BUTLER TWP — The numbers don't lie.

They show two painfully obvious keys to victory for Butler as the Golden Tornado football team prepares to host Mars at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Art Bernardi Stadium.

• Find a way to stop Planets fullback Austin Miele.

• Find a way to jump-start their own ground attack.

Butler has rushed for only 679 yards, averaging 3.4 yards per carry, and three touchdowns.

Miele has rushed for 860 yards, averaging 6 yards per carry, and 11 touchdowns for Mars.

The Tornado enter this game — Butler's first football get-together with Mars since 1943 — with an 0-6 record while the Planets (5-1) are riding a five-game winning streak.

"Miele is a strong, extremely polished kid who understands how to run," Butler coach Jim Rankin said. "He's a John Riggins-style back who can run over defenders rather than side-step them.

"I love that kind of back."

The Tornado's leading ground-gainer — and lone 100-yard rusher this season — is quarterback Zach Rader with 193 yards. He had 136 against Canon-McMillan.

Jordan Lumley has since reclaimed the starting spot behind center. Butler's most productive running back is Trevor Wideman with 167 yards on 34 carries.

"Our ground game has been anemic, and that might be overstating it," Rankin said. "We've been slow to get our blocking assignments down. I'm the coach. I have to take responsibility for that.

"We haven't shown a lot of poise up front. When we run outside, it's our (running) backs' responsibility to get blocks, and we've been failing in that area, too."

Rankin's blocking schemes have his linemen blocking areas, not a particular defensive player.

"That concept is new to these kids and we haven't gotten cohesive there yet," he said. "Each lineman has to take out whoever comes into his area, whether that's a lineman, linebacker, whoever.

"I'm not using injuries as an excuse, but we've had different guys at right tackle, left guard, center and tight end. ... We haven't had all that many reps together as a unit up front."

Sophomore Curtis Hunka replaced the injured T.J. Hays at center last week and likely will again Friday. Defensive lineman Ben McKnight also started on offense as well last week.

"I don't like having too many kids playing both ways, but we'll probably keep Ben in there," Rankin said.

The coach was encouraged by his team's passing game, kick return and kick coverage units against North Hills last week, despite a 34-0 loss.

Defensively, the return of sophomore inside linebacker Bob Vernick helped key a consistent effort.

"Bob Vernick makes a big difference in the middle of the field for us," Rankin said. "Canan Roskovski got his first start at free safety and played well. Jordan Lumley is improving at corner and Jarrod Werth did a nice job in his first start at corner.

"Throw in consistent play by David Hohn, Cole Baxter, (Matt) Pribis, Adam Steiner ... that unit is coming together. We need to help them by generating some first downs and playing field position.

"Dakoda Collins is making a difference for us at punter. He gets rid of the ball quickly," Rankin added.

Being a Class AAA team, Mars is in a "win-win situation coming up here to play us, and I'm sure they're excited about it.

"It's a neighborhood game. High school football needs more of these. I don't care who we're playing, we need a win or two. Ultimately, that's what we'll be judged on," the coach added.