JEFFERSON TWP — Greensburg Salem went to the WPIAL playoffs. Knoch went to the WPIAL Finals.

But last year seems a long time ago for both.

“We can't be resting on our laurels, thinking just because we're defending section champions, we can just show up and say, 'Here we are.' It doesn't work that way,” Knoch coach Mike King said.

“We've developed an expectation here, a standard, if you will. I'm not sure we reached that during our scrimmages.”

While the Knights were 12-1 a year ago — posting the first perfect regular season in school history — the Golden Lions were 7-3 in reaching the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.

“We're looking at a load of inexperience this year,” Greensburg Salem coach Casey Cavanaugh said. “We lost all of our skilled players. Our quarterback and running back will be difficult to replace.”

The Golden Lions are also looking at a return to the Greater Allegheny Conference, where they finished 0-6 as a member in 2007. Greensburg Salem travels to Knoch for a mutual Greater Allegheny football opener at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Golden Lions graduated quarterback Josh Falatovich (1,379 yards passing, 20 touchdowns) and running back Michael Kizzie (1,238 yards, 17 TDs) from last year. Both are playing football at Seton Hill University this year.

“Knoch is always a big, physical football team,” Cavanaugh said. “Opening the season there is a tough assignment for us.”

Cavanaugh will start 5-foot-9 junior Nate Sweeney at quarterback, though 5-10 freshman Dan Walters will see action as well.

Top running backs include Tyler Shook (552 yards, seven TDs last year) and Dom McKinley.

“We're going to have to prepare for two quarterbacks,” King said. “We're not sure who we're going to see there.”

Knoch has two would-be starters — receiver Jim Larrimer and linebacker Colin McTighe — out with injuries this week.

King said he's been impressed with the play of quarterback Dakota Bruggeman and center Travis Fogel in the Knights' scrimmages with Burrell and Brashear.

“For being away from quarterback for a couple of years, Dakota is playing really well,” King said. “And Travis is replacing Chad Tudor, who did a great job for us at that position.

“Cody Milsom, a sophomore, earned a starting spot at outside linebacker for us. He's been a standout in camp.”

Veteran returning starters Luke Kroneberg, Mike Cunningham and Ben Tackett “are performing as expected,” King added.

Knoch's line play will be critical in the opener as the Knights face a Greensburg Salem line that returns starters in Nick Holtzer, Anthony Sorbin and Colton Hearn.

“We're not throwing the whole playbook at our kids right now,” Cavanaugh said. “We're inexperienced and we'll bring them along slowly.

“We've got some kids who can play, though. Tanner Hahn is a senior tight end-fullback who we can make use of a few different ways.”

King said returning starting linemen Nate Anuskiewicz and Eric Klein, along with tight end Kroneberg, will be counted on to help establish a running game early this season.

“We have an opportunity to be very good up front,” King said.

Knoch is 5-1 all-time against the Golden Lions, the lone loss being a 7-6 decision in the 1985 WPIAL quarterfinals. The teams last met in the 2010 playoffs, a 21-14 Knoch win.