BUTLER TWP - Butler will have to overcome a couple of things when it travels to Kiski Area for its high school football season opener Friday night.

The Golden Tornado hasn't fared well on the road the past two years.

If they are to fare better Friday, they will have to do so without tight end-defensive end Josh Wachter.

Wachter suffered a broken arm in an automobile accident Sunday and is out indefinitely. His teammate and starting lineman Marcus Hough was a passenger in the vehicle and suffered some abrasions. Hough is questionable for Friday.

"There's a good chance Marcus will play, but we're really going to miss Josh," Butler coach Garry Cathell said. "He had a great scrimmage against Woodland Hills (last Friday), catching four passes for a lot of yards.

"It hurts losing him, but we'll adjust where we have to and get ready to play."

Rich Hasychak will replace Wachter at tight end. Hough is Wachter's backup at defensive end, so if he can't go, Mike Motko will move from tackle to end and further adjustments could be made.

Butler was winless on the road last year, losing to Shaler, Connellsville, North Hills and Mt. Lebanon by a composite 123-30 count. Its only road wins in 2002 were at Albert Gallatin and Hempfield, two struggling programs.

Kiski Area can hardly be considered a struggling program, having reached the WPIAL playoffs each of the past three years.

"They lost some of their bigger names, but they're a scrappy team that's going to want to continue its winning ways," Cathell said.

"Inside linebacker Frank Kowalkowski remains out with a knee injury for Butler, and the Tornado are thin at that position to begin with.

Kowalkowski is also the backup to Dan Tatangelo - the other starting inside linebacker - at fullback.

"That means Danny's gonna have to be on the field almost constantly, and that's a concern," Cathell said.

Phil Scialabba, who recently returned to practice after banging up his knee, will likely join Tatangelo at inside linebacker.

The Tornado will have a few sophomores in the lineup Friday night. Nick Monteleone will be at quarterback, Ian Haley at free safety, Eric Petanovich at linebacker and Jordan Roycroft at receiver.

Ben Ashcraft, another sophomore, is backing up Bobby Ridley at tailback and Tatangelo at fullback.

"Bobby has been running very well for us," Cathell said. "Overall, our team improved a lot from the Gateway scrimmage to the Woodland Hills scrimmage.

"We only gave up two scores against Woodland Hills. One was on a broken coverage and the other was on a fourth-and-four play inside our 10-yard line when it looked like we had the play stopped."

At 6-feet-2, 190 pounds, Monteleone might not be a typical sophomore quarterback.

"He'll make some sophomore mistakes, I'm sure," Cathell said. "But he's a non-pressure type of kid who doesn't let things bother him.

"Nick has been playing quarterback since he was a little boy. He's looking forward to getting started."

Butler's coaching staff is, too. Unlike last year, when the coaches gradually added to the team's offensive package from week to week, this year's offensive package is practically complete.

"We've got 95 to 98 percent of it in," Cathell said. "This is our second year of running this offense, so we had all of the off-season to refine it.

"This was the most physical camp I've run in my 19 years of coaching. These kids hit and hit and hit. I had to see how tough they were, how well they can take the physical part of the game. Believe me, they can take it.

"Our last seven games last year, we were 5-2. Now we have to step up and play well on the road. Our chemistry is good and I'm looking for good things from this team," Cathell added.

Butler follows with road games at Hempfield and Upper St. Clair before playing its home opener Sept. 17 vs. Shaler.

Butler at Kiski Area Friday

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7:30 p.m.

Streak:

Butler has lost its last three games to Kiski Area by the margin of one score: 17-10, 29-28 and 42-36.

Statistic:

Fullback Dan Tatangelo (300 yards) is Butler's leading returning offensive threat.

Strategy:

The Golden Tornado look to be more balanced by developing an efficient passing game.

Speaking:

"Butler is known as just Butler. Nobody's talking about us as a playoff contender. We have to go out and prove some people wrong." - Butler coach Garry Cathell