In his own words, Jason Gildon referred to this season as “up and down.”

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic's football coach has seen the good in his team, including a three-game winning streak at midseason that helped propel the Trojans to the WPIAL Class AA playoffs.

He's also seen the bad — a 36-0 blowout loss to conference foe Neshannock to begin the season and a 28-14 defeat in Week 8 to a South Side squad that entered the game with a 2-5 record.

With a roster that features 33 sophomores and freshmen, 2016 has been a learning experience for the Trojans.

“Last year, we had a lot of mature players, a lot of leaders on the team,” said Gildon of a team that tasted defeat only in the WPIAL semifinals. “We've had some growing pains this year.”

Gildon would like to see the growing and learning continue past this week. For that to happen, CWNC (5-4) must first dispose of Burgettstown (4-5) when the teams meet in a first-round playoff Friday night at the Blue Devils' Hill Memorial Stadium.

CWNC's quarterback situation has been in flux recently. Ryan Maziarz, Jack Cassidy and William Gipson have all seen playing time. Maziarz has been the starter for most of the season — passing for 681 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions.

“He was injured for a few games,” said Gildon. “You have to be careful with playing guys like that if they're not completely healthy. We still don't know who will be starting for us Friday.”

One mainstay the Trojans have been able to count on is senior running back Mario Latronica, who has gained 1,046 yards and scored 13 touchdowns on the ground.

“He's definitely been holding his own and is doing his part,” Gildon said. “I couldn't ask for anything more from someone in his position.”

“He's a stud,” Burgettstown coach Mark Druga said of Latronica. “And their line gets after it.”

The Blue Devils enter the postseason losers of three straight games. A 26-23 loss to Charleroi in Week 7 was followed by a pair of 41-6 setbacks to Washington and Elizabeth-Forward.

But Druga is hoping senior quarterback Brad McLaughlin can rally the team now that the playoffs have arrived.

McLaughlin has passed for nearly 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Blue Devils lost their top two running backs to injury earlier this season and McLaughlin has responded with a team-leading 500 rushing yards and eight more scores.

“He's the heart and soul of our team,” Druga said.

Junior receiver Ryan Lounder has caught six touchdown passes and has added three scores on kickoff returns.

Defensively, Burgettstown is led by senior lineman Bryan Krynak, who has 14½ sacks in nine games.