As hard as it may be to believe, halftime of tonight's football games marks the mid-point of the season.

Time flies when you're having fun.

As midseason approaches, games take on added significance. For some teams wins are crucial for any hope of reaching the post-season. For others, games are important for establishing pecking order in respective conference races. Long gone, therefore, are meaningless games.

None is bigger on the local schedule than the Keystone Conference tilt that sends coach John Fortugna's Uniontown Red Raiders up Route 119 to Offutt Field in Greensburg, home of the Greensburg Salem Golden Lions. Uniontown (3-1, 2-0) and Greensburg Salem (3-1, 1-0) are undefeated in conference play, as is Laurel Highlands (2-2, 2-0).

The Mustangs take on two-time defending PIAA Class AAA champion Thomas Jefferson (4-0, 2-0) in an exhibition game that is far from meaningless. LH will end the evening still undefeated in conference games, but needs to establish itself as a strong Class AAA team. What better way than to at least give the defending champs a good, solid effort. Of course, a win wouldn't hurt. Elsewhere in the Keystone, Albert Gallatin (1-3, 0-2) hosts Yough (1-1, 1-3) and Southmoreland (0-1, 0-4) travels to Derry Area (0-2, 0-4). Elsewhere in Class AAA, Belle Vernon (2-2, 0-1) hosts West Mifflin (3-1, 1-1).

The Uniontown-Greensburg Salem game has evolved into an annual battle for first place, where neither team likes traveling to the other's field, according to Fortugna.

"First place is always on the line when we play them," Fortugna said. "The environment is tough up there and we know that going in. It's a tough place to play. They say the same thing about us, they know it's tough playing here, too. It's going to get us pumped up because this is the biggest game of the season, so far."

Fortugna knows the Golden Lions well enough to know this year's version is very similar to its predecessors.

"This kid, Matt Adams, is a good running back," he said. "They are a well-rounded, solid football team."

Which should lead to a very competitive, exciting high school football game the Red Raiders would love to win.

"That would be tremendous," Fortugna said. "We have weapons and so do they."

On offense, the Red Raiders are evolving, according to Fortugna. Arnold Walker is proving to be a stud at running back and A.J. Jacobs is helping Uniontown develop a nice 1-2 punch in the ground game.

"We're starting to come around," Fortugna said. "Defensively, we're solid. The kids are working hard and starting to see the light. We're improving on offense, we really are."

Which brings us to the interesting statistic of the week. Uniontown is the only Keystone Conference team that has scored more points (82) than it has allowed (66). Greensburg Salem has scored 65, but yielded 72. LH (90-92) is closest to the Red Raiders and AG (88-96) is respectable in that department. The Keystone is the only WPIAL conference, among 16, with only one team scoring more than it allows.

In Class AAAA, Connellsville (0-4, 0-2) plays host to Penn-Trafford (1-3, 1-1). The Falcons need to begin putting points on the board. Connellsville has scored only 13 this season and got the majority of them (7) last week.

Defense is the key for the area's two Class AA teams, as Brownsville (131) and Waynesburg Central (115) have passed the century mark in points allowed in the tough Interstate Conference. Both teams are at home tonight, with the Falcons (1-3) hosting Washington (2-2) and Greensburg Central Catholic (2-2) visiting Waynesburg Central (1-3).

In Class A, Frazier (2-2, 1-1) faces a crucial test at Chartiers-Houston (3-1, 1-1). The Buccaneers have scored only 18 points in two Black Hills Conference games, but have yielded only 21. So Frazier's potent offense will be tested by a stingy CH defense and the Commodores' defense will have to keep the Buccaneers' offense in check.

Two Tri-County South Conference heavyweights, Beth-Center (3-1, 2-0) and Monessen (2-2, 2-0) meet on the Greyhounds' field. Something has to give in this game, as both teams possess potent offenses and stingy defenses. The Bulldogs have scored 72 and allowed 19 against conference opponents, while the Greyhounds have scored 75 and given up 18.

The conference's other unbeaten team, California (3-1, 2-0) will be occupied by unveiling its new stadium for a game against Mapletown (0-4, 0-2). Coach Brady Barbaro's Trojans are outscoring conference opponents by a 92-21 margin and should be sufficiently ramped to finally play on its new field.

Other games in the Tri-County South show Geibel Catholic (1-3, 0-2) looking for its first conference win at West Greene (0-4, 0-2), while Greene County stalwarts Jefferson-Morgan (3-1, 1-1) and Carmichaels (1-3, 1-1) meet on the Mikes' field. These teams are interesting contrasts in that JM has been outscored by conference foes (60-63), while the Mikes have experienced the opposite (42-34).

Meanwhile, West Greene coach Charles Harris believes the game against the Gators is a good chance for the Pioneers to win their first of the season, despite the loss last week of starting quarterback Clay Mason. Freshman Matt Johnson will start this week.

"They have the same size we do and do similar things," Harris said. "This will be a good chance for us to get a win."