SLIPPERY ROCK — Brendan Hathaway and his staff are accustomed to preparing for one team each week.

This week, the Rockets are preparing for as many as four.

Sharon (5-2, 4-1) comes to Slippery Rock for a 7 p.m. kickoff on a decided roll — and with a suitcase full of different defensive looks.

“Usually, we have a pretty good idea what a team is going to do,” Hathaway said. “But with Sharon, they have three or four different defensive fronts they can show you, so we're going to have to be prepared for anything.”

That means the Rockets may need to feel things out for awhile against the Tigers.

“We're going to have to grind it out for a little while to see what they are doing,” Hathaway said. “We can't give up the big play.”

The big play is something Sharon has been able to produce behind junior quarterback Andrew Tomko.

Last week in a 40-0 win over Northwestern, Tomko was 9 of 18 for 173 yards and two touchdowns.

“The quarterback can throw and they have athletes who can hurt you in space,” Hathaway said of the Tigers.

Slippery Rock (7-0, 5-0) has also gashed opponents on offense this season.

Rockets' senior quarterback Jake Whitmer had a breakout game in an impressive 34-0 win over General McLane with 252 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

“It's patience,” Hathaway said. “The weeks before, our fullbacks had 100 yards. General McLane took away our A-back and our B-back. That's the thing with the triple option — you have options.”

Despite these two team's potent offenses, the game may come down to which defense plays better.

Sharon's defense has been stingy, giving up just 10.6 points per game during the five-game winning streak.

Last week, the Tigers mauled Northwestern with six sacks, four interceptions and also blocked a punt.

Slippery Rock's defense has been just as impressive. The Rockets have surrendered just 11.3 points per game this season.

“I think it's a combination of good game-planning by Travis Sarver and our coaches and good, disciplined kids who are just good football players.

“It's not brain surgery,” Hathaway added. “If you have the horses, they are going to run.”

Knoch (3-4, 3-3) at Indiana (4-3, 3-3)7 p.m., FridayLast week: Knoch defeated Mars, 14-7; Indiana lost to Gateway, 29-28.Numbers: Indiana QB Jacob Zilinskas, son of head coach Mark Zilinskas, has thrown for 984 yards this season. ... RB Riley Stapleton leads the Little Indians' ground game with 507 yards and nine touchdowns. Dylan Stapleton has rushed for 321 yards and caught 11 passes for 146 yards, scoring seven TDs. ... Knoch's Cole Shinsky took over at quarterback last week and threw for 188 yards and a touchdown. ... Knights WR Addis Crouch is averaging a whopping 28.4 yards on nine receptions. ... Knoch RB Cody Milsom has 137 carries for 609 yards and seven TDs. The rest of the team has 108 carries. ... Asa Adams has 17 catches for 224 yards, also three interceptions for Knoch.Notes: Knoch has won eight of its 12 games against Indiana since the latter joined the Greater Allegheny Conference. Indiana snapped a four-game losing streak to the Knights with a 28-7 win last year. ... Knoch and Indiana are among five teams tied for third place in the league.

Karns City (7-0, 3-0) at Keystone (2-5, 1-3)7 p.m., FridayLast week: Karns City defeated Central Tech, 46-13; Keystone defeated Clarion-Limestone, 26-12.Numbers: Keystone QB Bryce Altman has completed 54 of 92 passes for 461 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions. Karns City's QB combination of Caleb King and Cody Deal have completed 61 of 105 passes for 966 yards, seven TDs and no interceptions. ... Jacob Weaver paces Keystone's ground game with 367 yards and 5 TDs. He has 22 catches for 246 yards as well. ... KC's Tristan Rhoades has scored 12 TDs on the year and leads the Gremlins with 395 yards rushing. ... RB Collin Dunmyre is averaging 13 yards on his 20 carries and has six TDs. ... Keystone LB Zach Stiglitz has 81 tackles. Weaver has 62 tackles and three interceptions as a defensive back. ... Deal leads the Gremlins with 46 tackles. Ryan Barger has 6.5 QB sacks, Evan Stitt three interceptions.Notes: Karns City is averaging just under 46 points per game. ... The Gremlins have allowed 36 points in the past two games after surrendering just 25 in the first five contests. ... Karns City has defeated Keystone each of the past 18 years since dropping a 28-23 decision in 1995.

Redbank Valley (6-0) at Moniteau (5-2)7 p.m., FridayLast week: Redbank Valley rolled past A-C Valley, 55-20, while Moniteau handled Brookville, 38-15.Numbers: It will be a battle of opposing offensive philosophies: the pass-centric Bulldogs against the run-first Warriors. ... Bulldogs' senior QB Jake Dougherty has completed 91-of-133 passes for 1,230 yards and 19 TDSs to only 3 INTs. ... Dougherty has spread the ball around to eight different targets, led by junior WR Nick Shoemaker with 19 receptions for 332 yards and 6 TDs. ... Seven RV players have at least 1 TD receiving. ... Meanwhile, Moniteau continues to churn out rushing yardage with their 1-2 punch of QB Cody Skiver and RB Josh McBride, who have combined for 1,805 yards and 21 TDs. ... McBride leads the Butler County area with 1,083 yards.Notes: Redbank Valley broke a five-game losing streak to Moniteau with a 29-26 win last season. The teams have split their last 10 meetings.

