JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley offensive line was a big question mark entering the season, but coach Ron Butschle likes the progress the unit is making.

The line has Chris Calhoun at center, Andy Berkebile at left guard, Jordan Williams at right guard, Mike DeFilippo at left tackle and Marshall Campbell at right tackle.

"So far, they've gotten better each week," Butschle said. "When you have a young and inexperienced line, and we're not all that big, you have to focus on technique."

The Raiders (2-1) crushed Baldwin on the road last week, 42-7, and will host cross-county opponent Knoch (1-2) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

It will be the first varsity football game between the two schools since 1987.

Knoch lost its first two games this year to Hopewell and Blackhawk by a combined score of 57-13.

But the Knights got back on track last week with a win over visiting Peters Township, 20-7.

"We were hoping to come away from these first four games with a winning record, but if you're seeing progress being made with your football team, you can stomach the setbacks,"Knoch coach Mike King said.

At the center of the Knights' revival was senior running back Tim McNerney, who gained 186 yards on the ground and scored a touchdown.

"Knoch's got a very strong running game," Butschle said. "I'm impressed with (McNerney)."

McNerney will not play Friday, however, as he suffered a slight knee sprain last week. The Knights open section play next week.

"If this was a big section game, yeah, he could have played,"King said of McNerney. "But we're not gonna take any chances with his season or the rest of his football career at this point."

Fullback Kevin Brodeur will miss his second straight game with an ankle sprain for the injury-plagued Knights, who have also been without standout receiver-safety Michael Gallagher all year because of a fractured hip.

Tight end-inside linebacker Preston Saxton remains sidelined with a broken jaw.

Mitchell Shaw will replace McNerney at tailback while two sophomores, Kyle Hilliard and Adam Tuzikow, will man the fullback spot. Receiver-cornerback Brandon Flick will return to action this week.

The Knights have struggled in the passing game, with junior quarterback Jake McTighe completing just seven of 18 passes for 80 yards through three games.

"The one area we've stayed healthy is the offensive line,"King said. "We told those guys at practice this week that we're counting on them to shoulder the load."

Over the last two games, SV's offense has been able to move the ball seemingly at will, racking up 921 total yards and 80 points.

Quarterback C.J. Brown has thrown for 873 yards and six touchdowns.

He's added 220 yards and six more scores while running the football.

But the success of Brown, and of the offense as a whole, has been the product of all 11 players consistently doing their job.

Players like junior running back-wide receiver Evan Hetzel.

In an offense that goes downfield often, Hetzel has served as a reliable short-range outlet for Brown, totaling 80 yards on 12 receptions.

"(Brown and Matt Plautz) are probably the two fastest guys on our team, but Evan is close," said Butschle. "He's a shifty kind of kid and if he gets in the open field, he's tough to catch."

King knows his defense faces a stiff challenge this week.

"We have to try to disrupt their tempo, but that's difficult to do with the package they're running,"the coach said. "C.J. Brown is everything you want in a quarterback. They are very, very explosive."

SV starting halfback Tyler Mack left last week's game with a knee injury.

"There was no major damage done to the knee," Butschle said of the senior, who has 211 yards on the ground this year. "He should be okay."

Sports editor John Enrietto contributed to this story.