WEXFORD — Art Walker Jr. has a lot of respect for Jim Rankin.

The current North Allegheny football coach replaced Rankin, who won 144 games in 18 years with the Tigers, in 2005. On Friday night, he'll be coaching against him at Newman Stadium.

"I have tremendous respect for what Jim Rankin did here," Walker said. "He treated me very well when I was a young coach at Central Catholic and we talked at length about the NA program when I was named coach here.

"He stresses, teaches and focuses on his system. It's a system he and his coaches strongly believe in and that's what they're instilling at Butler."

Rankin brings his Golden Tornado into Newman Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday.

Now in his sixth year, Walker is 41-16 with the Tigers, 5-0 against Butler. North Allegheny has outscored the Tornado 133-14 over the past four years.

"I don't know if it will work out in our favor or not, playing them early this year," Walker said. "Anytime you're put into a new situation, though, as a coach or player, you have to experience things.

"It (success) doesn't happen overnight. The only time you can truly simulate what you're trying to do on the field is on Friday nights in Western Pennsylvania. It takes time. But (Butler) is dedicated to what they're trying to do offensively and defensively," the NA coach added.

The Tigers return six starters on offense and three on defense from last year's 9-2 team. The top returnee is 1,000-yard tailback Alex Papson, a third-year starter.

Papson rushed for 171 yards and four touchdowns in last week's season-opening 42-7 win over State College.

"When you have a kid who's been involved with the program that long and understands everything, you're going to use him a lot, particularly early," Walker said. "Alex is a team-oriented kid. When we ask him to block, he can do that, too."

Other returning starters on offense are receiver Dan Slivka, linemen Justin Haser, Jack Wall and Vince Czerniewski, and running back Matt Steinbeck.

Slivka caught three passes for 105 yards and a touchdown last week. Senior quarterback Mike Buchert, a first-year starter, completed six of eight passes for 155 yards.

Buchert is the son of Tigers assistant and former Seneca Valley head coach Mike Buchert.

"He's been around (football) for a long time and he's earned this opportunity," Walker said of his quarterback. "Mike ran the offense well. He did everything we want him to do."

Returning defensive starters are linebacker Kevin Cope, end Haser and safety Steinbeck.

"We've had a few other kids step up early on defense," Walker said. "That unit played well last week and helped us get off to a quick start. We got a couple of early turnovers, turned them into scores and were up 21-0 just like that."