SHALER TWP — Neil Gordon is used to winning, but he's thrilled to be winning this year.

The first-year Shaler head football coach was 156-74-2 in 22 years at Penn Hills, winning WPIAL and state titles in 1995.

Gordon is 4-0 in his debut season with the Titans, defeating Baldwin 19-6, Hempfield 41-10, Hampton 21-6 and Mount Lebanon 26-14.

Hempfield (2-2) is the only one of those opponents to have won a game. The Titans host Butler (3-1) in a Northern Six Conference opener at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

"We're much farther along than I expected we'd be," Gordon said. "Whether (former Shaler coach Jacque DeMatteo) was still here or not, this was going to be a rebuilding year for this program."

The Titans return only two starters on both sides of the ball. On offense, all-purpose back Jesse DellaValle and tight end Damon Davis, since moved to tackle, are the lone returnees.

Cornerback Dan McGinley and safety DellaValle are the only starters back on defense.

"On top of that, 99 percent of what we're doing around here is different from what these kids are accustomed to doing,"Gordon said. "Jacque was a wing-T guy. I run pro sets and like to be 50-50 run and pass.

"The defense is new. We have five new coaches, including a new offensive and defensive coordinator."

Gordon came to Shaler to be DeMatteo's offensive coordinator, but was on the job for only two months before DeMatteo accepted the head coaching position at Hampton.

"I'm still in the process of getting used to these kids and they're still getting used to me,"Gordon said. "I'm lucky if I know all their names, let alone getting a feel for how to handle each kid individually."

DellaValle has scored six touchdowns and has three interceptions on defense.

Senior running back Anthony Waskiewicz has 300 yards rushing and five touchdowns.

"Anthony runs with a lot of speed and power,"Gordon said. "He's showing a little more speed to the outside than I thought he had, too.

"DellaValle is one of those kids who can do everything. He returns punts and kicks for us, plays defensive back, we've used him at wideout and tailback. He's only a junior, but that kid has DivisionI football talent."

Junior quarterback Tyler Bills threw for 116 yards and a touchdown against Mount Lebanon last week. He ran for a score as well.

Bills did not play last year because of a shoulder injury.

"Our offense has made the progress it has because of Tyler Bills,"Gordon said. "We probably have a little more than 50 percent of our package in right now, which is farther along than I thought we'd be now. We've got very intelligent kids here.

"Ideally, we'll reach the point where Tyler can freely call audibles at the line of scrimmage on a regular basis. We're not at that point yet."

Linebackers Doug Rodgers and Nick Kurpakus have played consistent football for the Titans.

"The reality is, we lack size and we lack experience,"Gordon said.

While Shaler has a five-game winning streak against Butler and has lost to the Golden Tornado only once in the past decade, Gordon has a lot of respect for the surging Butler program.

"They scare me," he said. "Their quarterback (Cole Harvey) is a big-time player, and that team is getting better every week."