JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley's 2006 season began on a high note and ended in five straight defeats.

No player rode the highs and lows more consistently than tailback James Daniels.

Now a senior, Daniels is looking for a strong performance beginning with week one and continuing through week nine and, hopefully, beyond.

"I worked hard in the off-season," said Daniels. "I stopped playing baseball and focused on football. I went to speed camps and worked on my agility.

"Hopefully, all of my hard work will pay off."

In the first four games last season, Daniels ran 123 times for 502 yards and eight scores.

The Raiders went 3-1 in those contests, all nonconference affairs.

In the final five games, Daniels' yards-per-carry average went from 4.0 to 2.5 (79 attempts for 201 yards) and he scored three times.

SV lost all its Northern Five Conference games and missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

"(Daniels') production is a direct result of the other 10 guys executing on the field, and I'll take some of the blame," SV coach Ron Butschle said. "When we got into the conference games, we became too predictable on offense."

At least the first four games of 2006 showed what Daniels is capable of and they also yielded the most wins a Raiders team has managed in a season (three) since the program last made the playoffs in 2002.

"When I got here, I said my goal was to build a program, and that takes steady progress," Butschle said. "I would've loved to win seven or eight games last year, but we did make progress. Hopefully, we can take even bigger steps this year."

How much progress the Raiders will depend on the play of their quarterback. Juniors C.J. Brown and Matt Plautz are competing for the job.

"Both are big, athletic kids," Butschle said. "Matt is also one of our top receivers, and that may be a reason why we'd go with C.J. at quarterback. But both of them will get snaps under center during games this year."

Plautz stands 6-feet-5 and weighs 190 pounds while Brown is 6-4, 180 pounds.

The latter saw varsity action last season and completed 11 of 30 passes for 126 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Looking to share a bit of the load in the running game will be projected starting fullback Jeff Scanlon, as well as senior Bill Burns and junior Tyler Mack.

Guard Gary Flavion and tackle Ian Whittaker will be the leaders on the offensive line, along with center Mike DiFillipo, who made a couple of starts last season.

The Raiders are in desperate need of a go-to receiver after losing 81 percent of their receptions and 87 percent of the receiving yards to graduation.

Daniels is the team's leading returning pass catcher with six receptions for 29 yards.

Senior Aaron Palmieri and junior Dustin Anewalt will be expected to make plays downfield.

The Raiders' defense, at one time a liability, could be a force as SV returns nine starters.

Cornerbacks Palmieri and Sean Gress and all-conference safety Shaine Patsilevas will be starting for the third straight year.

All-conference outside linebacker Derek Peluso will be accompanied by Plautz, while the inside will be manned by a combination of Mark Poydence, Scanlon and Burns in the Raiders' 4-4 scheme.

Ryan Scheller makes the move from linebacker to defensive end on one side, while Nick Marzock will be the line's other flank and defensive tackle Sean Gallagher returns to stuff the middle.

The Raiders enter the 2007 campaign with a few scores to settle.

"We haven't won a conference game since I've been here," said Butschle. "That sticks in my craw."

Northern Five Conference opponents include North Allegheny, Shaler, Butler, North Hills and associate member McDowell.

The Raiders kickoff the season Friday by hosting Norwin.