JACKSON TWP — So far, so good for the Seneca Valley football team.

After a 3-1 start to the season, the Raiders have given themselves and their fans more hope in 2006 than the program was able to muster in the last three seasons combined.

But as good as the team has looked, most recently in a 22-6 home win over Baldwin last Friday, the Raiders still must prove themselves in the Quad North. For it is there that SV will either make the playoffs or miss them for the fourth consecutive year.

"The next five weeks will determine our season," said Raiders coach Ron Butschle after last week's victory. "And we understand that. Still, it feels pretty good being 3-1 after four games."

The Raiders' quest for postseason play begins at home at 7:30 p.m. Friday against rival North Allegheny (2-2).

Struggling teams often talk about searching for an identity.

That used to be a problem with the Raiders.

It's not anymore.

Tailback James Daniels has rushed for 584 yards and eight touchdowns in just four games.

NA plays a 4-4 defense and its defensive line averages 225 pounds per player.

Seneca Valley's offensive line averages 245 pounds, including tight end Shawn Eagle.

"You know who they want to get the ball to on offense," NA coach Art Walker Jr. said of Daniels. "Their offensive line is doing a great job of controlling the clock and they're putting themselves in good position during games."

Another thing the Raiders have done extremely well is scoring in the red zone.

Take away two instances in which SV was simply trying to run out the clock in wins over Kiski Area and Baldwin, and the Raiders have scored on 12 of 13 red-zone opportunities (10 touchdowns and two field goals).

"That's something we've practiced for the last few years," said Butschle. "But it takes some time for the kids to realize the urgency of scoring when they have those opportunities. Hopefully, we can eliminate all mistakes in that area of the field."

SV junior punter Ryan Scheller has handled all extra point and field goal attempts this season, while Ryan Zipf has kicked off. But the Raiders are on the verge of making a change there.

"We're looking to get Zipf a few opportunities with kicking field goals," said Butschle. "He's got a bit stronger leg, but (Scheller) will still kick extra points and punt. He's been punting the heck out of the ball."

The Tigers won their first two games of the season by a combined score of 84-7 over Bethel Park and Latrobe.

But the team has dropped two straight, to Woodland Hills (21-0) and last week to Upper St. Clair (16-7).

"This time last year, we had one win and we were still trying to figure a lot of things out," said Walker, who is in his second year with the Tigers. "We are ahead in that process now."

Unlike the Raiders' offense, the Tigers (2-2) have a few question marks.

Veteran quarterback Adam Neugebauer, who passed for more than 1,500 yards and 13 scores as a junior last season, suffered a broken collarbone in the Woodland Hills game.

In his place is junior Geoff Greco, who was making plays at wide receiver before Neugebauer's injury.

One of Greco's strengths as a wideout was his ability to turn short completions into long gains.

"They've got a different guy at quarterback, but it gives them another weapon in the running game," said Butschle. "It makes us prepare for another guy."

Another possible scratch from the Tigers' lineup is senior running back Tim Lotz, who sustained a concussion in the game against Woodland Hills.

In NA's first two games, Lotz tallied 234 yards rushing, including 131 yards on just 11 carries versus Latrobe.

"He hasn't practiced this week," Walker noted of Lotz.

If Lotz is unable to play, look for the brunt of the carries to go to fullback Marek Lapinski, who does lead the team in touchdowns, with six of them coming in the first two games.

North Allegheny leads the all-time series, 15-7-2. It took last season's contest, 21-13.

SV's last win was a 47-21 final in 2002. The teams have met every year since in 1990.