BUTLER TWP — A phone call ended Butler High School's football season Friday afternoon.

The Golden Tornado's scheduled season finale against Erie Friday night at Art Bernardi Stadium — already rescheduled from two weeks ago — was canceled due to a COVID-19 issue at Erie High School.

“I got a call at about 3:20 (Friday afternoon) from their athletic director,” Butler athletic director Bill Mylan said. “They had two kids test positive up there and he informed me they weren't coming.

“He was very apologetic about it. The timing was pretty rough. But, of course, it's understandable.”

The news was hard to handle for the Golden Tornado players and coaches.

“My phone is blowing up right now,” Butler coach Eric Christy said. “The kids want to get together and do something tonight, something as a team.

“I feel badly for everybody, particularly our seniors. They were geared up for their final game, a shot at a third straight win and big finish ... just like that, it's taken away.”

Butler (2-4) was looking to win three straight games on the field in a season for the first time since 1998. The Tornado were also looking to avenge a 35-25 loss at Erie earlier this year. The Royals rushed for 382 yards in that game.

“We were confident that wasn't going to happen again,” Christy said. “I was anxious to see how our defensive adjustments would fare against that team. Now we're never going to know.”

Erie will not play McDowell for the District 10 Class 6A title next week. Butler is not replacing the Royals in that game.

Butler becomes the third Butler County varsity football team to lose a game to the pandemic. Freeport didn't play two scheduled games this year and Seneca Valley's season opener with North Allegheny was postponed.

Christy said the coaching staff has exit interviews scheduled with the players this coming week, along with a pizza party.

“We have our entire offensive line coming back next year,” the coach said. “We'll hit the weights and try to get faster, bigger and stronger for next year.

“We definitely want to build on how we finished this season.”