BUTLER TWP — Step 2 of the process takes place Friday night at Art Bernardi Stadium.

Butler (0-1) hosts Norwin (1-0) at 7:30 p.m. in what should be a battle of similar game plans.

"They're going to try to do what we're going to try to do: Control the football," Golden Tornado coach Jeff McAnallen said.

The process for Butler is putting together a defense that can stop such an offense. New Castle ran 32 plays to the Tornado's 16 in the first half of Butler's 20-14 loss last week.

The Tornado managed only one first down in the first half, and New Castle mistakes, combined with a few sacks by Butler, prevented the Red Hurricanes from having a three- or four-touchdown lead by halftime.

"I'm pretty pleased with our linebacker play right now," McAnallen said. "Those guys are melding into a cohesive unit rather quickly."

Butler's starting linebackers are Brian Jendesky, Aaron D'Amore, Jarrod Oesterling and Cole Baxter. Nick Elliott, a returning starter from last year, remains sidelined by a knee injury sustained in the Woodland Hills scrimmage.

McAnallen said Elliott will be held out of the nonsection games while his overall prognosis is being determined.

"He really wants to play and we're hopeful of getting him back," the coach said.

Defensive back Derek Lenhart injured a shoulder in the Blackhawk scrimmage and missed the New Castle game. He returned to practice and will help spell Cole Harvey and Eli Christy in the secondary Friday night.

Butler controlled the ball in the fourth quarter against New Castle, putting together a 14-play scoring drive that took 6 minutes, 10 seconds.

"We may not be the strongest or fastest team on the field some nights, but we always want to be the team in the best condition," McAnallen said. "We want to wear defenses down.

"That was working Friday. We were definitely the team in better condition. We just ran out of time."

Now the Tornado face a Norwin team coming off a disappointing 3-7 season. The Knights' lone Quad South win was a 48-0 triumph over Connellsville.

Norwin opened 2009 with a 17-7 win at Seneca Valley, blocking a game-tying field goal attempt and returning it for a touchdown with less than a minute to play.

"We're similar in terms of size and everything we do," McAnallen said of Norwin. "They like to do a lot of things with Christian Bryan, a wide receiver/slot type of guy.

"They'll get the ball to him on little bubble passes, quick screens and slants. He's their go-to guy and we have to stop him to be successful."

Bryan had only three catches for 24 yards against Seneca Valley. Fullback Joel DeFelice had nine carries for 108 yards, including a 67-yard burst for a touchdown in the first quarter.

"They like running the fullback, but they actually run two different offenses," McAnallen said. "They'll drop into the shotgun and run some option off that. They'll also go to a power running game with DeFelice, Tyler Lukart and K'hari Singleton running the ball."

Butler running back Jake Thompson earned Butler Quarterback Club Player of the Week honors for the New Castle game. He ran for 63 yards and scored both Butler touchdowns.

One thing the Tornado can't afford to do this week is turn the ball over. They suffered five such miscues last week.

"A couple of those picks were just great plays by New Castle," McAnallen said. "Some of our running backs were starting in a real football game last week for the first time since ninth grade. They were a little antsy back there.

"They're our best backs and they can do it, but we can't afford to give the ball away with the type of offense we have. (Turnovers) hurt us last week, but it's a problem we can clean up."