Big plays have been the theme for the Seneca Valley football team's offense so far in 2015.

The Raiders will get a chance to fine tune their potent onslaught in a non-conference clash at Norwin Friday night.

In the team's two games — a 34-24 loss at North Allegheny and a 42-14 home victory over Fox Chapel last Friday — the Raiders have totaled 16 plays of at least 15 yards. In the win over the Foxes, Jack Cook and Corbin Kessler managed scoring runs of 64 and 20 yards, respectively. Cook added a 25-yard touchdown pass to Ben Bachik.

SV's nine touchdowns this season have come from an average of nearly 21 yards.

For Seneca coach Dave Vestal, the offense's success begins up front with center Zach Wilson, guards Spencer Gross and Shane Staddfeld and tackles Eric Hudanick and Evan Schillero.

“That's the group that has started the first two games,” said Vestal. “Communication is important and we want to get chemistry with those guys. There's always room for improvement and we're striving to get better in practice, but I'm pleased with how they've played so far.”

One of the beneficiaries of the solid line play is senior flanker Mark Smith, who is averaging nearly nine yards every time he touches the ball (five receptions for 68 yards, six rushes for 30 yards).

“On kick coverage against Fox Chapel, we saw a guy beating everybody else down the field and it was Mark,” Vestal said. “He's a track kid and can fly. Whether we get a quick pass to him or get the ball to him on a jet sweep, he can make one guy miss and go all the way.”

“Seneca Valley is going to be very tough for us to defend,” said second-year Norwin coach Dave Brozeski. “They have a nice set of skill players.”

Defensively for Seneca, end Gabe Miller (6-foot, 215 pounds) has played beyond his status as a sophomore. Early in the first quarter last week, he sacked Foxes' quarterback Brendan Whelan on third down, then got a piece of the ensuing punt to set the Raiders up at Fox Chapel's 20-yard line. From there, Kessler scored on a touchdown run two plays later.

“Gabe was a linebacker, but we wanted to get the best 11 guys on the field, so we're getting him to put his hand in the dirt at defensive end,” said Vestal.

The Raiders' defense will have its hands full against a Norwin ground game that features Peyton Deri, who rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-0 blanking of Latrobe in Week 1.

In a 14-7 win over Seneca last year, Deri was Norwin's leading rusher with 81 yards on 20 carries.

“Peyton is a power guy (203 pounds), but he has some speed and can make some cuts,” said Brozeski. “We have a lot of experience returning on our line, with four starters back.”

In last week's 35-34 Foothills Conference loss to Hempfield, Knights' quarterback Nick Amendola passed for 102 yards and three touchdowns. It was a tough setback for the Knights as Hempfield scored a touchdown and the decisive two-point conversion with just 10 seconds left in the game.

“We had too many mistakes mentally, especially on the defensive side of the ball,” said Brozeski.

“We need to control the pass,” said Vestal, “but stopping the run will be huge for us this week.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.