Driving Forward
BUTLER TWP — Butler is in the WPIAL playoffs.
But Butler's football season is not over.
That's the message second-year coach Clyde Conti has for his team this week.
The Golden Tornado (4-4, 3-3) close the regular season at 7:30 p.m. Friday, hosting Central Catholic (6-2, 4-2) at Art Bernardi Stadium.
“It's exciting that we're in the playoffs and we'll line up and play hard that night against whoever they give us,” Conti said. “But right now, our focus still has to be on getting better.
“A lot of people think anything else we do this year is gravy, but I don't feel that way. We need to keep striving for more. You can't be satisfied at this point.
“This Central Catholic team is very, very good. They have to be one of the top-five teams in the WPIAL,” he added.
Conti said North Allegheny and Seneca Valley — the two teams to defeat Central — are in the top four. Besides losing to those two, the Vikings have allowed only one touchdown all season.
Butler's running game has produced five players averaging more than 5 yards per carry. Quarterback Jordan Cratty has gained 331 yards while averaging 5.2; Jake Olenick has 439 yards and is averaging 6.5; Claude Clark 474 yards while averaging 5.7.
Bob Vernick has 148 yards and a 5.1 average while Kolby Kriess, on the injured list in recent weeks, has 263 yards and an average of 5.3.
“Some of our offensive linemen have only been practicing for a couple of weeks and they're in there contributing,” Conti said. “Chris Smith has done a nice job that way and Eric Hindman, a sophomore, has already played tight end, tackle and guard for us this year.
“We've been doing a lot of running behind Hayden Smith and Curtis Hunka's been our most consistent lineman all year.”
Conti also lauded the play of Ryan McCrea and Gunther Gaiser up front.
Passing-wise, Cratty has completed 31 aerials for 479 yards and three touchdowns. Canan Roskovski has 20 catches for 344 yards and two of those scores.
No other Butler player has caught more than six passes in 2012.
“I'm pretty pleased with the progress we've made this year,” Conti said. “The boys have been working hard and we've got a good group of young assistants who have taught well.
“We've got great team chemistry. It's been fun.”
Defensively, outside linebacker Bob Vernick leads the Tornado with 84 tackles, including 53 solos. Jeremy Hanford and Jake Hays are averaging 7.0 and 5.6 tackles per game, respectively, though their play has been limited by injuries.
Friday's game will be Senior Night at Butler High School.
“The seniors on this team have been through an ordeal during their football careers here,” Conti said. “But they've stayed loyal to the sport and hopefully, the Butler community is happy for what they've accomplished this year.
“These kids deserve to be honored and recognized. They deserve a large turnout on their behalf.”