Grove City (0-7, 0-5) at Hickory (5-2, 3-2)7 p.m., FridayLast week: Grove City was edged by Farrell, 34-28; Hickory rolled past Wilmington, 41-0.Numbers: Hickory was playing without six starters, who were suspended for an off-the-field issue, but still rolled up 31 first-half points. ... Freshman Luke Brennan started at QB for the Hornets and went 7-of-11 passing for 37 yards. ... Grove City lost its third game this season when leading in the fourth quarter. ... Eagles' sophomore QB Kameron Patterson has thrown for 1,200 yards and 13 TDs this season. ... Grove City's running game has sputtered of late with just 13 yards against Farrell last week. On the season, the Eagles are averaging a mere 3.6 ypc.Notes: Hickory is expected to be back at full strength this week. ... Grove City has lost its last four meeting to Hickory, including a 35-13 setback in the District 10 playoffs in 2012.

Union (2-5) at Ridgway (6-0)7:30 p.m., FridayLast week: Clarion beat Union, 47-12; Ridgway beat Brockway, 28-14.Numbers: Ridgway is sitting atop the AML South with a 2-0 division record. ... The Elkers have out-scored their opponents 216-48. ... The Golden Knights are down to 15 healthy players. ... Union WR Cole Morris has 640 yards receiving, which is 104 yards short of the school record Shane Murphy set for yards in a season last year. ... Golden Knights QB Lane Cicciarelli leads the are with 1,379 yards passing.Notes: This is the first meeting between the schools since 1940. The Golden Knights beat the Elkers 27-7 in that meeting.

A-C Valley (0-7) at Brookville (1-6)7 p.m., FridayLast week: A-C Valley dropped a 55-20 decision to Redbank Valley; Brookville lost to Moniteau 38-15.Numbers: The Falcons are averaging just 40 yards passing per game. A-C Valley's 20 points last week is the most they have scored in a single game this season.Notes: Brookville's lone win this season was a 28-20 triumph over Union in Week 2. ... Brookville beat A-C Valley 43-19 last year.

Burrell (0-7, 0-6) at Freeport (3-4, 3-3)7:30 p.m., FridayLast week: Highlands beat Burrell ,55-7; Apollo-Ridge beat Freeport, 49-20.Numbers: The Buccaneers have only scored 60 points this season. ... Noah Hanna (210 yards) and Ryan Sowell (200) lead Burrell in rushing. ... Both Brandon Artman and Max Garda have seen time at QB for the Buccaneers. ... Freeport has dropped three straight after starting the season 3-1. ... Yellowjackets QB Andrew Romanchak has passed for 1,242 yards and thrown 10 touchdown passes. He also leads the team in rushing with 482 yards. ... Dylan Hochbein is second among receivers in the county with 583 receiving yards.Notes: Freeport beat Burrell 12-10 last season.

Mohawk (1-6, 1-5) at Summit Academy (0-7, 0-6)Last week: Summit Academy lost to Beaver Falls, 49-8; Ellwood City beat Mohawk, 46-36.Numbers: Kayne Yakubik leads the Warriors with 324 yards rushing and has scored two touchdowns. ... Mohawk has lost five straight games since beating Freedom 49-13 in Week 2. ... Summit Academy has lost eight straight dating back to last season. The Knights have four winless seasons in the program's history, but only one (2004) came under current coach Steve Sherer. ... Terrell Turner scored Summit Academy's lone touchdown in a loss to Beaver Falls last week.Notes: This is the sixth meeting between the two schools and the first since 2007. Both teams have won three games in the series.

CW North Catholic (7-0, 6-0) at Bishop Canevin (2-5, 1-4)7:30 p.m., SaturdayLast week: North Catholic beat Avonworth, 28-0; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart beat Bishop Canevin, 42-21.Numbers: The Crusaders have lost four straight since starting the season 2-1. ... Bishop Canevin senior QB Reed Relosky has passed for 1,045 yards and nine touchdowns. ... Junior wide receiver Sean Fitzgerald is Relosky's top target, having hauled in 22 passes for 302 yards and a touchdown. ... North Catholic shut out rival Avonworth last season. It was the second time the Trojans blanked an opponent this season. North Catholic beat Chartiers-Houston 49-0 in Week 2. ... P.J. Fulmore rushed for 206 yards in the Trojans' win last week. ... North Catholic linebacker Thadeus Benson intercepted a pass last week against the Antelopes.Notes: With a win over Bishop Canevin, North Catholic will clinch its third straight conference title.