One game does not make a season.

The 2011 campaign could not have started out any worse for the Shaler football team.

Not only did the Titans drop a 49-0 decision at Upper St. Clair on Sept. 2, but senior quarterback Ryan Mincher sustained what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

But Mincher returned to lead Shaler over the last five games and the Titans responded by showing their true colors.

The team enters Friday’s Northern Seven Conference game at Seneca Valley on a five-game winning streak.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at NexTier Stadium.

The Titans (3-0 in conference play) celebrated homecoming with a 41-28 win over McDowell last Saturday.

Leading 35-28 late in the game, Shaler received a 32-yard interception return from star linebacker and Penn State recruit J.P. Holtz, sealing the victory.

“That game was similar to our game with McDowell,” said Raiders’ coach Don Holl of SV’s 43-29 loss in Week 3. “It was back and forth. We had a chance late in a one-score game with McDowell, but it just didn’t happen for us.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge of playing Shaler. They’re a strong team,” he added.

Shaler’s other wins have come against Hempfield (34-13), Bethel Park (21-13), North Hills (26-14) and Butler (34-6).

“It’s a good group of kids, they pay attention,” said Titans’ coach Neil Gordon. “We tell them that games on Friday are usually won or lost between Monday and Thursday and they’ve bought into it.”

Mincher (6-feet-2, 170 pounds) has completed 54 of his 79 pass attempts for 798 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“He’s a heady, accurate passer,” Holl said. “He’s able to extend the play and can make plays with his feet if he needs to.”

Mincher passed for 312 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-33 win over the Raiders last season.

The Raiders will have to account for Holtz in all three facets of the game. That’s because the 6-4, 245-pound senior plays linebacker on defense, tight end, halfback and receiver on offense and also serves as Shaler’s punter.

In Saturday’s win over McDowell, Holtz scored two rushing touchdowns to go with his interception return.

“He’s very intense,” Gordon said of Holtz. “He wants to succeed, wants to win. It had to be in the mid-80s during last week’s game, but except for a few special teams plays, he never came off the field. He’s shown a lot of leadership.”

The Titans have a host of players who can tote the ball. Junior Wayde Barkey (60 yards) and sophomore Niko Thorpe (14) both had a scoring run in their team’s latest triumph.

Seneca Valley (4-2, 1-2) picked up its first conference win last week, a 29-21 victory at Pine-Richland.

Through six games, senior slot receiver Troy Witt has proved to be as integral to SV’s offense as any player, catching 23 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns.

Witt is second on the team in receptions, one behind Forrest Barnes (24).

“One of the great things about being a high school football coach is getting to know a kid as a person and a student,” Holl said. “Troy is one of our captains. He has the respect of every guy on the team and he’s earned it.”

Gordon is impressed with SV’s offense as a whole, but especially with quarterback Jordan Brown, who has passed for 1,341 yards and ran for another 370.

“He’s elusive and that scares me,” Gordon said. “Their offense is diversified and the stats show it.”

The Raiders did have trouble in the kicking game last week, with placekicker Michael Denny missing a mid-range field goal just before halftime. One extra point failed because of a fumbled snap and another attempt was blocked.

“You need to have confidence when you send the kicking team onto the field,” said Holl. “Those points can be big. He (Denny) did kick a field goal late to put us up (23-21) against Pine-Richland. For a sophomore with no experience before this year, he’s done a solid job.”

Denny has booted four field goals and 24 extra points this season.