FOX CHAPEL — Eric Ravotti has been around football for a long time.

He was a linebacker at Freeport, Penn State and briefly with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now he’s in his second year as head coach at Fox Chapel.

And he knows a team’s toughest opponent can often times be itself.

“That’s how it’s gone for us this year,” Ravotti said of the Foxes. “Having kicks blocked, interceptions returned for touchdowns, 100-yard penalty games ... That’s been our season.”

The Foxes (1-6, 1-4) travel to Butler (3-4, 2-4) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday. The game is a must-win if Fox Chapel is to return to the WPIAL playoffs. The team finished 3-7 last year, losing 53-20 to North Allegheny in the first round.

“We’ve got some athletes and we’ve got some speed, but we have to give ourselves a chance,” Ravotti said. “Our pass blocking has been poor at best. Our defense has been poor at best.

“We’ve had problems stopping the run and Butler has been running the ball on just about everybody.”

Fox Chapel’s athletic prowess begins with 6-foot-6 junior quarterback Brandon Mitchell, who has only been playing the position since the third week of this season.

Mitchell is a transfer from Penn Hills with plenty of speed and raw ability.

“Brandon’s still working on his ability to read defenses and make decisions with the ball in his hands,” Ravotti said. “We haven’t thrown the ball more than four or five times in recent games.”

When Mitchell does throw the ball, senior receiver Nate Huwar is a dependable target. He caught 19 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns last year while leading the team in receiving.

In games the Foxes have fared well in, they’ve run the ball extremely well. Carrington Vaughn ran for 105 yards and three touchdowns while Nigel Garnett rushed for 123 yards and Chad Garnett 101 in a 49-14 victory over Shaler.

In last week’s 27-20 loss to Baldwin, Mitchell rushed for 124 yards and Nigel Garnett ran for 104.

“Problem is, we probably fumbled the ball away five or six times in our last two games,” Ravotti said.

Defensively, the Foxes have allowed an average of 32 points per game.

“The Garnett boys have been outstanding at cornerback,” Ravotti said. “Honestly, I think they’re the best in our section at that position.

“Overall, though, our tackling has been poor and it’s cost us.”

Special teams have been solid, led by senior place-kicker Ben Mroz and junior punter Connor Duquette. Ravotti said both will likely kick in college.

“Some Division II schools are looking at Ben now,” the coach said. “(Former Steeler punter) Josh Miller is a good friend of mine and has been working with our kickers. He’s high on both of those guys.”

Ravotti described his overall unit as “a young team that needs to grow up fast.”

Ravotti has known Butler coach Clyde Conti all of his life.

“There is no person I respect more than him. He’s meant that much to me,” Ravotti said. “The job he has done at Butler in such a short time is remarkable.

“He has them playing at another level. I think it’s a long shot for us to beat them.”