Once he knew his team was closing its season against Butler, Norwin coach Dan Conwell began doing his homework.

"I've known (Butler coach) Garry Cathell for quite some time now and he's a guy you have to prepare for," Conwell said. "Butler began the year as a pro-I team.

"They've obviously gone in a different direction."

While the Golden Tornado (3-6) have become a passing team in recent weeks, the Knights (1-8) have been a passing team all season.

T.J. Salopek threw for more than 900 yards as a sophomore at Norwin in 2003 and had more than 300 yards passing through three games last year before a broken collarbone ended his season.

Salopek has come back to throw for 1,800 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2005.

"He's had an outstanding year," Conwell said. "He's been getting a lot of letters from colleges. There's been a couple of Division I schools calling, but he's probably more of a Division I-AA or Division II quarterback."

Salopek's top receivers are Mike Shanahan, who has 30 catches for nearly 500 yards, and Chris Keba, who has 22 catches for nearly 300 yards.

Junior Dan Kozak leads Norwin's ground attack with 500 yards.

"That's a team that can move the football and put up some points," Cathell said.

Conwell, 3-16 in two years at Norwin, said his team's goal this year was to make the WPIAL playoffs.

"Critical turnovers have killed us," he said. "We play pretty good football for two or three quarters, then there's always a big turnover that breaks our back."

The Knights' lone win this season is a 24-23 decision over Hempfield in Week 3, one week after Butler handed the Spartans a 28-7 loss at Heinz Field.

Butler quarterback Nick Monteleone is coming off a game in which he threw for 189 yards — his ninth consecutive 100-yard passing effort — and rushed for 242. He threw two touchdown passes and ran for four scores in a 47-29 win over Seneca Valley.

"That was the best individual performance I've ever seen by a high school football player," Cathell said.

Monteleone has thrown for 1,560 yards this season. He also is Butler's leading rusher with 331 yards. Ben Ashcraft has 260 yards rushing and Bobby Alexander, who won't suit up Friday for disciplinary reasons, has 254.

Jordan Roycroft has 42 catches for 544 yards, while Andy Strutt has 39 for 521. One of the Tornado's problems before last week was getting the ball in the end zone.

Injuries have plagued the Tornado this season, and Friday's finale will be no different. Two-way starting lineman Tyler Kristophel will miss the game with a broken thumb that also has tendon damage.

Senior tri-captain linebackers Phil Scialabba and Noah Hartung had season-ending knee surgeries in recent weeks.

"You feel so badly for those kids," Cathell said. "Noah is such a competitor and he was never at 100 percent physically all year.

"Phil was on the field for 13 plays this season. Our only healthy captain was (punter) Andy Goettler."

Butler started 10 juniors on offense and nine on defense. Norwin loses only three starters on both sides of the ball.

"I'm sure Butler is in the same boat we are that way," Conwell said. "We both have a lot to look forward to next year."

Eric Petanovich's 9½ quarterback sacks and Alex Tatangelo's 75 total tackles lead the Butler defense.

Cory Haley has three interceptions and Ian Haley has 23 tackles in just three games.

"We have to find a way to build a defense around those kids," Cathell said. "If we can limit the opposition to two scores each week, we can win a lot of football games next year."