Greensburg Salem's varsity football team is celebrating history before its home opener Friday night at Offutt Field.

Third-year coach Casey Cavanaugh hopes his team makes history during the game.

Knoch (1-1) travels to Greensburg Salem (1-1) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, one week after the Golden Lions played the 1,000th game of their football history.

Only one other WPIALschool — New Castle — has played 1,000 football games. Greensburg Salem started playing football in 1894 and has played every one of its games at Offutt Field.

The Golden Lions have yet to win a game in the Greater Allegheny Conference, however, going winless in their first season in the league last year.

"That's why a win Friday would be so significant for us,"Cavanaugh said. "Knoch's been battling these teams for years. It's a great conference."

Before the game Friday, Greensburg Salem will have its four living former coaches serve as honorary captains and numerous alumni will be on hand as well.

"Stuff like that can serve as a distraction if you let it,"Knoch coach Mike King said. "Different things come up like this during a season — Parents Night, games like that, teams handle them in different ways.

"Sometimes they get you off the field early and you have to wait in the locker room for a long time. Hopefully, this won't be like that."

The Knights are eager to return to action after last week's 39-29 win at Ringgold — a victory accomplished despite the loss of senior running back Alex Whisler.

Knoch's leading rusher last season, Whisler is lost for the season with torn knee ligaments.

Whisler had a successful sophomore season curtailed by a spleen injury and was hampered much of last season by hamstring and ankle problems.

"We had him healthy for six games last year and he still rushed for more than 600 yards," King said. "What makes this injury the worst is that Alex was a maniac during his preparation for this season.

"Jen Crouch, who won a state title in the javelin when she was at Knoch, put together an off-season workout program with the kids and Alex was at every one of them. I remember seeing him out there when the snow was flying.

"He's a big kid, so strong and athletic. I hope he keeps his chin up. This has to be hitting him pretty hard,"King added.

When Whisler went down, junior tailback Tim McNerney stepped in and rushed for 232 yards and four touchdowns last week.

"Getting ready for Ringgold, we were trying to figure out ways to get both of those backs on the field at the same time,"King said. "We spent 80 percent of our practice time putting in an option package. When Alex got hurt, we scrapped that.

"Tim seems comfortable as a tailback, so we'll stick with the I formation for now."

King credited his offensive line of co-captain and center Tyler Krahe, guard Kurtis Schachner, tackles Tim McCorkle and Henry Cypher, tight end Rob Briggs, and guards Brian Brodeur and Aaron Davis for opening up holes last week.

Brodeur and Davis played for Bob Yenick, who has an ankle injury and is questionable this week.

Greensburg Salem has finished 2-7 during each of Cavanaugh's first two seasons. The Golden Lions have only 10 seniors, but had 11 sophomores letter last season.

Greensburg Salem began the season with a 27-14 loss to Hempfield, but defeated Mount Pleasant 19-14 last week. Friday night marks its home opener.

"We're more experienced, but we're still young,"Cavanaugh said. "Knoch runs the ball very well and we have to find a way to contend with that."

The Golden Lions are led by quarterback Steve Fagert, who has completed 16 of 25 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Tailback Jerry Cooley has rushed for 165 yards and two scores while receiver Adam Short has five catches for 65 yards and a TD.

Defensively, the team is led by senior captain and inside linebacker GlennMoyer and tackle Ryan Fink.

Knoch defeated Greensburg Salem 22-7 last season.

"We can't go in there thinking about how we beat them last year, how no one picks them among the top four in our league this year. ... This is an emotional night for them and they've got some size,"King said.

"Their quarterback is difficult to contain. He's effective on the bootleg and we need to get a pass rush this week to help our secondary. We're gonna have to get to work."