BUTLER TWP — Butler High's season-opening 28-21 victory at New Castle was one of the more exciting football games of the 2008 season.

Golden Tornado coach Jeff McAnallen doesn't care to see a repeat performance, however. He wants the win, but he'd rather get it in a less stressful fashion.

"The last thing we want is to get into a shootout with those guys," McAnallen said. "They've got four skilled kids who will be faster than anyone we'll see all year."

Butler kicks off its 2009 season against New Castle at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Art Bernardi Stadium.

Two of the four skilled players McAnallen referred to are running back Kevin Keene, who rushed for nearly 1,500 yards last season, and receiver JaJuan Jay, who had 32 receptions and 10 touchdowns.

"If we mess up one time and they get behind us, it's a touchdown. No doubt about that," McAnallen said.

Butler used scrimmages against Woodland Hills and Blackhawk to try piecing together a defense that returns only a couple of starters.

Instead, that defense grew thinner.

Nick Elliott, a returning starter at linebacker, injured a knee in the Woodland Hills scrimmage and hasn't practiced since. His status for Friday's game is still undetermined.

Defensive back Derek Lenhart injured a shoulder against Woodland Hills and is questionable as well. B.J. Hyatt and John Jaskot, two of the Tornado's best defensive linemen, have also been out.

Hyatt is battling the flu and Jaskot injured a hip.

"We've got a few more guys playing both ways right now because of these injuries," McAnallen said. "We were hoping to play about 25 guys regularly Friday. Now that number's closer to 20."

New Castle runs a spread offense and uses a lot of weapons in its attack.

"Our two middle linebackers, Aaron D'Amore and Jared Oesterling, have been doing a great job leading our defense," McAnallen said. "They'll have to make sure everyone's in the right place out there. They'll be calling the shots.

"New Castle went to the WPIAL (Class AAA) semifinals last year and they're ranked No. 2 in the WPIAL this year. This is a loaded team coming in here."

Butler will lean on a ball-control attack to keep the Red Hurricanes' speedy offense on the sidelines.

Fullback John Cumpston got dinged up against Blackhawk and junior John Barkus saw most of the snaps in that scrimmage. Jake Thompson remains at halfback.

"Jake follows his blockers really well and gets steady, positive yardage," McAnallen said. "He's not a breakaway back, but we want first downs.

"Cumpston, Barkus and Thompson — hopefully, all three of those guys will get plenty of carries Friday."

Quarterback Cole Harvey will play in the defensive backfield as well, and Ben Olean will be the punter "to give Cole a break," McAnallen said.

"Latrell McKnight and Dom Cook (6-foot-3, 265-pound senior) are two top defensive linemen for them we need to control," the coach pointed out. "Our offense needs to stay on the field."

McAnallen said he might use most of the four games before section play to get all of his defensive unit in place.

"We went into last year pretty set on defense," he said. "That's not the case now."

Note: The 2009 Butler Football Hometown Hero inductees, the O'Donnell family, Dave Cavalero, Don Dombart and Dr. John Graham, will be recognized on the field at 6:45 p.m. Friday. The honorees also will be available to visit with fans from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. in a tent across from the football locker room building.