WEST VIEW — North Hills usually brings a triple-threat backfield to its football games on Friday nights.

Two-thirds of that backfield may be missing when the Indians (2-1, 1-1) host Butler (2-1, 2-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Martorelli Stadium.

Running backs Tyler Reddick and Jordan Blackmon didn't play in last week's 42-8 win over Shaler due to injury and neither is expected to play this week.

“It looks like they'll both be out again,” North Hills coach Jack McCurry said. “It'd be tough enough playing Butler if we had those guys. It will be a real challenge without them.”

Blackmon returned a kickoff for a touchdown in North Hills' 38-0 win over Butler last year at Martorelli Stadium.

The Indians still have senior running back Josh Hulbert, who rushed for 166 yards and four touchdowns against Shaler and also caught a 16-yard scoring pass.

“We had to rely on Josh to carry more of the load than usual,” McCurry said. “He came through in a big way.

“But believe me, Butler is no fluke. They've got a swarming defense that fills the running lanes. They're playing with an attitude, they have a heady quarterback, a talented group of backs and a wide receiver who always seems to get open. You can win a lot of football games with that package.”

McCurry, 63, knows all about winning football games. He has fashioned a record of 275-104-0 at North Hills and is in his 35th year as head coach. Only Upper St. Clair's Jim Render (354) and Blackhawk's Joe Hamilton (333) own more career victories among WPIAL football coaches.

North Hills is coming off a 4-5 season and returns only four starters from a year ago. Reddick and Blackmon are two of those and they usually join Hulbert as starters in the defensive backfield, as well.

The Indians have plenty of weapons regardless.

Senior quarterback Brian Johnson completed eight of 15 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns last week. Larry Richardsion had six receptions for 117 yards and a score.

Johnson is back with the football team for the first time since ninth grade. He spent the past two autumns playing AAU basketball.

“He's a good athlete who can make plays,” McCurry said. “He's just been away from football for a while and it's tough for him to pick everything up all in one season like this. But he'll keep improving every game.”

Three starting offensive linemen are back in 255-pound junior center Brandon Malick, two-way senior lineman Andrew Ungerman and 250-pound junior Colin Murphy.

Defensively, senior middle linebacker Anthony Danko and outside linebacker Malik Frank joins Ungerman in anchoring the unit, headed by 15-year defensive coordinator Pat Carey.

“Pat was a running back and outside linebacker for me from 1985-87,” McCurry said. “He knows and understands our system and what we want done. He's done an outstanding job here.”

Senior Wayne Carney returns with a strong leg at place-kicker.

While North Hills has dominated Butler in recent years, McCurry said history means nothing come this Friday.

“Butler has good athletes and they play hard. They are capable of giving any team they play a good game and that's what we're expecting.”