Three wins, four losses.

Such a record doesn't look so menacing - until one looks closer, in Mt. Lebanon's case.

The Blue Devils (3-4, 2-3) come to Butler for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday with three of their four defeats coming to the best the WPIAL Class AAAA has to offer by the margin of a single score.

McKeesport defeated Mt. Lebanon 28-21, Upper St. Clair dropped the Blue Devils 21-14 and North Hills knocked them off, 12-7.

"All three of those games came down to the last possession and we had the ball in the red zone," Mt. Lebanon coach Chris Haering said. "We dropped a pass in the end zone in one game and the other team made nice defensive plays in the other games.

"Still, you can't say you're a good team until you finish off games like that. We're working to get to that point."

The strength of the Blue Devils entering this season was the offensive line. Two of their linemen - guard Joe Fornadel and center Bill Barringer - are out for the year with leg injuries.

The team still has 6-foot-1, 275-pound guard Nick Garlitz and 6-3, 265-pound guard Matt McCracken - both seniors - to anchor that line.

"Our line has shown improvement over the last couple of weeks," Haering said. "We thought it would be our strength and they've come together as a group."

Haering listed both players as standouts on his 44 defense at tackle as well. Chris Barr is a returning all-conference performer at defensive back as well.

"Butler is very big and they've been competitive," Haering said. "Talk about a team that's better than their record - it's them. They just haven't been able to make the big plays to win."

The Blue Devils feature a balanced attack anchored by quarterback Nick Till, running back Jimmy Mullen and receivers Mike Mathews and Derek Jancisin.

Till averages approximately 15 passes per game and has thrown for more than 800 yards. Mullen has rushed for more than 800.

Mathews, a returning starter from a year ago, leads the team with 20 receptions.

"Jimmy Mullen has done well for us," Haering said. "He's produced the big play when we've needed it.

"We have room to get better. We need to show more grit when it gets down to crunch time."

The Blue Devils also return place-kicker Brad Stombaugh, who connected on seven of eight field goal attempts and all of his PATs a year ago.

Stombaugh has missed only one PAT this season and has hit a few field goals, including a 35-yarder.

"He can kick them from 40 to 45 yards out," Haering said. "He's been very consistent."