BUTLER TWP— Friday night marks Butler's homecoming — and coach Jeff McAnallen's former home is coming.

The Golden Tornado (0-6, 0-2) host North Hills (2-4, 0-2) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff that pits two teams looking to break into the win column in Northern Five play.

"Their backs are against the wall and we're trying to get something started," McAnallen said. "It's an intriguing matchup."

Add to that the fact McAnallen was an assistant coach on Jack McCurry's staff for 10 years before returning home to coach his alma mater.

"I know all those guys and we're still good friends,"McAnallen said. "We'll shake hands and visit a while after the game, I'm sure.

"During the game, we'll be competitors. Both teams need this game."

Butler slipped to 0-6 with a 35-14 loss at Shaler's homecoming last Saturday. After putting together a pair of touchdown drives in the second quarter to pull within 21-14, the Tornado managed only three first downs and 37 net yards in the second half.

At one point, Butler faced a second-and-57 from its own 1-yard line after a personal foul, a holding penalty and a 14-yard loss on a lateral to running back Cameron McDonald-Cahill.

Cahill has developed into one of Butler's biggest offensive threats, scoring on a long touchdown run at Norwin and on a 41-yard screen pass at Shaler.

"He's got the ability to be a game-breaker when we can get him the ball in open field,"McAnallen said. "We're devising ways to do that."

The Butler Quarterback Club's Player of the Week is left guard Jeff Achezinski, one of the few seniors in the Tornado's starting lineup.

Cahill, defenders Tony Andreassi, Josh Bartley, John Scialabba and Jerry Gutierrez are other seniors seeing regular time on the field.

"Jeff did a great job of pulling out and getting lead blocks Saturday,"McAnallen said. "He's very good at that. We use him a lot as an example to our underclassmen as to how we want them to block people."

"A number of our seniors have been helping out on scout team and in practice to make us a better football team. Their attitudes are where they should be. Everyone is maturing as a young man and as a member of this team. That's what playing high school football is all about — learning and experiencing."

McAnallen pointed to seniors Travis and Shawn Schuller as examples of seniors contributing behind the scenes.

"Whether it's on special teams or wherever, those guys are helping us improve as a team," the coach said.

In facing North Hills, McAnallen said the key is slowing down running back Ed Reith and preventing quarterback Justin Heinauer from having a big game.

"I know they're going to throw a lot and they'll try to keep our defense on the field," he said. "This game will be about who's able to control the football.

"We've been in position defensively to make tackles, we're just not finishing them well enough. Backs are spinning away or dragging us for a few extra yards."

Butler may be winless, but the coach insists the practices are still crisp and a positive mind-set is still present.

"Nobody here has quit,"McAnallen said. "There have been positive signs. We have to be patient. It's gonna come together."