Nobody needs to remind Norwin coach Dan Conwell about Butler quarterback Nick Monteleone.

Monteleone threw for 233 yards and four touchdowns, and rushed for 116 yards and another score as the Golden Tornado posted a 37-20 victory over the Knights to end the 2005 season.

"Best way to defend that kid?" Conwell said, repeating a question. "Hope he misses the bus. Oh, yeah, they're playing at home."

Butler (1-0) hosts Norwin (0-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Art Bernardi Stadium in a battle of two football programs trying to reverse losing trends.

The Golden Tornado haven't had a winning season since 1997 and haven't been to the WPIALplayoffs since 1998. Norwin hasn't had a winning season or been to the playoffs since 2000.

The Knights enter Friday's game having lost 18 of 21 under third-year coach Conwell, including last week's 21-17 setback to Seneca Valley. Norwin had the ball in Raiders territory twice in the final two minutes, only to turn it over on downs and throw an interception.

"That was frustrating the way it ended,"Conwell said. "Unfortunately for us, we didn't make the plays at the end of the game."

Norwin has a first-year starter at quarterback in J.T. Redshaw, who completed six passes for 72 yards last week. Running backs Dan Kozak (15 carries to 65 yards) and Tyler Urban (8-72) keyed a solid ground game against Seneca Valley.

Kozak, who rushed for more than 700 yards last year, kicked a 45-yard field goal last week and can catch the ball out of the backfield.

"Danny is a true leader on this team,"Conwell said. "He does a lot of things for us. He averaged 41 yards per punt last week, too."

Conwell is hoping his team doesn't have to punt the ball much Friday. He's counting on a ball-control offense to chew up the clock and to limit Butler's offensive possessions.

"My first goal is to establish the running game. That's been my philosophy forever,"the coach said. "We challenge our offense every week to stay on the field."

Norwin returns five veteran defensive starters, most notably 260-pound defensive end James Dryburgh and cornerback Chris Keba.

The Knights are young at linebacker, with returning outside linebacker Mike Salopek moving to an inside position.

"How we try defending Monteleone will be dictated by the flow of the game,"Conwell said. "We'll have our hands full with him regardless.

"He puts the ball on target to his receivers, and when he can't find someone to throw to, he hurts you with his feet. Those receivers catch everything thrown their way, too. That's a concern for us."

Something Norwin didn't see in Butler last year was a stellar defense and a running game that didn't feature Monteleone.

Butler showed both last week.

"Their defense was all over the field against Kiski. That jumps out at you on film,"Conwell said. "I'm not surprised they ran so well last week.

"Butler's hard-nosed up front and that quarterback knows how to loosen up a defense."

Conwell said his team is physically healthy for Friday's game.

"We know we need a positive start Friday," he said. "If we can just hang in there and have a chance to win in the fourth quarter — that's all we can ask."