Next challenge
BUTLER TWP — Pine-Richland is 0-3. Butler doesn’t care.
The Golden Tornado varsity football team (2-1, 0-1) will look for their first Northern Seven conference win since 2006 when they hit the road to face the Rams in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday.
“This program hasn’t won a section game since our seniors were in seventh grade,” Butler coach Clyde Conti said. “Is there any chance whatsoever we’re going to treat any opponent lightly? No.
“We’re still going to be the underdog in every game we play. We know that.”
Pine-Richland owns the reputation of being a consistent team offensively over the years. The Rams’ passing game has produced 470 yards through three games.
Conversely, the Tornado defense has permitted 51 first downs in their first three contests.
“We need to find a way to contain that offense,” Conti acknowledged. “The better we play defense, the longer we’ll keep ourselves in the game. That’s true about any week.”
Butler has lost six fumbles in the past two games, putting its defense in rough situations at times. Tornado quarterback Zach Rader has not thrown an interception, though he’s completed just 7-of-22 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown thus far.
“We don’t talk about fumbles or interceptions, we talk about protecting the football in general,” Conti said. “If you’re going to be a good team, you have to protect the ball.”
Butler’s 16-6 win over Canon McMillan last week was fueled by a running game that produced 223 yards against the Big Macs. Conti switched from the wing-T to the I-formation for that game.
Bob Vernick rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown — giving him a team-leading 207 yards on the year — while Kolby Kriess had 22 carries for 98 yards in his first varsity start.
“That was just a method of attack, a feel we had for what we’d be facing last week,” Conti said. “Sometimes you attack the scheme of your opponent.
“Kolby can be effective as an I-back. That’s one of his strengths. We try to be fair to all of these kids and play to their strengths.”
Trevor Wideman had three interceptions last week and blocked a PAT kick to keep Butler in the lead early.
“Trevor’s been nursing an injury for a while and he’s a very talented boy,” Conti said. “We moved him around back there and he kept making plays for us.
“We have to play great team defense this week. We want to pursue the football, play to the whistle and keep being aggressive.”
While the Rams are 0-3, Conti said they could be 2-1. Mars scored a last-minute touchdown for a 21-20 win two weeks ago and North Hills stopped Pine-Richland on the NH 14-yard line late to preserve a 21-17 triumph.
“And you’re talking about Mars and North Hills, two darn good teams,” Conti said. “This is typical Pine-Richland and I’m sure their approach to this game is that they need a win.
“Their defense is quick and really moves. Their linebackers are athletic, long kids. We need to match the intensity they’re going to bring.”
Butler is 0-3 against Pine-Richland since the Rams moved to Quad-A in 2008. Pine-Richland defeated the Tornado 21-14 in 2008, 28-6 in 2009 and 35-7 last year.
