When the Emmaus football team visits Zephyr Stadium this Friday, they'll be playing for their playoff lives.

The Green Hornets currently sit at 3-3 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference (5-3, overall) and are fighting with Pleasant Valley and Liberty High Schools for the final spot. Six teams from District XI will make the 2/4/11 sub regional playoffs, and the battle for the remaining spot will intensify over the next two weeks.

A win over the Zephyrs will greatly enhance their chances for a playoff berth. They currently reside between the Bears and 'Canes with 550 points. (The Bears have 580 points, while the Hurricanes have 480). Liberty can pad that total with a final win over Freedom who currently sits in the third spot with 900 points. Pleasant Valley will have to face undefeated and second-ranked Stroudsburg High School in their final game, a tall order for the Bears, but one that offers the promise of big points.

As for Emmaus, this week will determine their future. That's because their final game is against Parkland, another team who will most likely qualify for the tourney. The Green Hornets are the only team among the three who has to face two teams with winning records.

Still, they can present a problem for the Zephs. They have the reigning defensive player of the year prowling the scrimmage line, an honor he shared with Ryan Bonshak last year. While Andy Davidson earned that award on defense as a linebacker, he can make his presence felt on offense as well. The fullback racked up 318 yards against Allentown Central Catholic in a recent game. They may also see the return of running back Kyle Boney who left the Vikings game with an injury. However, talented back Wyl Miller was dismissed from the team, leaving them a little thin at the running back position.

Head coach Brian Gilbert expects the Green Hornets to come into Zephyr Stadium fired up and ready to unseat them from the playoffs.

"They want to come in here and ruin senior night for us," said Gilbert.

Gilbert said they have to make sure they win the next two games to lock up a playoff spot. That means they'll have to stop the Hornets power running attack. Gilbert said they often line up with two tight ends, along with two fullbacks and try to dominate at the point of attack.

"They just want to pound the ball," he said.

Gilbert said that Davidson is a bruising runner, much like Jacob Buskirk.

"He's a big, strong kid who can get those tough yards," said Gilbert. "We're going to get a heavy dose of him up and down the field."

The Green Hornets rely on their running attack. They don't put the ball in the air too often, but Gilbert wants to force their hand in that area.

"We're going to have to stop the run first, and try to make them pass," Gilbert said.

That's when their linebackers, corners and safeties can have an impact. The Zephs have 11 interceptions this year. Eight different players have contributed to that total with Saquon Barkley leading the way with three.

As for the Zephs, they'll continue to spread the ball around. To date they've scored 351 points, and are only 106 points away from eclipsing their record-setting mark of 457 established in 2011. Quarterback Gianni Sinatore has thrown 13 touchdowns to seven different receivers. They've also gained 2,016 yards on the ground with Barkley accounting for 1,410 of those yards.

Barkley has a chance to surpass Nick Kurtz's single-season rushing mark of 1,662 set in 1999. The standout senior needs only 252 more yards. The Zephs will most likely have three more games this season, and it's possible that the record falls Halloween night.

Gilbert said that while Barkley's been adding his name to the record book the last two seasons, his focus is on being a complete football player and a good teammate. He said that once his career is over, he'll have time to reflect.

"It's nice for a back like that to look back and see what records he holds," said Gilbert.

But the Hornets will be determined to stop him. Along with Davidson, the Hornets possess a solid line backing crew, said Gilbert. They've only allowed 187 points as a defensive unit through eight games.

"I expect a really good football game," said Gilbert.

Sinatore knows that the foundation to beating the Hornets was laid last week against the Blue Eagles.

"We just have to play with the same intensity we had tonight [against Nazareth]," said Sinatore.