BUTLER TWP — Butler is looking for a way to stop the bleeding this week.

Its opponent may not cooperate.

The Golden Tornado football team (2-3) plays their first nonconference game of the season Friday when it hosts unbeaten Upper St. Clair for homecoming at 7:30 p.m. at Art Bernardi Stadium.

The Panthers have permitted only 32 points through five games.

“I haven’t seen anybody move the ball on them yet,” Butler coach Clyde Conti said.

Butler has been shut out the past two weeks on the road, dropping decisions of 14-0 at North Hills and 49-0 at North Allegheny. The Tornado have been moving the ball, however, generating 31 first downs and 303 rushing yards in those two games combined.

“We’ve made great gains in this program over the past year,” Conti said. “In conference play last year, we couldn’t move the ball at all on people.

“We haven’t been able to finish drives at times this year. Last week, we made mistakes that are not indicative of who we are.”

Butler committed four turnovers in the first half last week in falling behind NA 42-0 by intermission. The Tornado had only six turnovers in their first four games.

While injuries have been a problem for Butler all year, the ailments are beginning to mount. Leading rusher Kolby Kriess — also a stellar defensive player — was hurt in the second quarter last week and will not play Friday. Quarterback Jordan Cratty was banged up and did not play last week, nor did all-purpose back Jake Olenick.

Olenick ran for 141 yards in Week 2 against Shaler and is the lone Butler running back to post a 100-yard rushing game this season.

“We’ll know something definitive on Kolby Friday in terms of how long he may be out,” Conti said. “Jordan and Jake’s status are up in the air right now.”

Tom Jendesky filled in for Cratty last week and netted 51 yards rushing on 15 carries, despite being sacked three times. He has completed 6 of 10 passes for 38 yards.

Cratty threw for 353 yards and rushed for 119 through Butler’s first four games.

“We’ve gone to the mid-line offense with some success in recent weeks,” Conti said. “We used that exact offense with (quarterback) Jono Powell with great success when I was at Slippery Rock.

“Here, a successful (mid-line) play has been a 6-yard gain. There, it was six points. But, obviously, the caliber of competition is a lot different.”

With Kriess out, Conti said Claude Clark (36 carries-230 yards), Bob Vernick (18-111) and sophomore Robert Burdine will get more carries in the backfield. Vernick had eight carries for 48 yards last week after carrying the ball only 10 times in four games.

A linebacker, Vernick leads the Tornado defense with 48 tackles, including 32 solo stops.

“We have a lot of scrappers on this team who I really respect,” Conti said. “Vernick is a kid who can step on to a roster at North Allegheny or Upper St. Clair and fit right in with those people.

“Upper St. Clair averages 260 pounds across the front. They have a 6-foot-4, 275-pound right tackle who is extremely quick. Our starting guards from last year didn’t come out, our tackles haven’t been healthy ... Curtis Hunka at center has been our only regular lineman.”

Canan Roskovski continues to be the Tornado’s go-to receiver with 16 catches for 250 yards. Jake Alston is next on Butler’s receiving list with five catches for 32 yards.

Jake Hays with 28 tackles and Lucas Dubyak with 125 join Vernick as consistent stalwarts defensively.

“We’re going through a tough stretch of schedule, but you have to keep moving forward,” Conti said. “I like going up against the top teams.

“If you want to build something and you’re looking for a measuring stick, you have to be willing to compete against the best kids.”