Jim Rankin

BUTLER TWP — The Butler football team should be closer to winning than it's been. Jim Rankin knows that.

The first-year Golden Tornado coach has gone beyond wins and losses, however.

When Butler (0-5, 0-3) faces unbeaten North Hills (5-0, 2-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Art Bernardi Stadium, he's looking for effort.

"I'll throw out the North Allegheny game because, frankly, we're just not there and they are there," Rankin said. "But Pine-Richland, Shaler, Canon-McMillan, Seneca Valley — we should be competitive with those programs.

"30-6 (loss to Shaler), 35-7 (loss to Pine-Richland) — we shouldn't be looking at scores like that."

Sophomore linebacker Bob Vernick and sophomore tight end Travis Reed, two tornado standouts, missed the Shaler game last week with injuries, "but that's football. You have to overcome that stuff," Rankin added.

Butler carries a 19-game losing streak into Friday's game.

"Do your job, follow your assignments, play with enthusiasm and intensity. That's my expectation of these kids," Rankin said. "Play with discipline, toughness and play together.

"There's no magic solution to the problems with our offensive line. It hasn't progressed at all. I know it's repetitive, but it's about knowing your assignments and executing them with that enthusiasm and toughness," he added.

Rankin rattled off a number of names — Cole Baxter, Matt Pribis, Adam Steiner, Ben McKnight, Tanner Wahler, David Hohn, Vernick, Jordan Allen — on the roster who he believes are high-quality football players.

"And I know I've missed some guys," he said. "The point is we have enough talent here to win. That can't be an excuse."

Nor can failing to put forth the maximum effort on game night.

"Football is played by millions of kids on Friday night," Rankin said. "We're not the only team in the world trying to win a game.

"It's a game. We just have to relax, have fun, go out there and do it."

Butler hasn't defeated North Hills since pinning a 28-20 loss on the then-unbeaten Indians in 2000.

Rankin is unsure whether Zach Rader or Jordan Lumley will start at quarterback Friday, but said both would likely see time there.

Neither has thrown a touchdown pass. Sophomore Jordan Cratty tossed Butler's first TD pass to Jacob Alston on the final play of the Shaler game last week.

Versatile senior quarterback Taylor Schmidt heads the North Hills attack. He has had 100-yard games rushing and passing.

"We have a defensive plan to control their quarterback. That has to be done," Rankin said. "And we have to attack their defense because the strength of North Hills football is always their defense.

"We have to move the ball forward, get positive yards on first and second down and not set ourselves back with penalties. Our punting game has to improve because field position is critical against this team," he added.

Rankin said he knows his team wants to win. He said that's not enough.

"You have to go out and just do it. Our problem is from the neck up at this point," he said.