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PG North: The play's the thing for North Allegheny, Seneca Valley

PG North: The play's the thing for North Allegheny, Seneca Valley

Both teams need it, but only one will get it.

North Allegheny's trip to Seneca Valley for tomorrow's Northern Five Conference opener pits two teams that have raced out to much different starts.

Few teams are more determined to accomplish victory than Seneca Valley, which knows all too well about conference futility. The Raiders haven't won a conference contest since 2002, going 0-20 over the past three seasons.

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Optimism is prevalent, however, considering the fact their next victory this season would match their overall win total from the past three years combined.

The Raiders ended non-conference play with a 3-1 mark.

"Our start so far is good," said Seneca Valley coach Ron Butschle, "but everybody on the team knows the next five weeks are really what counts.

"Whether it's the first game or the last game in the section, we know that in order for us to make the playoffs we have to win some section games.

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"And that's something that we haven't done over the past couple of years here."

North Allegheny comes in on a down note.

The Tigers (2-2) began the season as the Post-Gazette's No. 5 team in Class AAAA and handily won their first two games, but have dropped two in a row since -- albeit to No. 2 Woodland Hills and No. 1 Upper St. Clair.

Between the back-to-back losses and knowing they began section play 0-3 last season, the Tigers also feel the urgency to get back into the victory column.

"It's a big game," North Allegheny coach Art Walker said. "It's important for us to rebound from the last two losses that we had and do our best to get a win."

The Tigers will be facing a Seneca Valley offense that is balanced, but has really stood out running the football. Junior running back James Daniels is the leading rusher in Class AAAA, with 503 yards.

He has also scored nine touchdowns. Daniels has done that damage behind a veteran offensive line that includes West Virginia recruit Donnie Barclay.

"They're very big up front," Walker said. "They have great size. The back is running hard. He's carrying the ball a lot each game and getting results.

"The No. 1 thing will be for us to do our best to contain their running game."

North Allegheny will be without the services of senior quarterback Adam Neugebauer, who sustained a broken collarbone against Woodland Hills. With Neugebauer, the Tigers scored 84 points in two wins, but without him they have been limited to just six points.

Junior Geoff Greco has stepped in to assume the quarterback role. Although Greco began the season as a wide receiver, he has played extensively at quarterback throughout his career.

"A lot of people think we're taking a receiver and making him a quarterback," said Walker.

"That's not the case. We took a quarterback and made him a receiver because he was a good athlete. He's always been our backup. We've got to rally around him and everybody else has to increase their level of play a little bit."

Butschle said the change in quarterbacks won't change much about the way they prepare for the North Allegheny offense.

"I look at [Greco] at quarterback as being another weapon that they have," he said. "We're going to attack them the same way we would have attacked them if [Neugebauer] was at quarterback."

North Allegheny won't overlook Seneca Valley just because the Raiders have a poor record.

"I hope they overlook us, but I doubt it," he said. "They're well-coached and this is a big game for them.

We're going into this week prepared for a battle. I'm sure their players and their coaches are doing the same thing."The game

What: North Allegheny (2-2) at Seneca Valley (3-1).

When: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Where: Nextel Stadium at Seneca Valley High School, Harmony.

The skinny: Finally, schools in the Class AAAA Northern Five play a conference game, which is why this is a big one. Seneca Valley plays North Hills next week, while North Allegheny will entertain Erie McDowell.

First Published: September 28, 2006, 4:00 a.m.

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