This is one in a series of articles previewing Butler County high school football matchups this FridayBUTLER TWP — Unfinished business?Erie and Butler both must feel they have some entering their District 10 Class 6A football rematch Friday at Art Bernardi Stadium.While the Royals (1-3) won the first meeting, 35-25, they hurt themselves with 14 penalties totaling 150 yards. The Golden Tornado (0-4) lost an early 12-point lead and never recovered that night at Veterans Stadium in Erie.“They got the momentum late in the first half that night and by the time we righted ourselves, it was too late,” Butler coach Eric Christy said.“But we saw some things that night to make us believe we can win.”Butler scored four touchdowns in that first meeting — only the second time during its 24-game losing streak that it's scored that many — and moved the ball on the ground. Justin Kabay scored on a 34-yard run. Julian Jones scored on a 31-yard run. Kabay, Jones and quarterback Cooper Baxter all rushed for more than 60 yards in the contest.Baxter, injured in the Tornado's last game against Cathedral Prep, will return to action this week. In fact, he'll be playing middle linebacker on defense.With linebacker and leading tackler Evan Orloski out for the season with a knee injury, Baxter is plugging that gap.“We have two games left so we figure, let's move him in there and see what he can do,” Christy said.The coach added he will spell Baxter from time to time, possibly on both sides of the ball, as Mac Schnur showed promise once replacing Baxter at quarterback in the Cathedral Prep game.The Tornado will be leery of Erie's ground game. The Royals rolled up 384 yards rushing in the first game between the teams. Jermaine Selby had 142 yards on the ground, JJ Woodward 96 and Steve Smith 90.The Royals ran for over 300 yards again in last week's 41-22 loss to Cathdral Prep. Smith exploded for 238 yards — including touchdown runs of 60 and 78 yards.“He's a transfer from Mercyhurst Prep and a Division I prospect,” Christy said of Smith. “It's not hard to see why. That tight end (6-foot-8 Marquell Darnell) is a Division I prospect, too.“That team has athletes. It's got a big offensive line, too. Erie lines up and runs it ... to the right or to the left, but you know they're coming at you.”Butler was idle last week due to scheduled opponent McDowell temporarily shutting its program down because of a COVID-19 situation. The Tornado spent last Friday night watching the movie “Remember the Titans” in the auditorium.The folllwing day, a bunch of players helped a woman from Christy's church pack up for a move to Florida.“My best friend told me the woman needed help packing,” Christy said. “It was a good team bonding weekend.”Erie coach Rob Matz was unavailable for comment this week.

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.