BUTLER TWP — Get the rivalry back to where it was.

Such is Butler football coach Eric Christy's long-range goal concerning his team's matchup with Seneca Valley at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Art Bernardi Stadium.

The winner receives the Butler Eagle Traveling Trophy — a piece of hardware the Golden Tornado haven't gotten their hands on since 2006.

“The Butler-Seneca game should be the premiere rivalry around here,” Christy said. “But you can't have much of a rivalry when the same team wins all the time.

“We talked about that trophy with the kids back in the preseason. We know how important it is to make this rivalry more balanced again and to break that streak.”

While the Raiders are off to a 3-1 start — 2-1 in Quad County Conference play — Butler has lost its first four games via the mercy rule. The Tornado have been outscored 207-34, including 186-7 in the first half.

The lone Butler score in the first half came on an Andrew Kline interception return for a touchdown against Mt. Lebanon.

“It's pretty muich been the same story,” Christy said. “We need to get off to better starts. That all starts with preparation.”

And preparation has been a problem for a Butler team depleted by injuries. Quarterback Matt Rairigh will likely be sidelined another three weeks with a knee injury. Kyler Callihan, the Tornado's leading rusher this season with 168 yards, will get his second consecutive start at quarterback.

Callihan completed four passes for 36 yards last week at Pine-Richland.

“Kyler has no experience at that position, so he's not reading the defense or going through progressions ... He's just playing backyard football and he made it work a few times.

“He's dropping back and finding the open guy. That's how we have to go right now.”

Sophomore running back Byron Manchester is in concussion protocol and likely won't play Friday. He has scored three of Butler's six touchdowns this season.

Running backs will be a mix of Chris Mertz, Darin Skidmore and J.R. Herold. Trent Valent ran for 51 yards in the second half at Pine-Richland and may warrant some carries as well.

“We'll go by committee unless someone develops a hot hand,” Christy said.

Pine-Richland hit Butler with a successful onside kick to begin last week's game. It was the second straight game the Tornado allowed a successful onside kick to be executed.

“We were completely aware an onside kick would be coming at some point,” Christy said. “We had a guy who was supposed to line up at the 40-yard line on the kickoff and he lined up on the 35 instead.

“When we asked him why, his answer was 'I don't know.' We get the 'I don't know' answer a lot from our kids. Until we break down that wall, our practices can only go so well.”

Butler had only 36 healthy players last week out of a roster of 53. That will be the approximate number the Tornado will take the field with against Seneca Valley.

“We want to go hard in practice to get the kids more physical and intense, but guys have been getting hurt in practice as a result,” Christy said.

“When we're forced to take it easy in practice, we get too soft. We have to find a fine line in there someplace.”

Kline leads the Tornado defensively with 21 solo tackles. Callihan has 12, Zach Slomers and Herold 11 each.

“Seneca Valley has a solid football team all the way around,” Christy said. “Their defense has been strong and their quarterback (Gabe Lawson) has been effective.

“We're back at home and we'll see what we can do to keep the trophy here.”