg Central won 14-7 last season, while Summit Academy won 8-7 in 2012.