This is one in a series of articles previewing Butler County high school football matchups this weekend.BUTLER TWP — Out of the frying pan, into the fire?Butler's 2020 high school football opener seems to have that feel.The Golden Tornado, winless the past two seasons and playing a District 10 schedule this year, travel to Dollinger Field in Erie for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday against Cathedral Prep.The Ramblers are coming off an 11-3 season, losing to Thomas Jefferson in the Class 5A state playoffs. Cathedral Prep has won five state championships since 2000.Mike Mischler is 196-45 in 18 seasons of coaching there, including 53-16 in playoff games.“We saw their scrimmage against North Allegheny and they were going toe-to-toe with them,” Butler coach Eric Christy said. “That team is definitely on a par with NA.”Butler and Cathedral Prep haven't played each other since 2006, when the Golden Tornado dropped a 41-20 decision at Art Bernardi Stadium to close the regular season. The Tornado hold a 3-2 edge in the all-time series.The Ramblers lost plenty from last year's team, including 1,387-yard passing quarterback Colin Johnson, 1,474-yard rusher Luke Sittinger and five of the defense's six leading tacklers.“That doesn't matter much,” Christy said. “They are still a state title-contending team. They played two guys at quarterback last year and it looks like they've got two more this year.”Tamar Sample, a senior, threw for 713 yards, 13 touchdowns and only two interceptions in part-time duty in 2019. He also rushed for 340 yards and four touchdowns and becomes the starter this year.“This is the most seniors I've ever lost in one year,” Mischler said. “We only have one and a half starters back on both sides of the ball.“We have one starter back on the offensive line. But this is the fun time of year for me, trying to put a team together.”Cathedral Prep's top four receivers have graduated. Maurice Troop, a senior, is the top returnee there with seven catches for 111 yards. Senior middle linebacker Jaheim Williams had 114 tackles last season.The Ramblers forced 28 turnovers — including 19 interceptions — in 14 games a year ago. Sophomore kicker Cole Constable booted 60 PATs as a freshman.“We know what we're up against,” Christy said. “We don't have a senior starter on our offensive line. We're starting three sophomores there.”One returning starter up front — Jake Pomykata — has just been cleared to return from injury.The Tornado were outscored 3-1 by Upper St. Clair in their scrimmage last weekend.“Both sides were pretty bland with what we were doing,” Christy admitted. “It was good to get out and get a feel for things.”Isaiah Kelly, Julian Jones, Steven Green, Byron Manchester, Justin Kabay and Evan Orloski will all see time in Butler's backfield, which will enlist different formations. Lance Slater and James Schoeffel are the main receivers.“Butler runs some Wing-T and that could give us problems,” Mischler said. “Their quarterback (Cooper Baxter) is a good athlete. At this point, after just one scrimmage, we just don't know very much about ourselves or the opponent right now.”Christy is also learning.“Julian had a great scrimmage at defensive tackle,” Christy said. “Mac Schnur looked really good at cornerback and Kabay was strong at linebacker.”

The Eagle sports staff's third season of Upon Further Review, a weekly show discussing Butler County area high school football, can be viewed on the Butler Eagle Sports Facebook page.