North Hills hasn't lost. Butler hasn't won.

Neither statement means a thing to veteran Indians coach Jack McCurry. All he has to do is remember the year 2000.

With McCurry hospitalized that night with kidney stones, his team suffered a 28-20 upset loss at Butler.

"Anything can happen in high school football," McCurry said. "I've been around long enough to know that.

"I consider Butler a very dangerous team. They have talent in a lot of places and they just haven't put a game together yet. You hate playing somebody like that because you never know when that's going to happen."

North Hills has put plenty of good games together, however. After surprising McKesport 28-21 to open the season, the Indians have rolled to wins of 34-0 over Bethlehem Catholic, 27-7 over Shaler and 42-0 over Seneca Valley.

Those wins have come despite personal adversity in McCurry's life. He underwent quadruple bypass surgery in June and his father died earlier this season.

"I've had to take things slow," McCurry said. "I still don't have all of my energy back, but I know it's coming back. I've had to be patient.

"If the doctors would have advised me against coaching anymore, I'd have listened. But they've encouraged me to do what I enjoy doing and I definitely enjoy coaching."

And he enjoys watching junior Ryan Lehmeier play quarterback. Lehmeier threw for just under 1,000 yards last season and rushed for 300.

He is on pace to dwarf those numbers this year, having already thrown for 153 yards against McKeesport and 145 against Bethlehem Catholic.

Lehmeier has already eclipsed the 300-yard rushing mark.

"Ryan ignites our offense and makes plays," McCurry said. "He throws the ball well, he's a good runner and he makes plays when we need them.

"He was outstanding as a sophomore and he's even better as a junior. He's much better at reading the defense and checking off to the appropriate play."

Lehmeier has thrown touchdown passes to Cody Klink, Matt Zangaro and P.J. Castellano already this year. And running back Connor Corcoran has been a consistent 100-yard back.

McCurry said Zangaro is his team's all-purpose weapon offensively.

"We've lined him up at split end, flanker, in the backfield, all over the place," McCurry said.

Defensively, McCurry said he relies on two returning starters at linebacker - Mike Neugebauer and Jordan LeViere - to take control of play.

"They're our leading tacklers and we hope to keep it that way," the coach said. "Our lines aren't very big and we'll definitely be under-sized against Butler.

"We have some intelligence up front, some quickness and we've been executing blocking schemes well. We just don't have the brute strength to knock people backwards."

McCurry refuses to look at Butler's won-loss record or the fact his team has outscored the Golden Tornado 82-2 over their most recent three meetings.

"They've got the big line, a skilled tailback in (Bob) Alexander and a huge tight end (Josh Wachter) who can catch the football," McCurry said. "They're capable of beating anyone in the league.

"That's the way this league is. I think Upper St. Clair may be the favorite with us, Bethel Park and Mount Lebanon in the next tier, but we're all big schools. Anybody can beat anybody."

North Hills at Butler

---

7:30 p.m., Friday

Statistic:

North Hills quarterback Ryan Lehmeier has more than 700 combined yards rushing and passing this season.

Streak:

Jack McCurry is in his 27th season as North Hills coach.

Strategy:

The Indians rely on Lehmeier making good reads at quarterback and veteran linebackers Mike Neugebauer and Jordan Leviere making plays defensively.

Speaking:

"Coaching football is something I love to do. When the doctor encouraged me to keep doing the things I enjoy in life after my (quadruple bypass) surgery, there was no doubt I was coming back."