NORTH HUNTINGDON — The elevator had been steadily climbing during Dan Conwell's football coaching career at Norwin High School.

Last year, it fell and landed with a thud.

After posting won-loss records of 2-8, 3-7, 4-6 and 7-4 in his first four years with the Knights, Conwell watched his team plummet to 3-7 in 2008.

"It was more frustrating than disappointing," Conwell said. "Five of our seven losses were by a touchdown or less.

"The biggest thing about last year was we didn't finish games when we had the opportunity. Hopefully, that was a learning experience."

The Knights (1-0) come to Butler (0-1) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday at Art Bernardi Stadium. The Golden Tornado claimed a 26-20 win at Norwin last year.

"That game started us on our downward spiral," Conwell said. "We made the playoffs two years in a row and we expected to make it again."

Norwin expects to make the playoffs this year, too. The Knights return six starters on defense, all of their running backs and three starting offensive linemen.

The Knights defeated Seneca Valley 17-7 last week. Tyler Lukhart blocked a field-goal attempt and Andrew Cockeram returned it for a touchdown with less than a minute to play.

"We threw a few first-year starters on defense into the fire last week because Seneca Valley runs a very sophisticated offense," Conwell said. "But our guys really answered the challenge."

Conwell lauded the play of first-year starters defensive end Ben Baird and outside linebacker Matt Dominick against the Raiders.

The Norwin offense is led by a three-pronged running attack of Lukhart, fullback Joel DeFelice and K'Hari Singleton. DeFelice ran for 108 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown, last week while Singleton had 78 yards on 11 carries.

"I don't see any of our backs at the point where he can carry the ball 35 times in a game," Conwell said. "We're going to be running back by committee for a while.

"My philosophy as a coach has always been making running the football the No. 1 priority. I'll take a 15-play possession every time. The other team can't score if it doesn't have the ball.

"I know (Butler coach Jeff McAnallen) feels the same way. They'll be geared up to stop our run, so we have to be balanced," Conwell added.

Tim Petro is a junior first-year starting quarterback for Norwin. His prime target when the Knights do throw the ball is Christian Bryan, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound flanker.

"Christian's not the biggest guy on the roster, but you can't measure heart," Conwell said. "His motor is going 100 percent on every play, on both sides of the ball."

Bryan plays cornerback on defense.

Senior Brandon Horsman is a first-year punter-kicker who drilled an 18-yard field goal with 2:12 left in the game last week, snapping a 7-7 tie.

"It wasn't a long kick, but for a kid kicking in his first varsity game to deliver in that situation was huge for us," Conwell said. "The longest we'd try a field goal with Brandon is 40 yards, but he can be a weapon for us."

Conwell said Butler uses multiple sets offensively and "forces you to prepare for everything."

"They came into our place last year and took it to us," he said. "We have to be prepared for a similar effort this time around."