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BURLINGTON, Iowa – With 32 schools invited to the postseason in each class and six weeks remaining in the regular season, Muscatine’s football program still has a lot at stake this fall.

But for a team that’s 0-3, the margin for error has dwindled considerably.

“If we want to change our season around, it’s got to be this game right now,” junior cornerback Chad Vander Linden said about Friday night’s clash against winless Burlington at Bracewell Stadium. “We’ve got to turn things around. We can still come away with a winning season.”

And a winning season would most likely be enough to get the Muskies into the postseason. In the first season of an expanded playoff format last year, Muscatine qualified with a 4-5 record.

Burlington, coming off a 7-3 season, has similar ideas.

“Both of us have played tough schedules early, so if we can string together some wins and get some positive momentum, we can make a push in the second half,” Burlington coach John Flaherty said.

In fact, Muscatine’s first three opponents – Davenport Central, Bettendorf and Assumption – all have winning records. However, three of the Muskies’ next four opponents are winless.

“We just need to play well,” Muscatine coach Tony Napierala said. “It’s not about winning or losing right now. It is feeling good about the way we’re playing and the effort we’re putting forth. The winning will take care of itself if that happens.”

First, Napierala said Muscatine needs to limit turnovers. The Muskies have committed seven turnovers in their last five quarters of play. As a result, his team has been outscored 50-6 in that stretch.

“It seems we get better each week in a certain area, but it’s almost like we forget the other stuff we worked on the week before,” receiver and defensive back Jared Hetzler said. “We need to throw everything together and play our game.”

Hetzler, a 6-foot-4 target, returns to the Muscatine lineup after missing the last two games with a deep bone bruise in his hip.

“I can barely feel it anymore,” he said. “This week, I’ve just been super fired up to play. I’ve got so much enthusiasm.”

Burlington, meanwhile, has encountered its share of adversity. Besides playing Assumption (38-15), Central (35-28 in overtime) and Clinton (41-7) the first three weeks, the Grayhounds have been decimated by injuries and suspensions.

Six varsity players are out until the sixth week because of academics, while the offensive and defensive lines have been a revolving door because of injuries.

“We haven’t had the same lineup for any game,” Flaherty said, “especially up front offensively.

“At times, we’ve played really well, but other times we’ve had those breakdowns that allow other teams to capitalize.”

Flaherty expects to get several players back Friday, including senior receiver and linebacker Sean Walding, offensive lineman Tim Graham and linebacker Oliver Williamson.

Unlike Muscatine’s first three opponents, Burlington isn’t as big up front. However, the Grayhounds have a plethora of speed.

“We have to take good pursuit angles on defense and prevent big plays and not let these guys get outside,” Napierala said.

Vander Linden said Muscatine, last in the Mississippi Athletic Conference in defense, has tweaked its system this week.

“We’ve changed a couple things up this week, in terms of different play calls,” he said. “We’ve switched a couple guys around to different spots, so we feel we’re pretty strong in every spot.”

And with homecoming looming next week, a win could do wonders for Muscatine’s confidence.

“It would really boost the team spirit,” Vander Linden said. “Everybody would be a little more motivated going forward.”

Muscatine (0-3)

at Burlington (0-3)

- When: Sophomores at 4:45 p.m. Friday; varsity to follow at 7:30 p.m.

- Where: Burlington (Bracewell Stadium)

- Last week: Muscatine committed five turnovers and was shutout for the first time in four seasons, 31-0, to Davenport Assumption. Burlington stumbled at Clinton, 41-7.

- Coaches: Muscatine, Tony Napierala (2nd year, 4-9); Burlington, John Flaherty (4th year, 16-24)

- Last meeting:  The Grayhounds snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Muskies last September with a 24-7 win in Muscatine. Burlington held Muscatine to negative-4 yards rushing.

- Stat leaders: Muscatine (Rushing – Tanner Bohling 37-149; Passing – Paul Jindrich 48-103-8, 566 yards, 3 TDs; Receiving – Bohling 15-195, TJ Husar 12-99, Jeff Failor 8-130, 3 TDs; Defense – Mat Snider 30 tackles, Isaac Ales 21 tackles). Burlington (Rushing – Josh Osborn 19-112; Passing – Cole Hart 21-45-5, 317 yards, 3 TDs; Receiving – Tadd Glasgow 9-98, Osborn 5-130).

- Key facts: Besides both squads being winless, the two rank next-to-last and last in total defense in the MAC. Burlington is allowing 370 yards per game and Muscatine is yielding 373. … Dating back to last season, MHS has dropped its last five games by a 155-46 margin. … Napierala said offensive lineman Ian Naber and tailback Donovan Barber were “dinged” during practice Wednesday. He was uncertain what their availability would be for Friday’s game. … MHS returns home next Friday for homecoming against 0-3 Davenport North.