BUTLER TWP — Talk about your early rematches.

After facing each other only two weeks ago, Butler (4-6) and McDowell (8-2) will meet up on the football field again this Friday when they clash for the District 10 Class 6A title at 7 p.m. at Veterans Stadium in Erie.

McDowell is coming off a 42-28 win over St. Francis (NY) while the Golden Tornado dropped a 28-14 decision at Greater Latrobe, their fifth straight loss.

“We told the kids on the bus ride there that we had won the court case and were going to the playoffs,” Butler coach Eric Christy said. “I thought that would pump them up for that game. Instead, it had the opposite affect.

“The players now knew they had a playoff game the following week and lost some focus. They were thinking about that and we came out flat.”

McDowell coach Brad Orlando is happy Butler won the case and will be participating in the playoffs.

“It wouldn’t have been right, had it gone the other way,” Orlando said. “Those kids deserve to play in this game and I’m happy for Butler that it turned out that way.”

Both coaches said they’ve learned something from their game two weeks ago at Art Bernardi Stadium, a 48-24 Trojan victory.

McDowell running back Artis Simmons rushed for 135 yards and four touchdowns on only 13 carries. He has run for more than 1,500 yards this season. Quarterback Ben Moore threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns that night as McDowell generated 412 yards offensively.

“We definitely have to stop Simmons’ downhill running,” Christy said. “He was a biog factor in that last game. Their ability to run the ball opens up a lot of things for them.”

That run-stopping task may be more difficult this time around as the Tornado lost three-year starting linemen Markeis Frazier and Ethan Babay to knee injuries suffered at Latrobe. They will not be available this Friday. Colin Leitem, Terrell Holderman and others will be counted on to fill in up front.

Brock Popovich, Butler’s Offensive Lineman of the Week again, continues go be the anchor along that line.

“We have other guys who can play up front, they just don’t have the experience yet,” Christy said.

Butler also lost linebacker Cooper McTighe — its leading tackler — to injury last week.

Orlando needs to come up with an answer for Butler junior receiver Braylon Littlejohn, who caught 12 passes for 288 yards against McDowell two weeks ago. Mac Schnur threw for 374 yards in that contest.

“We need to do a better job on that No. 5 (Littlejohn),” Orklando said. “He just killed us, especially in the second half. We’ll be paying a lot more attention to him.”

Dashawn Cox joins Littlejohn as a two-way threat offensively for Butler. He has rushed for a team-leading 461 yards and caught 41 passes for 432 yards. Littlejohn has 31 catches for 554 yards and 235 yards rushing.

McDowell receivers Ray Jackson and Trey Goodwine combined for nine catches and 182 yards in the Butler game. Christy knows his team is facing a talented group.

“For us, a lot of this is about confidence,” Christy said. “When you go on a losing streak like we have, sometimes that belief can go away. We’ve talked to the kids about that.

“We've shown we can play with this team. Our community has shown it’s behind our team. Now we’re playing to extend our season and accomplish more for Butler football.”

Butler has not won a playoff game since 1992. This is the first time the Tornado have advanced to postseason play in consecutive years since 1992-93.

“It’s important that our juniors and seniors understand what they’ve accomplished there,” Christy said.

McDowell has defeated Butler three times in the past two years, including 40-21 in last year’s district championship game.

“These are the playoffs. Now it’s win or go home,” Orlando said. “Our players know that. They will be up for this game. We have plenty of reasons to be concerned about Butler.”