BUTLER TWP — The Bears are back in town — with a new place and new league to call home.

Kirk Bergbigler returns as coach and owner of the Butler County Bears, a second-year semi-pro football franchise which makes its season debut this weekend in Canton.

“We’re miles ahead of where we were last year,” Bergbigler said. “We learned a lot from last season.”

The Bears finished 2-6-2 in the United States Football Alliance last year, playing their home games in Karns City High School’s football stadium.

The USFA folded during the offseason. The Bears are now part of the five-team Gridiron Football Alliance (GIFA), joining the Canton Hurricanes, Erie Outlaws, Youngstown Steelers and Rochester Renegades.

A sixth team, the Pittsburgh Blue Devils, folded two weeks ago.

The Bears’ 32-player roster includes 10 returnees from last season and 18 players from Butler County.

“We advertised our monthly meetings online and got 70 responses from guys interested in playing,” Bergbigler said. “Work schedules and family issues prevented a number of them from coming on board.

“We’ve been doing conditioning since January and have been practicing twice a week in pads since March. We’re ready to go.”

The Bears’ first of five home games is a non-league affair against the Pittsburgh Stealth at 7 p.m. next Saturday. Home games will be played at Butler’s Art Bernardi Stadium this season.

Practices have been held early Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Father Marinaro Park.

“Four of our practices have been affected by lightning and a few of our guys were getting sick from the heat a few days ago, so we had to shut it down,” Bergbigler said.

Offensively, the team will go with a spread, led by Karns City graduate Erik Fuhrer at quarterback. New Castle graduate Eugene Clark is the tailback and the team has a number of receivers, including Karns City graduate Cody Williams, Butler grad Shane Kerr and Moniteau grad Jereme Loos.

“We don’t have the one outstanding receiver, but we’ve got a bunch of guys who are pretty good,” Bergbigler said. “Our passing game should be very good.”

The team’s line play should be solid as well. Bergbigler said the Bears’ line averaged 245 pounds across the front last year.

This year, the line will average more than 300 pounds.

Mars graduate Mike Rapp is 6-foot-11, 385 pounds. Moniteau grad Tyler Steinheiser is 6-4, 335, while Butler grad Alex Brown weighs 426.

“Nobody has worked harder to get into shape to play for us than Alex,” Bergbigler said. “He moves pretty well.”

Defensively, the team will play a 34 and is strong at linebacker, anchored by Butler grad Tyler Williams and Karns City grad Justin Switzer.

“Our corners and safeties are bigger, too. Size hurt us there last year,” Bergbigler said.

Other home games at Bernardi Stadium this summer are July 16 vs. Canton, July 23 vs. Erie, Aug. 6 vs. Rochester and Aug. 13 vs. Youngstown.

All home games begin at 7 p.m.