BUTLER TWP — Butler won three of its first four football games last season.

Next step: Win more section games.

The Golden Tornado have lost 24 of their 27 section games over the past five years, with all three wins coming against Butler County rival Seneca Valley.

Butler is 0-10 in section play under third-year coach Jeff McAnallen.

"That's the hurdle we have to overcome," McAnallen said. "The group of seniors we have on this team will have to lead that change.

"A lot of that is mind-set. We have the talent to get the job done on the field."

The Tornado particularly have the talent on offense, where eight starters return. Third-year starting quarterback Cole Harvey threw for 711 yards and rushed for 275 in 2008.

Three of his top four receivers return: wingback Eli Christy (18 catches for 248 yards), tight end Brian Jendesky (14-170) and wideout Jared Oesterling (10-125).

Despite the experience in the passing game, McAnallen plans to use a run-focused misdirection attack.

"We've got four linemen back, so we've got experience there," McAnallen said. "Our line play will be critical to our ability to control the football and run the clock."

With only three starters returning on defense, McAnallen hopes to shorten games, at least initially, while the unit comes together.

"Our offense may have to carry us for a while," he admitted.

Returning starters along the offensive line include 250-pound center Dan Santoro, 6-foot-5, 270-pound John Jaskot, 240-pound right guard Dylan O'Donnell and 220-pound left guard Steve Powers.

"Our offense involves a lot of technical blocking schemes," O'Donnell said. "There's a lot of pulling and a lot of trapping.

"We got off to a 3-1 start last year, thought we were good and lost our focus. That's not going to happen this time around."

With running backs Christos Klutinoty and Tony Fudoli graduated, leaving Harvey as Butler's top returning rusher, McAnallen is turning to a pair of seniors for ground-game production.

Jake Thompson will be the starting tailback while John Cumpston mans the fullback position.

"Both of those guys will carry the ball," McAnallen said. "So will Christy, and Harvey. Cole is like having an extra running back in the backfield."

Christy, who rushed for 247 yards a year ago and plays safety on defense, is extremely confident about the offense's potential.

"I'll predict right now we'll have the best offense in the section," he said. "We should be able to run and throw the football and keep defenses guessing.

"Our line is solid. We want to overpower teams up front, keep the ball and wear them down."

After scoring 93 points in its first four games last season, Butler managed only 58 in its five section games.

"My biggest goal this year is seeing that we score a lot of points," Harvey said. "We need drives to end with touchdowns."

The Tornado's returning starters on defense are safety Christy and outside linebackers Cole Baxter and Nick Elliott.

Baxter won the school's first WPIAL wrestling championship as a sophomore last winter.

"He's only a junior, but Cole is well-respected throughout the school for that accomplishment," McAnallen said. "There's no stopping him out there. He's a high-energy, impact type of football player, and his teammates will feed off that."

McAnallen will use the four nonsection games to piece his defense together.

"That's why we play those games," he said. "The key is to be ready for section play. That's where they all count."

Ben Olean will compete with Harvey for punting duties this season. Ryan Soule returns to handle the placekicking chores, and Marc Hunka will take care of kickoffs.

"We should be strong in the kicking game," McAnallen said.