Joe Tarasovitch can identify with the Butler football team.

Like Butler, Tarasovitch's Erie McDowell squad is 2-2 entering Friday's 7 p.m. kickoff against the Golden Tornado in Erie.

The Trojans won during Weeks 1 and 3 — as did Butler — and lost in Weeks 2 and 4, again duplicating the Tornado. McDowell is coming off a 21-20 loss to Cathedral Prep, a missed PAT being the difference.

"That was the only PATour kid has missed all year,"Tarasovitch said. "He needs to bounce back from that mentally and I think he will.

"The missed kick occurred in the third quarter. We had plenty of time to win the game after that."

McDowell's other loss was a 32-14 decision to General McLane. Victories have come over East (51-0) and Strong Vincent (27-7).

"Strong Vincent was ranked No. 2 in the state in triple-A, so that was a big win for us,"Tarasovitch said.

Now in his second year at McDowell, Tarasovitch is 9-5 with the Trojans. He was 41-16 in six years at Fort LeBeouf and took Erie Central to the PIAAWestern Finals in 1993 and 1994, losing to North Hills and McKeesport, respectively.

McDowell is inexperienced at the skill positions this season, having graduated Region 6 Player of the Year Anthony Weaver (1,652 yards rushing, 20 TDs) and having a three-way battle for quarterback in the preseason.

Junior Phil Johnson won the quarterback job and completed four passes for 131 yards against Cathedral Prep last week.

"Phil has a strong arm and we like to take advantage of that by throwing downfield,"Tarasovitch said

Senior Aaron Fitzpatrick has been Johnson's primary target, along with junior Bryant Kimball.

A.J. Fenton, a sophomore who lost out in the quarterback battle, has moved to tailback and has been a workhorse for the Trojans. He had 35 carries for 212 yards against Strong Vincent and 26 carries for 91 yards against Cathedral Prep.

"We run out of the I-formation and our tailback is going to get the ball," Tarasovitch said. "We want to run first and throw second."

Two stalwart offensive linemen return in 6-foot-7, 305-pound tackle Dan Matha, a senior already committed to Pitt, and 6-5, 285-pound senior Jake Anderson.

The Trojans play a 43 defense and faced a spread offense in Cathedral Prep's last week.

"Butler doesn't exactly use a spread because they feature the tight end quite a bit, but Prep's offense is similar,"Tarasovitch said. "I'm sure we'll be using much of the same defense we played last week."

Justin Schaaf, a senior linebacker, is coming off a serious injury from a year ago and anchors the McDowell defense. Chad Noce is a stellar defensive end, and Matha plays at tackle.

Eric Fenton plays nose guard while Fitzpatrick, Kendall, Mike DiFucci and Nate Krizanik comprise a veteran secondary.

"Our bugaboo has been giving up the big play,"Tarasovitch said. "We get people in third-and-long situations, then we let them out of it. That has to change."

Dan Vacil is the placekicker and he's missed his lone field goal try this season.

McDowell's football program petitioned to get into the WPIAL during the offseason, but was denied by District 10. It was permitted to participate in the Quad North schedule.

"It was disappointing, not being able to join the WPIAL, but now we have the best of both worlds,"Tarasovitch said. "We still have our local flavor and we get to play some great football programs with a lot of tradition."