PINE TWP — Nobody wants to go 0-2 — not in the Northern Six.

Either Butler or Pine-Richland will own that section record after their 7:30 p.m. football game Friday on the Rams' turf.

"When you're dealing with our league, there's not a lot of room for error," Pine-Richland coach Clair Altemus said. "Shaler, North Allegheny, North Hills — you figure those teams are going to be there.

"That leaves us, Butler and Seneca Valley. Whoever wins those battles will move on. You lose your first two, you're probably done."

The Rams (2-3, 0-1) are coming off a 14-3 loss to North Hills. They held the Indians scoreless in the first half, but lost the game to a late North Hills surge. Pine-Richland victories are 20-6 over Montour and 45-7 over Highlands.

The week before losing to North Hills, Pine-Richland suffered a 27-21 loss to neighboring Hampton.

"We're playing a lot of juniors and sophomores and we're reeling a bit right now," Altemus said.

Senior quarterback Eric Kordenbrock is 6-feet-4, 210 pounds and is coming off a year in which he threw for 955 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Most of the players who were on the field with Kordenbrock last year are gone. He has completed 46 of 110 passes for 615 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

"Eric was pressed into duty last year when we lost our first two quarterbacks to injury," Altemus said. "He did an admirable job, but this year we're still trying to form a cohesive offensive line and Eric's been forced to scramble around quite a bit.

"He's getting used to a new crop of receivers and running backs, too."

Kordenbrock's favorite receiver is junior Tommy Berexa, who has 24 catches for 320 yards and three TDs. Dwight DePasquale has seven catches for 108 yards.

Halfback Justin Williams has 79 carries for 504 yards, including a 204-yard, three-touchdown effort against Highlands.

"Jordan has great speed and can break off big plays," Altemus said. "We've got good speed and good talent. It's just that we're starting a lot of new faces and we have to get everyone to mesh together."

Pine-Richland moved up to Quad-A last year and defeated Butler 21-14 at Art Bernardi Stadium. Altemus said the biggest difference between Quad-A football and other divisions is the physicality.

"You can play skilled kids on both sides of the ball and be OK,. But if you do it with linemen, you just get beat up," he said. "By the fourth quarter, you've got nothing left.

"We play a set of offensive linemen and another group of kids along the defensive line. But we give up a lot of size to most teams we play."

The Rams' offensive line features 6-2, 210-pound center Jacob Heintz, 235-pound right tackle Mark Bland, 205-pound right guard Sean Malloy, 201-pound left guard Andy Kaltenbaugh and 220-pound left tackle Brad Lalli.

The defensive line features 210-pound Braden Pitts as the nose guard. He is flanked by 215-pounders Josh Byrnes and John Bute at the ends.

"Our biggest matchup against Butler is our offensive line against their defensive line," Altemus said. "If Butler controls the line of scrimmage, we're in for a long night."

The Rams suffered a few injuries last week, losing their backup quarterback to a knee injury, an outside linebacker-halfback to a concussion and another linebacker to a shoulder injury.

"This is our homecoming game and I think our series with Butler will develop into a great rivalry," Altemus said. "I know it's a big game for both of us this year."