WEST VIEW— It must seem like 1987 was a long time ago.

The North Hills football team was undefeated that year and ranked No. 1 in the nation by USAToday.

That team was coached by Jack McCurry. Now in his 30th year, the team McCurry is bringing into Art Bernardi Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. homecoming matchup Friday against Butler is 2-4, 0-2 in Northern Five play.

The Indians' only two wins are 49-0 over Connellsville and 14-0 over Penn-Trafford — two opponents with one win each.

Still, McCurry knows how to win. He's done so 244 times during his career at North Hills, collecting 12 section titles, four WPIALchampionships and a state crown along the way.

McCurry wasn't at the game the last time North Hills lost to Butler. He was hospitalized with kidney stones earlier that day when the Golden Tornado sprung a 28-20 upset victory on the Indians in 2000.

Since then, North Hills has outscored Butler 208-61, tallying 42 points against the Tornado in each of the past three years. North Hills defeated Butler 42-31 in 2004, 42-21 in 2005 and 42-7 last year.

The Indians' offense is led by junior quarterback Justin Heinauer, the son of Mars coach Scott Heinauer. He has completed 44 of 83 passes for 700 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions.

Three of Heinauer's scoring passes occurred in the second half of last week's 30-18 loss at Seneca Valley. McCurry started senior Ryan Welsh in an attempt to run a version of the triple option, but the Indians managed only eight yards in the first two quarters.

Heinauer came off the bench to throw touchdown passes of 15 yards to Ed Reith, 55 yards to Brennan Prokopec and 38 yards to Max Creighan in the second half.

Creighan has nine catches for 226 yards while Prokopec has six catches for 187 yards and two TDs.

"I'm expecting Heinauer to start against us and for them to throw the football,"Butler coach Jeff McAnallen said.

Senior Ed Reith leads the Indians' ground attack, carrying 84 times for 429 yards and six touchdowns. Reith also is one of the top punters in the WPIAL, averaging 42.2 yards per punt.

The Indians' defense is led by junior Michael Hirt, who has 54 tackles — 30 solo — to go with four tackles for loss and two sacks.

Welsh has 41 tackles, including 21 solo, while junior Cody Patton has 25 solo stops and 37 total tackles.

North Hills, which returns only four starters from last year's 7-4 team, has forced seven turnovers,

McCurry could not be reached for comment.