The Seneca Valley football team is one win away from its first 3-1 start since 1996.

And the Raiders next contest is against an 0-3 Baldwin squad.

But SV coach Ron Butschle knows that games aren't decided by previous wins and losses.

"They're 0-3 against Woodland Hills, Gateway and Shaler — three pretty good football teams," said Butschle.

The Highlanders will be playing for their first win of the season with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday at NexTier Stadium.

"We returned one full-time starter from last year's team," said fourth year Baldwin coach Mike Silianoff. "We have a lot of youth. From that respect, I'm pleased with the fact that our kids are giving everything they have."

Silianoff is hoping the losses will prove to be a valuable learning experience for his young team, which has been outscored 99-17 in three games. The latest defeat was a 40-3 setback against Gateway.

The Highlanders' quarterback is junior Jeff Joyce, who is in his first year as a starter.

"He is mobile," said Silianoff. "But he's more of a dropback passer and has been since he was coming up through the middle school program."

"Their quarterback is the key to their offense," said Butschle. "We'll have to contain him to be successful on defense."

Baldwin's one returning starter from 2005 — senior linebacker and tailback Shane Petrelli — is out after breaking his arm against Woodland Hills.

To fill the void on offense, Silianoff is looking at two senior running backs in Nadeem Farah and Dan Joyce.

"Right now we're rotating those two at tailback," Silianoff said. "We're searching for a back who can carry the load for us. Seneca Valley already has that."

Indeed, the Raiders' James Daniels has accounted for 95 percent (106 of 112) of the team's rushing attempts by a running back so far this season.

He's proven durable so far. After carrying the ball 41 times in last week's 26-14 victory over Kiski Area, Daniels said bluntly, "I felt fine."

Baldwin will bring a big defensive line into the game, a fact Butschle is well aware of.

"It will be a challenge for us to keep running the ball," he said. "I'm sure teams are going to start keying on Daniels."

As impressive as Daniels and the offensive line have been, the passing game has also been key to SV's 2-1 start.

Quarterback Ted Pynos has completed 22 of 43 passes for 392 yards.

Most impressively, the first-year starter has connected with seven different receivers after just three games.

Still, Butschle is looking for improvement as the Quad North schedule nears.

"Our passing game needs to improve with its consistency," he said. "That means making good reads and running precise routes."

The receiving corps will receive a boost Friday with the return of senior wideout Chris Lewis, who tallied one catch before leaving the season opener against Norwin with a separated shoulder.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Raiders are improved in creating turnovers.

Last season, SV forced seven turnovers the entire season, including no interceptions.

Three games into the 2006 campaign, the Raiders have forced five turnovers — three fumbles and two interceptions.

Seneca Valley has been able to turn three of the turnovers into 16 points while another one — Sean Gress' interception late in the fourth quarter against Norwin — sealed a season-opening victory.

"We've been working on turnover drills in practice," said Butschle. "I'm pleased with our performance so far. It's no accident. My experience has been, if you focus on it, it will end up showing on the field."