Jim Rankin's final years as North Allegheny football coach aren't exactly going as planned.

Rankin enjoyed 17 consecutive winning seasons with the Tigers before last year's team finished 3-7. Now, the 2004 team takes a 1-4, 0-3 record into Friday's 7:30 p.m. game against Butler at Newman Stadium.

"Nobody knows what the future brings, but I'm fairly certain this is my last year here," Rankin said. "The numbers (of years coached) are right. It's time to get out.

"At any level of football, you just can't stay in one place for too long. Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden have done it in college. In high school, you have guys like Art Bernardi, Lindy Lauro, Jim Render, Jack McCurry, George Novak - Neil (Gordon) and I started the same year. There aren't too many others.

"I may wind up coaching somewhere else down the road. Who knows?" he added.

Rankin might be giving up on his Tiger coaching career, but he's not giving up on his Tigers.

Quad North losses to Mt. Lebanon (14-13), Bethel Park (35-21) and Upper St. Clair (37-0) have made Friday's game with Butler a critical one.

"In terms of playoffs, this game is huge for both of us," Rankin said.

Part of NA's problem has been the absence of key personnel. Linebacker-running back Andrew McMillen - a 1,000-yard rusher last year - separated a shoulder in the Tigers' first scrimmage and has played only two quarters all year.

Senior nose guard Wade Wolowiec, the team's best lineman, had knee surgery recently. Free safety Steve Guzzetti and center-linebacker R.J. Parks have also been out with injuries.

"We've had other guys out," Rankin said. "There's been so many I've lost track of who's here and who's not.

"Since the (season-opening) Penn Hills game, I've had three starting linebackers, my nose guard, free safety and a cornerback hurt. We've been starting eight players who would normally be with the junior varsity, including three sophomores."

Still, North Allegheny's record is a bit deceiving. The Tigers trailed Upper St. Clair by three points at halftime and were stopped short on fourth and less than a yard against Mt. Lebanon.

"If we get that yard, we win that game," Rankin said.

Craig Howarth has rushed for nearly 400 yards and has caught seven passes. Quarterback Andrew Krewatch has completed 70 percent of his passes for more than 500 yards.

Receivers Bill Knight and Brett Fields have more than 20 catches for more than 300 yards between them.

"The kids are listening to everything we're telling them," Rankin said. "We just have to get our leaders on the field with them.

"Guys like Parks and Guzzetti, we hope to get them back. They can lead. Our younger kids can't because they haven't done it," he added.

In facing Butler, Rankin described this Friday's game as "a version of Jurassic Park and we're the humans.

"It's David vs. Goliath. Nobody has an answer for Nate Hartung, but he has a couple of guys on that line with him we can't match up with, either," he said.

Rankin said his team might be catching the Golden Tornado at the wrong time.

"They just scored 31 points on North Hills," he said. "We had better respect that."

While the winner of Friday's game will take a step toward the WPIAL playoffs, Rankin still doesn't favor 16 Quad-A schools getting in.

"I know the WPIAL is doing the best it can in a tough situation, but four teams from each section are enough," he said. "This system we have, I'm turned off with it. Kids should earn their way in by their merits."