North Allegheny remembers its last football game against Butler well.

It should. The Tigers haven't lost a section game since.

Last year's 27-24 overtime victory at Art Bernardi Stadium began a seven-game section winning streak that North Allegheny (5-2, 3-0) carries into Friday's 7:30 p.m. kickoff against the Golden Tornado (2-5, 0-3) at Newman Stadium.

"That game was tight and fought to the wire, and we have to expect another one just like it," NAcoach Art Walker Jr. said. "Their record does not give a clear picture of what they are.

"They are a senior-oriented team with one of the better athletes around at quarterback. They are a team that hasn't gotten many breaks, too.

"Butler has to be looking at winning their next two and the first one is against us. We have to be prepared to take their best shot,"Walker added.

The Tigers know all about the value of a seasoned, veteran quarterback. They came into this year with one of their own in senior Adam Neugebauer.

Neugebauer threw for 1,500 yards in 10 games last season. He threw for three touchdowns and completed 60 percent of his passes in NA's first two games this year before breaking his collarbone in the first quarter against Woodland Hills.

"It was a severe break,"Walker said. "If we win a playoff game or two, we may get him back, but he's likely done for the year."

North Allegheny went on to lose 21-0 to Woodland Hills and 16-7 to Upper St. Clair while reworking its quarterback situation.

Starting receiver Geoff Greco, a junior, moved to quarterback to join sophomore Mike Locke, the team's No. 2 signal-caller.

"Mike just wasn't ready to be thrown into that situation,"Walker said. "Geoff sacrificed his receiver position for the overall good of the team.

"We have a two-quarterback system now. Geoff is more of a roll-out, out-of-the-pocket kind of guy while Mike will drop back and throw."

When Greco is not at quarterback, he returns to his receiver position.

Using a powerful running game and stingy defense, the Tigers have reeled off wins of 27-13 over Seneca Valley, 7-0 over McDowell and 35-3 over Shaler. NAwill win the Northern Five if it wins its next two games.

Tim Lotz leads the Tigers running game with 600 yards rushing, Marek Lapinski has rushed for more than 500 and Carl DeCiantis has picked up more than 400 yards.

"We only threw the ball seven times against Shaler,"Walker said. "Our passing game is situational now. We wanted to be more balanced, but when you lose a senior quarterback, you have to adjust."

Linebackers Lapinski and Corey Watts are the Tigers' top two tacklers. Zach Watts has been a standout at defensive end, and Lotz has been solid at outside linebacker.

"Our defense is so much more confident this year,"Walker said. "Doug Brinkley is a first-year defensive coordinator and he and his staff have made good decisions with schemes and personnel.

"Those kids have been playing with poise and they're a smart group of kids. They make the correct checks and don't put themselves in bad situations.

"When our offense has struggled, our defense has kept us in games,"Walker added.