JACKSON TWP — His offense failed to score a point. His defense surrendered touchdowns on each of the opponent's first three possessions.

None of it bothered Western PA Warhawks coach Bernie Sepp.

The Warhawks, a first-year franchise in the 144-team North American Football League, made their home debut Saturday night at NexTier Stadium on the campus of Seneca Valley High School. The result was a 37-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Colts.

"It was OK,"Sepp said. "We're taking baby steps right now. Everything is new. Our roster is still growing. We got eight to 10 new guys just this past week."

The Warhawks (0-2) have been around for two weeks. The Colts (2-0) have been around for 27 years and are the defending NAFLGrassroots Division champion.

In fact, the Colts have never had a losing season. They were 13-2 last year and have finished at .500 only once — 5-5 in 1987.

The NAFLhas been around since 1999. The Colts joined the league in 2000 and have been in the playoffs every year since.

"The experience is the big thing,"Colts coach Ed Brosky, also a league director, said of the difference between the two teams. "But, hey, that team didn't back down. They forced us to play a physical game.

"We put the ball on the ground a few times. That's because of how hard they were hitting us."

One of Pittsburgh's three fumbles was recovered by Seneca Valley graduate Justin Haefner, a defensive lineman, at the Colts' 12-yard line. That set up the Warhawks' best offensive scoring chance of the night.

"I'll never forget that play,"Haefner said. "It was the first fumble recovery of my life."

A quarterback sack forced Seneca Valley graduate Nate Lang to attempt a 32-yard field goal. The kick was good, but a procedure penalty on Western PAtook the points off the board.

"The rookie mistakes were gonna happen ... from the players and the coaches,"Sepp said.

"Yeah, that was rough. But this was a blast,"Lang said of the game. "Just being able to go out there and play again. ... I love this game. I don't want to give it up.

"It's great being part of a brotherhood, being part of the gang again."

Lang graduated from high school in 2000 and hasn't played organized football since.

"I've missed it. God, how I've missed it,"he said.

The NAFLis a minor league and the players are not paid. They shoulder their own expenses for travel and equipment.

The Warhawks managed only five first downs and 75 yards in total offense. They completed four passes for 18 yards. Karns City graduate Jeremy Scherer caught a 20-yard pass from Seneca Valley graduate Luke Mangola in the first half for the Warhawks' biggest play of the night.

Mangola left the game in the first half after taking a shot to the ribs while throwing that pass.

"Luke had walking pneumonia at the beginning of the week and I didn't find out about it until tonight,"Sepp said. "That's how badly he wanted to play."

"We practice three times a week and our (offensive) package is somewhat limited right now,"Mangola said. "We'll get better and we'll get more people out here, too. This is just a start."

Approximately 200 fans attended Saturday's game.

The Warhawks' lone touchdown was a 58-yard punt return by Seth Hornack early in the third quarter. Hornack was a strong safety at the University of Pittsburgh and led the Panthers in tackles in 1998.

Their oldest player is "Arms"Roberts, a 44-year-old, 300-pound fullback from Hopewell who played for the Beaver County Warriors last season. The Warhawks' average age is 23.

F.J. Swick led the Warhawks' running game with 12 carries for 42 yards.

Colts quarterback Paul Litner threw for 121 yards, including touchdown passes of 30 and 47 yards. Chaz Coleman set up two scores with punt returns of 32 and 34 yards and was on the receiving end of the 47-yard scoring toss.

The Colts rushed for 239 yards as a team and drove 68 yards on 12 plays for a touchdown on their first possession, eating 9:14 off the clock.

Brosky was a reserve fullback and special teams player on Pitt's 1976 national championship team.

"I attended their first meeting when they (Warhawks) decided to put a team together,"Brosky said. "I showed some of the methods we used to get things going.

"We want every team to get better. At this level, all we have is each other. Competitive games against competitive teams benefit everybody."

Butler County players on the Warhawks roster include Mangola, Haefner, Lang, Drew Kanagy, Bryan Borghi and Josh Kroepil from Seneca Valley, Scherer from Karns City, Joel Hills from Butler, Gabe Varrenti from Mars and Ralph Marasia from Freeport.

The Warhawks' next home game at NexTier Stadium is 7 p.m. July 15 against the Ohio Cardinals.