In this shortened season, Northampton’s football team realizes their postseason hopes are on the line this week.

The Konkrete Kids return home to Al Erdosy Field Friday night to host Liberty. Both teams are winless (0-2) and they both desperately need a win, notably to stay in the hunt for a district playoff berth.

For the Kids, they have had their share of missed opportunities. The Kids might have taken control with another score before halftime when they led 10-7 in their recent 27-17 loss to Nazareth.

“We had the ball on their 40 (yard line) and we couldn’t put it in,” said Northampton head coach Kyle Haas. “If we do there, it could have been 17-7 at the half. We didn’t take advantage of it.”

Haas sees another opportunity ahead with Liberty.

“They have two running backs who are both very athletic,” said Haas. “They have some receivers and they’re big.

“They have some injuries in their secondary, and we need to take advantage of that.”

The second-year coach sees his team forming an identity on offense. Northampton rushed for 229 yards led by Michael Cruz’s 112-yard effort.

“We are close to becoming a good running offense,” said Haas. “Sometimes, Nazareth had nine men in the box, and we were still getting six or seven yards a carry. It’s something we have to build on.”

Haas expects a tight game against Liberty Friday, and one that could be decided by one or two mistakes.

“We felt Nazareth was a winnable game,” reflected Haas. “I didn’t feel we were overmatched against Freedom.

“They (Liberty) will believe this is a winnable game for them. it will come down to who plays the better defense and makes the less mistakes. Our kids have to realize the same thing, and it will be good for them to be home. There are four pretty good teams in this league (Freedom, Parkland, Nazareth, and Emmaus) and the rest of them are the same.

“It will be a good game against Liberty. We can prove to ourselves that we can do this.”

PREDICTION: The Kids should understand that they have shot themselves in the foot along the way. They are both home for the first of two winnable games, the second against an inconsistent Easton team. The Kids should be able to run the ball, and quarterback Joe Kerbacher needs to toss the ball around more. However, the key will be their defense, which still has questions. Kids can still sneak into districts playoffs and will play with desperation. K-KIDS, 27-20.