This is one of those weeks with so much going on elsewhere that it would be easy to overlook the action on the high school gridiron.

You might be kicking yourself later in the season if you do, because there are a number of pivotal Week 6 contests scheduled.

Several teams will be knocked out of playoff contention, and at least one contender will suffer its first defeat. Coaches who like to have their teams on a roll heading into the post-season want them to start getting hot now, while clubs that struggled through the first half of the season have one last chance to make a run.

•Madison (2-3) at Jay (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

You probably won’t find two more contrasting styles on a Maine gridiron this week. QB Justin Wells gives the Tigers quick-strike capability. Wells will probably throw the ball more in one quarter than the Bulldogs do the whole game. That would be fine with Madison if it is able to control the clock with fullback Tony Fortin and tailback Woody Noyes and keep Jay’s offense off the field.

•Winthrop (3-2) at Old Orchard Beach (2-3), Friday, 7 p.m.

The Ramblers can solidify their hold on fourth place and a playoff spot with a win over OOB, which along with Boothbay and Madison is pursuing the last postseason bid.

The Seahawks bounced back from a loss to Jay and swamped Cape Elizabeth, 34-6, last week. The Ramblers, who were blown out by Jay last week, would like to keep the trend going.

•Brunswick (3-2) at Oxford Hills (3-2), Saturday, 1 p.m.

The winner gets a leg up in the Pine Tree Conference playoff race. After struggling early in the season, the Vikings’ defense has begun to hit its stride with 27 and 25 points during the last two wins in its three-game streak. Last week, they got two touchdowns on the ground from Jim Bower and two via the air from Dan Magoon. Brunswick’s defense hasn’t given up a point in the last two games.

•Mountain Valley (4-1) at Wells (5-0), Saturday, 7 p.m.

The marquee matchup in Western B pits the Campbell Conference’s most prolific offense against its stingiest defense. Led by fullback Kirk Jones, the Warriors are averaging 49.2 points per game, and haven’t been held under 40 yet this season.

The Falcons, led by Chris Lever, Travis Fergola and Brandon Bradely, have surrendered just 40 points for the whole season and just one touchdown in their last nine quarters.

•Another critical Pine Tree Conference game features 4-1 Gardiner trying to knock Windham from the unbeaten ranks.

The last two undefeated teams in Western A square off in Standish as 5-0 Bonny Eagle hosts 5-0 Noble. Both programs are having down years, but the old Little Ten Conference rivalry between Winslow and Belfast is always worth checking out.