SHALER TWP — With 16 starters back, Shaler football coach Neil Gordon had plenty of reasons for optimism this fall.

Then came the season-opening 49-0 loss to Upper St. Clair — with a number of those starters on the sidelines nursing injuries.

“That shows how fast it can come and go,” Gordon said.

Those starters have been coming back. And the Titans have been winning games.

Shaler (3-1, 1-0) carries a three-game winning streak into Friday’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff against Butler at Art Bernardi Stadium. The Titans are also carrying an eight-game winning streak against the Golden Tornado.

“This is a different Butler team, now, though,” Gordon cautioned. “They have good size, a better attitude and they’re nore athletic.

“They run to the ball and they hit you.”

Shaler returns seven starters on both sides of the ball, including 6-foot-2 senior quarterback Ryan Mincher, 6-4, 245-pound tight end J.P. Holtz and wide receiver Sean Gavin.

Mincher was injured four plays into the Upper St. Clair game. He has since returned to lead wins of 34-13 over Hempfield, 21-13 over Bethel Park and 26-14 over North Hills.

He completed eight of 12 passes for 113 yards vs. North Hills last week and Holtz rushed for three touchdowns. Niko Thorpe, a sophomore, rushed for 101 yards on 21 carries against the Indians.

Shaler also had four interceptions in that game — two by cornerback Alex Conway, one each by Gavin and linebacker Joe Primola.

“We hadn’t been forcing turnovers before last week, so that was nice to see,” Gordon said. “Holtz is primarily our tight end, but we’ll line him up elsewhere on occasion just to give a different look.”

The versatile Holtz is headed to Penn State to play football next year.

Holtz and Gavin both rushed for 120 yards in the Titans’ win over Hempfield. Mincher completed 14 of 18 passes for 294 yards and five touchdowns in that game.

“Mincher is a good athlete with a great understanding of the game,” Gordon said. “He can audibilize, read a defense and find the open man.

“He’s just a heady kid who is also very athletic.”

Mincher plays point guard on the Shaler basketball team and is “probably the best shortstop in Western Pennsylvania,” Gordon said. Mincher is being courted by the University of Pennsylvania in the Ivy League.

The Titans are not completely healthy yet. Tailback Sean Miller, guard Sean Boyle and inside linebacker Brandon Berringer — all would-be starters — are not expected to play Friday.

Gordon described his team’s kicking game as “below average.”

“Holtz is our punter and has a strong leg, but we missed an extra point last week and our return games have not been there,” the coach said.