After being 1-3 and looking like a far cry from a playoff-caliber team, Shamokin moved within one win of an even record with a 42-0 victory over Loyalsock last week.
Tonight, the Indians can take that next step toward a second-straight playoff berth with a win over Milton to even their record at 3-3, but the Black Panthers aren't cats without claws.
Milton, which has started the season 0-5, is a deceptively winless team, thinks Shamokin head coach Dan Foor.
"I think you have to look at the fact that their first five opponents are all over .500," Foor said.
Milton has started the season with Lewisburg (3-2), Warrior Run (3-2), Mifflinburg (5-0), Bloomsburg (4-0) and Danville (4-1); that's not a lot of breathing room.
The second half of the season is not quite as loaded, which means the Black Panthers could be eyeing tonight as a new start for their season.
"There's no way they're packing it in," Foor insists. "Even at 0-5, they're in a position to win some games and make the playoffs. As much as we do, they need to win this game."
Milton runs a wing-T offense with a heavy dose of allowing quarterback Brady Chappell, a 6-foot, 175-pound sophomore with a year and a half's worth of starting experience already, to throw the ball.
"Chappell is throwing the ball extremely well," Foor said after reviewing the tape. "They have a couple nice wide receivers and the passing game is starting to complement a tough running game."
Shamokin's defense is playing so well though that any offense might have trouble moving the ball consistently.
As was expected early in the season, the defense is keeping the Indians in games, but scoring three times against Loyalsock was an unexpected bonus.
"Our defense is giving our offense some breathing room, but we need to find ways to get better on offense," Foor said.
"I think our defense has really stepped up and is starting to get a swagger."
Part of the Indians' plan is moving opening-game starting quarterback Sean McLaughlin, who lost his job to Tucker Yost, to other positions to get him touches.
"He's very deserving of playing time," Foor said. "On Friday, we had four sophomores score. Those kids are very important for what we want to do."
And what is that?
With a chance at leveling the record at 3-3 this week, the playoffs, of course.