UPPER ST. CLAIR — When it rains, it pours.

Already saddled with a stretch of playing WPIAL powers North Allegheny, Upper St. Clair and Central Catholic in the span of five weeks, Butler took the field without three key players Friday night.

Quarterback Tom Jendesky, all-purpose player Matt Christy and tight end Chris Smith did not see action because of injuries in the Golden Tornado's 37-0 football loss at Upper St. Clair.

Butler (1-5) managed but 55 yards net offense and did not complete a pass in becoming the unbeaten Panthers' fifth consecutive shutout victim.

“We had to do some shuffling around with players tonight, but injuries are a part of it — especially in this sport,” Butler coach Clyde Conti said.

“Our kids never stopped playing hard, never stopped competing.”

The Panthers (6-0) were simply too much to handle.

“Try as we could, we couldn't block them,” Conti said. “Those kids are big, strong, quick, athletic. That's the best team we've seen this year.

“They are going to be an awfully tough out in the playoffs. I'd like to see the team that beats those guys.”

Butler produced only two first downs all night. The first was on a 23-yard run by Lucas Dubyak on the game's second snap from scrimmage. Dubyak eventually left the game with an injury himself and may not be available next week.

Butler's second first down occurred late in the game. The Tornado punted nine times.

Upper St. Clair took a 28-0 lead into halftime. Three of the scores were set up by Morgan Lee punt returns of 21, 39 and 31 yards, bringing the ball deep into Butler territory.

The Panthers also put together an 11-play, 81-yard drive in the second quarter. That ended with Joe Repischak's 20-yard touchdown pass to Ben Haus.

Repischak completed 8-of-9 passes for 89 yards. USC had 11 different players carry the football.

“I was taking my starters out after the first possession of the third quarter regardless,” Panthers coach Jim Render said. “I told the other coaches I was pulling them no matter how that went.”

Stephen Mackowick scored on a 26-yard run to cap a 66-yard drive with the first possession of the second half. Up 35-0 at that point, Render went to his second-string unit.

“Jim Render is the best coach there is,” Conti said. “He does things right.”

Upper St. Clair has not been scored upon for 22 consecutive quarters — or since Woodland Hills scored 10 points on the Panthers in the season opener.

“That's a source of pride for the kids, sure,” Render said. “But we don't go into every game we play thinking shutout. We do spend a good amount of time each week preparing for that opponent.

“Even after we take our starters out, if the other team scores, they score. That (shutout streak) is not an end-all goal of ours.”

The Tornado never drove inside USC's 45-yard line. David Dimun recovered a fumble at the Panthers' 45 with 5:52 left in the third quarter, but Butler could not advance the ball from there.

Jeremy Hanford recovered a USC fumble at the Tornado 30 to stop the Panthers' first possession.

Jamison Smith made his first varsity start at quarterback for the Tornado.

“That was a tough way to start, going against that team,” Conti said of Smith. “We worked on some different things to try against them. ... They were just too good.”

Butler closes its home schedule on Friday, hosting Hempfield at Art Bernardi Stadium.