Butler junior running back/middle linebacker Mark Klemz, seen during practice Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, has 301 yards rushing through his team's first three games. Brendan Howe/Butler Eagle

BUTLER TWP — Mark Klemz remembers what being a youth football running back was like.

“I used to kind of just grab the ball and run as fast as I can,” he said.

Now a junior tailback at Butler (2-1), Klemz doesn’t take hand-offs and surge forward with reckless abandon. Using a more deliberate approach through the Golden Tornado’s first three games, he’s rushed for 301 yards and four touchdowns on 40 gives.

“Growing up, I watched a lot of (former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro running back) Le’Veon Bell,” Klemz said at Butler’s practice Monday afternoon. “I just watched him develop plays with his patience in the backfield. I’ve always tried to be like that — let the linemen do their thing and, when I see it, hit the hole.”

Klemz is trying to do something at Butler that’s not been seen in seven years. Luke Michalek was the last Golden Tornado rusher to have a 1,000-yard rushing season, exactly reaching the mark in 2017.

“I’m going to break it,” Klemz said. “I’m trying to get 1,100, 1,200 yards.”

Butler coach Eric Christy was more astute about such a goal, but wouldn’t put a cap on what he thinks Klemz can accomplish yardage-wise.

According to stats compiled from the Butler Eagle archives and MaxPreps, Klemz is the first Golden Tornado rusher to surpass 300 yards through a season’s initial three games since Damien Pickett rumbled for 379 yards and four scores on 74 totes in 2015.

On 20 carries in a 35-11 win over Meadville on Friday night, Klemz rushed for 174 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He had 50 yards rushing on Butler’s first series and didn’t slow down through a second-half washout.

Butler junior running back/middle linebacker Mark Klemz carries the football during practice Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Klemz has the goal to become Butler’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2017. Brendan Howe/Butler Eagle

“Wet conditions, I already knew going into the game that I was going to get a lot of carries,” Klemz said. “Getting the opportunity to just run the ball — get the stats up — I know it looks really good. I’m just really appreciative to get to run the ball as best I can.”

If he’s to meet his goal, Klemz and the offensive line need to remain healthy. There are game situations in which Christy would rather be prudent about the tailback’s longevity, especially since Klemz plays defense, too.

“It’s great when you have versatility,” Christy said. “He plays a nice middle linebacker, too. It’s nice having him there. He’s reading really well and filling (gaps). He has nice vision at running back. When you have a kid who can have that, the key is keeping them healthy and keeping them ready to go on a Friday night.”

“It’s definitely tiring,” Klemz said of his workload. “(I’ve had) a lot of rest. The weekends, definitely taking it easy. A lot of electrolytes, a lot of electrolyte packets.”

Most obviously, he has to continue finding daylight, something Christy said Klemz has gotten better at with each contest. Sophomores Jacob Kollinger and Nico Baggetta have also assisted in the ground game so far, going for 177 and 132 yards, respectively.

“It’s nice to have options,” Christy said. “Any time a defense is guessing ... you’ve got them. It’s whenever they can focus in on just one element of the game, that’s when it gets difficult.

The Golden Tornado will look to win their third in a row when they visit Hollidaysburg (3-0) Friday night. The Golden Tigers have beaten their past two opponents — Taylor Allderdice and Allegany (Md.) — by a combined 77-0 score.

Klemz believes another victory would boost Butler further.

“Last year, we were 2-8,” Klemz said. “To break that barrier within the first four weeks, (we’d have) the confidence throughout the rest of the season that we can actually go there, we can shut down teams (and) we can win games.

“I feel like that would help the program a lot.”