BUTLER TWP— Through four games, it has become obvious Butler's football program has room to grow.

So do Butler's players, for that matter.

The Golden Tornado (0-4) were outscored 146-37 in their four exhibition games leading up to Friday night's conference opener against Erie McDowell (3-1) at Art Bernardi Stadium.

The worst of those defeats was the last — a 62-13 trouncing by Bethel Park last Friday.

"Looking at the films, it appeared we were just outmanned,"Butler coach Jeff McAnallen said. "Bethel Park has a very strong and physical team.

"When we were making tackles, our guys were being dragged an extra two, three, four yards. We were in position to make tackles, but had trouble bringing guys to the ground."

McAnallen left his defensive backs in single coverage on Bethel's receivers and big passing plays occurred as a result.

"Their receivers ran good routes and the quarterback put the ball on the money,"McAnallen said. "They took some chances against our defense and they hurt us.

"At the same time, we're learning. Eli Christy got beat on a deep ball, then nearly came up with an interception when they ran the same play later on."

Christy and Tony Fudoli were two players McAnallen cited for continually playing hard under adversity. Fudoli was named the Butler Quarterback Club's Player of the Week. He caught a screen pass and rambled 52 yards for a touchdown.

"We had a lot of guys who kept fighting for four quarters, despite the score," the coach said. "That was encouraging.

"We're playing a bunch of sophomores and juniors who just aren't as physically strong yet as the seniors and juniors we've been lining up against. That's something we'll look at when the season's over. For now, we have to adjust and do what we can to win some football games."

Butler will make a couple of personnel adjustments up front this week. Sophomore Dylan O'Donnell will start at right guard while junior Jordan Emrick will start on the defensive line.

Besides that, McAnallen said his defense will become more mobile against McDowell, another physical team. The Tornado play in a conference known for physical football, in fact.

"No question about that,"McAnallen said. "Teams in this league take pride in lining up and running the football right at you. We have to find a way to stop it."

McDowell returns a 1,000-yard running back from last season in A.J. Fenton. The Trojans scored a 20-7 win over Butler in Erie last year.

"They will try to get the ball in Fenton's hands any way they can,"McAnallen said. "That team hasn't been throwing the ball very much. If they keep gaining yardage running the ball, they'll keep giving it to him all night.

"Our defense has to move around and run past blocks if we can't get through them."

On offense, the coach admitted his team has to find ways to run the ball more effectively. Christos Klutinoty leads the ground attack with 25 carries for 152 yards, but much of his yardage has come against loose defenses when the game was already decided.

Klutinoty has a swollen knee and is listed as day-to-day by McAnallen

Quarterback Cole Harvey has rushed for 142 yards. No other Butler player has generated 100 total rushing yards through four games.

Harvey has thrown for 216 yards in the past two weeks and has not thrown an interception in the past three games. Tight end Jared Oesterling leads the receiving corps with 11 receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown.