Butler looking for a break
BUTLER TWP — After being out-scored 174-14 the past three weeks and fielding only 27 healthy players a week ago, Butler is looking for a break.
The schedule-maker may have given it one.
The Golden Tornado (0-5, 0-3) travel to Norwin (1-4, 0-3) for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday looking to end a 15-game losing streak dating back to last year.
“I like (Norwin coach) Dave Brozeski a lot,” Butler coach Eric Christy said. “He's one of the guys I truly respect a lot in this business.
“But our kids have had this game circled on the schedule just like I'm sure their kids have had this game circled on the schedule.”
Norwin's lone win is a 28-13 non-conference victory over Chartiers Valley two weeks ago. The Knights have scored 17 points in their three Quad County Conference games, getting shut out by North Allegheny and Pine-Richland.
Norwin does have nine starters returning offensively, including third-year quarterback Jack Salopek. Committed to Western Michigan, Salopek had thrown for 653 yards and five touchdowns, getting intercepted only one time through four games.
“He's a great kid,” Christy said. “I got to talk to him for quite a while down at Pitt when he and I were at the same game.
“I root for him every game he plays except when it's against us.”
Salopek spreads the ball around as well. Sean Paulik has 12 catches for 216 yards, Ty Bilinsky 11 for 135 and Connor Chrisman eight for 141.
“He's the real deal,” Christy said of Salopek. “They've had a lot of success throwing the ball and he's spread it around to multiple kids.”
Of the 27 players suited up for last week's 55-0 loss at Seneca Valley, Butler dressed only 10 upperclassmen (juniors and seniors). One of those was kicker Emory Douthett.
Another was a first-year senior “who primarily plays special teams for us,” Christy said.
Senior lineman Nate Cornibe, a Division I college prospect, sat out last week with an injury, but returns to action Friday.
“Our line consisted of foir sophomores starting and a sophomore and freshman backing them up,” Christy said of the Seneca Valley game. “We're getting a few kids back this week, so that situation should improve.
“I feel like Norwin's line is competitive to ours in terms of size and strength. We shouldn't be outmanned there, so I feel like we can compete in this game.”
The coach admitted he felt bad breaking down game film to his young players after last week's loss.
“There we were going over mistakes they made in a varsity game when, in reality, our kids should have been in a JV game,” Christy said. “But this is the challenge we face every week. It's rough, but we're not backing down from it.
“These kids keep coming back each week and giving all they have against really difficult odds. They deserve a lot of credit and respect for that.”
Norwin leads the series between the teams 8-3, including wins of 7-6 and 42-0 the past two seasons.
“We'll really see where we're going when the off-season arrives,” Christy said. “We'll see how many kids run right to the weight room to get bigger and stronger and how many kids just talk the talk.”
Brozeski could not be reached for comment.
