North Allegheny has lost more football games in the past three weeks than Art Walker Jr. lost in the previous two years at Central Catholic.

But the first-year Tigers coach refuses to be discouraged as he brings his team (1-4, 0-3) to Art Bernardi Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff against Butler Friday.

"We've had opportunities, but we're screwing them up instead of capitalizing," Walker said. "That's going to happen with young football teams, and it's frustrating.

"We're going through this year what (Butler coach Garry Cathell) went through last year, playing a bunch of sophomores. You've got to go through the growing pains."

Since squaring its record at 1-1 with a 27-7 win over Norwin in Week 2, North Allegheny has suffered losses of 27-7 to Mt. Lebanon, 35-21 to Bethel Park and 42-10 to Upper St. Clair.

Walker was 61-23 in seven years at Central Catholic, winning 29 of 31 games over the past two seasons, including two WPIAL Quad-A championships and the state title last year.

"I've got seven or eight sophomores in the starting lineup and you can't get away with that at the Quad-A level," he said. "The most sophomores I'd ever started as a coach was five, during my second year at Central.

"I knew the situation when I took the job. It was going to take some time. We have 75 players, 60 of who are sophomores and juniors, and a ton of first-year starters.

"You work on whatever you want in practice, but you can't simulate an actual game. Butler has an edge on us this year in game experience," he added.

The Tigers trailed Bethel Park 28-0 before closing to within 28-21 and having possession at the Bethel 10-yard line.

"We fumbled a snap, took a penalty and wound up with nothing," Walker said. "That's the way it's been going."

Only two players, senior running back Billy Knight and 6-foot-4 receiver Nick Henderson, started every game on offense for the Tigers last year. Two others, fullback Marek Lapinski and center Mike Griffith, started half of last year because of injuries.

Knight leads the Tigers with 300 yards rushing and 26 receptions. He caught 13 passes against Upper St. Clair last week.

"Billy's our go-to guy," Walker Jr. said. "We line him up at flanker, in the backfield, in the slot, wherever we can get him the ball."

Lapinski will miss Friday's game with a shoulder injury.

"Injuries have hurt us," Walker said. "We've lost four kids for the year. You feel for those kids and their families, and (personnel) losses like that have a big impact on your football team."

Adam Neugebauer, the Tigers' junior quarterback, has been a pleasant surprise, Walker said.

He's thrown for well over 500 yards this season, including 267 last week.

"We threw the ball 33 times against Upper St. Clair," Walker said. "That's not the way they're used to playing football around here."

Knight, Henderson and Lapinski are the only returning starters on defense - and outside linebacker Lapinski won't be on the field Friday.

"We have all new linemen, a new linebacking corps, it's been rough," Walker said.

The coach said two of his most impressive defensive players have been sophomore twins Corey Watts at linebacker and Zack Watts at defensive end.

"Butler is very good at throwing the football and their quarterback knows how to scramble out of trouble," Walker said. "We're going to their place and they will be a spirited group. We need to play sound, disciplined football defensively."