BUTLER TWP — The numbers don't lie.

Butler's varsity football program has dropped 43 of its last 46 section games, including the last 27 in a row, and has beaten no team in the section but Seneca Valley since 2003.

Three assistant coaching positions remain vacant and eight players were sidelined early in camp with concussion-like symptoms.

Does that paint a bleak picture?

Not according to the Golden Tornado.

“We have a lot more unity this year,” senior running back-safety Jake Olenick said. “We're like a brotherhood, playing and working together.”

Senior fullback-linebacker Bob Vernick echoes those thoughts.

“I'm already seeing a big change from last year,” Vernick said. “We know the plays better and we're executing the plays better.

“We all need to work together, get on the same page and stay there in order to turn things around. I think we're in the process of doing that right now.”

Second-year head coach Clyde Conti is coming off a 2-7 debut season with the Tornado. The team won two of its first three games — snapping a 23-game losing streak in the process — before going winless in section play.

“We've got three assistant coaching vacancies because no one applied for them. Some kids who started last year didn't come back out this year. That's just where we're at,” Conti said. “It's disappointing, but we won't use anything as an excuse.

“We'll work with who's here and we feel like we've got some tools to work with.”

Butler will use the wing-T again this season, though the Tornado may throw the ball more often and run more plays out of the I-formation.

“We'll mix things up. We're looking at a lot of things,” Conti said.

Junior Tom Jendesky and senior Jordan Cratty are vying for the starting quarterback position. Sophomore Jamison Smith, son of former Butler quarterback Jamie Smith, is being developed as well.

The Tornado have a number of players they can use at running back and receiver. Vernick led the team with 373 yards on 59 carries last season. Olenick, Claude Clark and sophomore speedster Robert Burdine will see time in the backfield as well.

Canan Roskovski returns as Butler's top receiver. He had 19 catches for 251 yards and two touchdowns a year ago. Jake Alston and Pat Lokhaiser are other viable targets.

“Enough skilled kids are there,” Conti said. “Successful programs have that trigger man at quarterback to run the show, the type of leader everyone on the field believes in. We're in the process of developing that player. Our big challenge is in putting the line together.”

Senior Hayden Smith and junior Jake Lenhart are two linemen standing out early for the Tornado.

Two freshmen — kicker Devin Filz and fullback-linebacker David Dymun — will see varsity playing time this fall.

Defensively, Butler will play a 43. Senior Randy Moyer will be a nose guard and Vernick is an anchor at linebacker. Curtis Hunka will be a center-defensive lineman.

Two smaller sized linemen on defense are Chris Smith and Jake Hays.

“They give everything they've got and they're showing they can play,” Conti said.

“Play” is the key word for Butler this season.

“We tell the kids ... these are your friends. Go out, play football, play hard and enjoy,” Conti said. “This isn't life and death here, but we owe the commitment to each other.”