JACKSON TWP — Three lopsided losses came in between Seneca Valley's season-opening win in 2002 and their victory over Norwin to kick off the 2006 campaign last Friday.

So what is the proper response to the Raiders' early success?

Winning No. 2 would be a good start.

SV will be searching for that victory in the second game of the season, something that has eluded the program the last two years, when the Raiders host Penn-Trafford at 7:30 p.m. Friday at NexTier Stadium.

Bright spots were not hard to find in the Raiders' 21-17 win at Norwin.

• Junior tailback James Daniels rushed 35 times for 126 yards and three touchdowns.

• Cornerback Sean Gress saved the win by intercepting a Norwin pass at his own 2-yard line with less than 30 seconds left to play.

• Quarterback Ted Pynos, making his first varsity start, completed eight of 14 passes for 71 yards. He spread the ball around to six different receivers.

• Linebacker Ryan Scheller blocked a punt late in the first quarter and Derek Peluso caused a fumble on a kickoff return soon after. Both plays led to scoring runs from Daniels.

It was the best kind of win: a team win.

And SV coach Ron Butschle said it will take a similar effort if his team is to defeat Penn-Trafford.

Despite, losing last week to Upper St. Clair 27-9, Penn-Trafford has some quality players returning.

"They are very dangerous on offense and, defensively, they're very aggressive," said Butschle. "A lot of teams are going to lose to Upper St. Clair. That's not indicative of what kind of team Penn-Trafford has."

The Warriors' biggest loss to graduation was quarterback Tyler Huether, who threw for 2,397 yards and 17 scores in 2005. He is now at Clarion University.

The new signal-caller is senior Erik Rasky, who played wide receiver last year and served as Huether's backup.

"He's the guy we went with just because he had the most experience," said Warriors coach Art Tragesser.

Rasky did not open the season well, throwing three interceptions against Upper St. Clair.

Rasky's job will be made much easier if senior wide receiver Tim Cortazzo, who is questionable for Friday's game with an undisclosed injury, is able to play.

As a junior, Cortazzo caught 37 passes for 726 yards and eight touchdowns.

After giving up four scoring runs last week, Penn-Trafford is hoping its defense spends a lot less time on the field this Friday.

"The interceptions we threw gave (USC) great field position," said Tragesser. "They seemed to always have the ball on our side of the 50-yard line.

"USC had 35 offensive plays in the first half," he added. "That's a lot for high school football. We need to take better care of the ball to put our defense in better position."

Penn-Trafford will try to execute that strategy against a team that has found its go-to back.

Daniels will look to build on last week's workmanlike effort. But he wasn't the only player in Seneca Valley's backfield who impressed the coaches.

Pynos also took a huge step forward in his progression as the team's quarterback.

"With it being his first start, the jitters were going to be there," Butschle said. "But they will become less and less each week.

"I thought as far as handling the offense, Ted did everything we asked him to do."

When Pynos does go to the air, he'll be throwing against a secondary without one of its leaders if Cortazzo is unable to play.

"If Tim plays, he'll be one of our cornerbacks along with Mike Bonadio," said Tragesser. "If he can't play, (junior) Ryan Agona will start in his place."

While Cortazzo stands 6-feet-1 and weighs 190 pounds, Agona is just 5-foot-7, 155 pounds.

The Warriors won last year's meeting 38-13.