WEXFORD— Playing close, competitive football games can get a team ready for the playoffs.

"But it'd be nice to win them,"North Allegheny coach Art Walker Jr. said. "We're 1-3 in those games this year. I hope that's not going to be a trend."

The Tigers (4-3, 2-1) host Butler (3-4, 0-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Newman Stadium in a critical game for both teams.

The GoldenTornado need a win to stay alive in the WPIALplayoff hunt. North Allegheny could miss out on postseason play with a loss to Butler and to rival North Hills the following week.

NAused a last-second field goal to defeat Penn Hills 25-22 four weeks ago. But the Tigers dropped a 28-21 decision at Altoona to begin the season, lost 30-28 to Upper St. Clair and 24-20 at Pine-Richland last week.

The Tigers' other three victories this year have been runaways — 37-0 over Mount Lebanon, 56-14 over Seneca Valley and 34-6 over Shaler.

"That loss last week was tough on us,"Walker admitted. "But it's our job as coaches to get the kids focused on the next game as quickly as possible.

"We're not going to overlook Butler. That team is drastically improved over last year. Jeff (McAnallen) is doing a great job with them and you can tell (line coach) Mark Farabee is back on the staff. He's a great coach and their line play really shows his presence there."

North Allegheny has three key offensive weapons:quarterback Mike Locke, receiver Brian Austin and running back Alex Papson.

Locke shared time at QBwith Geoff Greco last year and still threw for 1,100 yards. This season, he's completed 74 of 116 passes for 1,064 yards and nine touchdowns.

"He's been solid for us,"Walker said. "Mike is a three-year letterman and has been playing quarterback since his sophomore year. When you've got a third-year quarterback, you put a lot on his shoulders."

Austin has 33 catches for 437 yards and six touchdowns. He won the WPIALchampionship in the 100-meters last spring. The 5-foot-9, 162-pound Austin is being recruited by Bowling Green and has been offered an appointment at West Point.

He is another third-year starter.

"Brian is a tremendous athlete,"Walker said. "He played on our junior varsity team as a freshman. We need to get him the ball in open space a little more and that's what we've been working on."

Papson, a 5-9, 165-pound sophomore, leads the Tigers ground attack with 706 yards and eight touchdowns. He was the backup to Karl DeCiantis as a freshman last year before a broken forearm shortened his season.

"He had a few carries in varsity games before he got hurt,"Walker said. "Alex has a tremendous work ethic and he's mature beyond his years.

"Blocking, catching the football, running — he has the right attitude and focus toward all elements of the game."

Senior offensive lineman Ryan Schlieper, 6-6, 280, has committed to the University of Maryland and anchors the Tigers up front.

On defense, North Allegheny plays a 44 with end Wes Henderson, linebackers Jackson Boyd, Mike Zelik and Jon Lowery, along with free safety Kurt Devlin leading the way.

"We can mix things up, do a lot of blitzing or switch our coverages out of that formation. That's why we use it,"Walker said.

Special teams play hurt the Tigers early in the season, but they have since cleaned up that phase of the game.

"We're much better all the way around now,"Walker said. "Other than our kick returns, I was disappointed in our special teams unit early.

"Butler will play a physical brand of football come Friday, and their front comes off the ball really well. They controlled the game against North Hills in the first half last week. I was there watching that game, so I know what we're in for," he added.