BUTLER TWP — The recent history of Butler High School football has been well-documented.

No winning season since 1997. No WPIAL playoff appearance since 2012. A record of 9-46 since then, including 0-10 last season.

Second-year head coach Eric Christy is entering this season as a Class 6A team with a 41-player roster.

“I coached for a while at Clarion-Limestone and we would have loved a roster this size,” Christy said. “But when you're going up against the Pine-Richland's, the Central Catholic's, the North Allegheny's ... It's kinda tough.

“This is what we've got and this is what we'll go with. Nobody wants to lose. These kids are buying into what we're trying to do here and the coaches appreciate that.”

“We may not have the numbers, but we've got a lot of good football players,” junior running back-linebacker Justin Kabay said. “We believe in each other.”

Senior receiver-defensive back Anthony Daviduk recognizes the task at hand.

“It's a limited roster, but we're a team that's pulling together and we'll fight together to win games,” he said. “We're not going to get discouraged. Winning a few games is the goal.”

The Golden Tornado return only four starters offensively: 280-pound guard Nate Cornibe, 265-pound tackle Anthony Scardina, wide receivers Daviduk and Zack Slomers.

Sophomore Cooper Baxter and senior Dylan Fediackzo are vying for time at quarterback.

“We'll decide between the two,” Christy said. “I think they both can play.”

They will be depending on a bevy of young linemen — along with Cornibe and Scardina — to protect them.

“Three of our five offensive linemen will be sophomores, and maybe a freshman. Ethan Babay is battling at center,” Christy said. “We will be young up front, but the ability is there. We're gonna have to grow up fast.”

Butler is deep at receiver, with 6-foot-5 sophomore Charlie Kreinbucher, Keith Young, Colin Look and Austin Rodgers in the mix with Daviduk and Slomers.

Baxter and Fediackzo stand 6-1 and 6-2, respectively, and can throw the football. But while an air game may seem promising with this personnel group, Christy prefers to say grounded.

“This is western Pennsylvania,” he said. “You have to be able to run the football. It's hard to throw in bad weather and we get our share of that around here.

“I'm not saying we won't throw the ball. But whether we use the run to set up the pass or the pass to set up the run ... We have to be able to run the ball to be successful.”

Evan Orloski and Julian Jones are among the prime contenders at fullback. Looking for time at tailback are Kabay, Trent Valent, Isaiah Kelly and Cole Slezak. Shane Wentling is the tight end.

The Tornado have six starters returning defensively, including four manning the defensive front. They are tackles Cornibe and Scardina, ends Hunter Neff and Lance Rihn.

Cornerback Daviduk and safety Slomers are also back.

“We've got a lot of two-way starters. That's how it has to be with our numbers,” Christy said.

Orloski and Kabay have the inside track at linebacker. Helping out at defensive back will be Look, Baxter, Fediackzo and Rodgers.

Emery Douthett, a senior, returns as place-kicker and will take over the punting duties as well.

“A lot of our sophomores will get varsity time,” Christy said. “We can't have a JV team because of our numbers and that's unfortunate.

“The road may be bumpy for a while, but we do have a talented sophomore class and a good crop of freshmen coming up behind them.”

Despite his small roster, Christy sees a lot of positives in the players he does have.

“We did some 7 on 7's this summer and we competed with other teams. It was fun,” he said. “Everybody's coming together in this system.

“We play in the toughest league in the state, maybe one of the toughest in the country. It's a super schedule and playing those teams can be frustrating. But we have a lot of young guys who want to learn.”