Butler run defense faces challenge
BUTLER TWP — Bad news: Butler’s defense allowed 275 yards rushing last week in a 35-28 win over Shaler.
Worse news: Meadville running backs Khalon Simmons and Brady Walker combined for 338 yards rushing in the Bulldogs’ 55-6 win at Corry.
The Golden Tornado travel to Meadville for a 7 p.m. football kickoff Friday night with their mission painfully obvious.
“We have to plug the gaps, take better angles to the runner and make tackles,” Butler coach Eric Christy said. “(Linebacker) Cooper McTighe had a strong game for us last week, but overall, our run defense has to be much better.”
Meadville runs a Wing-T and rarely throws the football. The Bulldogs put the ball in the air only four times last week, their lone completion resulting in a 43-yard touchdown toss from Simmons to Nicholas Williams.
The Bulldogs dropped a 27-13 decision at Butler early last season. The team wound up winning the District 10 Class 4A title and advanced to the state quarterfinals before losing to Jersey Shore.
“We only returned three starters on offense and defense last year,” ninth-year Meadville coach Raymond Collins said. “I wasn’t sure what kind of team we’d wind up having. We were still trying to figure things out when we came down to Butler.
“All we lost was one starter from last year. We’ve got three excellent backs in our Wing-T and we’ll one up Khalon at quarterback and spread things out at times. He rushed for 80 yards out of that formation last week, too.”
Simmons had 203 yards rushing and four touchdowns at Corry. Walker rushed for 135 yards and a score.
Meadville has had only one losing season — 0-9 in 2018 — during Collins’ coaching tenure.
Butler showed off offensive weapons of its own Friday night. Dashawn Cox had 387 all-purpose yards against Shaler, including 180 rushing and 122 receiving. Mac Schnur threw for 202 yards and two TDs, also rushing for one. David Graef contributed 54 yards on the ground.
“What we need to do is build some depth on our offensive and defensive lines so we can spell some kids,” Christy said. “It seems harder to find kids willing to play up front these days, even though that’s the most important part of the game.
“We definitely need to win the line of scrimmage Friday. Meadville has a combination of speed and power in its backfield. We need to find a way to control that.”
If not, Meadville will control the game.
“Four passes in a game is actually a lot for us,” Collins said. “We’ve had a number of games over the past few years where we haven’t thrown a pass at all. The Wing-T has been very good to us.
“It enables us to grind games out, churn out first downs, control the clock and keep the opposing offense off the field as long as possible. That’s the way we play.”
Brock Popovich was named Offensive Lineman of the Week for Butler. Schnur had an interception and Ethan Babay recovered a fumble defensively.
Meadville’s defense is led by inside linebacker Walker and 6-foot-5, 280-pound lineman Ruric Douglas. End Justice Esser had nine solo tackles and two quarterback sacks against Corry.
“We made mistakes in that game, a few turnovers and too many penalties, but that’s typical for the first week,” Collins said. “First-game jitters ... everybody goes through it.
“As soon as I watched Butler on film, I discovered we’re going to have to play much better if we’re going to win our home opener. Their linemen are athletic, the quarterback’s good and that offense moves at full speed. They’re a very good team.”
Receiver-defensive back Braylon Littlejohn is out for at least two more weeks with a preseason injury. Fellow defensive back Ian Wilson remains sidelined as well.
“We’re getting those guys back. Other guys have to pick up the slack and they’re doing that,” Christy said. “Ayden Davis had a nice game at receiver Ftriday. We spread te ball around pretty good.”
The two teams will be meeting for the third time Friday. Besides last year, the only other game oplayed between Butower and Meadville was in 1910. The Bulldogs won, 6-0, Butler’s lone loss in a 4-1-1 campaign.
