BUTLER TWP — Never mind the lack of points Butler’s football team has put on the scoreboard of late.

The lack of bodies is becoming a bigger problem.

Golden Tornado coach Clyde Conti said he had just 39 players suit up for practice Monday. Butler had 82 players in preseason camp.

“I haven’t talked about injuries because we don’t make excuses,” Conti said. “But the lack of numbers is catching up to us.

“The team we had on the field that beat New Castle (24-14) in our opener ... That team hasn’t been close to being on the field since.”

Conti said the Tornado likely would not have won their past three Northern Seven Conference games if they were healthy, “but those games might have been much more competitive.”

Butler (2-4, 0-4) travels to Mars (4-2, 2-2) for a non-conference game at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Class AAA Planets hung a 40-0 loss on the Tornado last season at Art Bernardi Stadium.

Butler enters this game on a three-game losing streak, having fallen 35-0 at Pine-Richland, 34-6 to Shaler and 38-0 at North Hills last week.

The Tornado are 2-0 in non-league games this season, outscoring opponents 40-22 and amassing 27 first downs to the opposition’s 29.

In Northern Seven competition, Butler has been outscored 156-13 and has permitted 77 first downs while amassing only 30.

“That’s the difference in this competition,” Conti said of the Northern Seven. “We’re just not there right now. We’re lining up who we’ve got available and we’re trying to fight our way through.

“We haven’t been able to move the ball and that’s put our defense in some precarious spots.”

Sophomore linebacker Austin Grupp, getting his first varsity start last week, was among the Tornado’s leading tacklers at North Hills.

Butler did engineer one seven-minute drive last week, but it ended with a missed field goal.

“You put your defense in a real bind when you can’t hold the ball for long,” Conti said. “We have to do the little things well to be successful and that’s not happening.

“This deep into the season, we’re still missing blocking assignments, running wrong routes — that’s what frustrates me. It’s the mental stuff.”

Sophomore quarterback Tom Jendesky got banged up last week, but should be available Friday night. Jendesky has completed 12 of 25 passes for 128 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.

Senior Zach Rader has completed 17 of 45 passes for 199 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Canan Roskovski is the Tornado’s leading receiver with nine catches for 122 yards and a score.

Bob Vernick leads the ground game with 27 carries for 244 yards and two TDs, though Conti has used a plethora of backs. Butler had had 13 players carry the football at least once this season.

“We’re looking at everybody, watching how kids perform in the JV games and on the practice field,” Conti said.

Mars is averaging 74.2 yards passing, 209 yards rushing and 22.4 points per game this season.

Sophomore fullback Jason Lozzi has rushed for 449 yards and seven TDs while quarterback Owen Nearhoof has thrown for 371 yards and two scores.

“They’re a young team with a lot of speed,” Conti said. “I remember a couple of their fast eighth-grade sprinters a couple of years ago while I was coaching junior high track.

“Those boys are sophomores now and I’m sure they’ll be on the field someplace.”

Conti said his team needs to be more disciplined in its approach.

“It’s easy to play this game and go through life when things are going well,” he said. “Maintaining drive and intensity, getting back up off the ground in the face of adversity, that’s character building. That’s where we’re at.

“We have to minimize our mistakes and get back at it. It’s a fresh start every time you go out there.”