Ready to turn the corner
BUTLER TWP — Butler ended one long streak last season, snapping a 24-game losing skid.
Now the Golden Tornado are working on ending another.
Butler has not had a winning season since 1997. The feeling in the Tornado locker room is that is about to change.
“This program is in its best shape in 25 years,” senior running back-linebacker Cooper Baxter said. “I love the positive vibes on this team.
“We can't wait to get started and put Butler football back on the map again and give it the respect it deserves.”The Tornado are coming off a 2-4 season — an abbreviated campaign and their first in District 10. They return nine starters on offense and seven on the defensive side of the ball.At the end of the 2019 season, Butler had 28 varsity players. It enters the 2021 campaign with 79 on the roster.“I love our numbers. We're ecstatic about them,” fourth-year head coach Eric Christy said. “We have excellent athletes with experience back and we've added some new faces who will contribute.
“I feel like this team is ready to turn the corner. I know the kids feel that way, too.”Baxter threw for 379 yards and three touchdowns last year at quarterback. He also rushed for 475 yards — including three 100-yard games — and scored seven touchdowns.The plan is to shift Baxter to running back and insert junior Mac Schnur behind center. Schnur completed nine of 16 passes in limited action last year.“If Mac is ready to go, that move will give us more depth and a lot of options offensively,” Christy said. “We'll have two quarterbacks in the backfield at the same time. We'll have different packages of plays in place.“Mac stepping in at quarterback could trigger a lot of things for us. Cooper could play linebacker full-time, where he was really productive late last year.”Baxter had 31 tackles in limited action at linebacker in 2020. Ethan Babay had 24 tackles from his defensive tackle spot.Isaiah Kelly, a senior, saw time at running back last year and is a returning starter. Tight end Charlie Kreinbucher, a senior tight end committed to Akron, caught 14 passes for 214 yards in 2020.Lance Slater (9 catches, 99 yards) is the top returning receiver. Ethan Trettel will see time there as well.
“What I really like is the experience we have up front,” Christy said of his offensive line. “All of our starters are returning. That same group will switch over and anchor our defensive line as well.”Markeis Frazier is the center, Ashton Gray and Brock Popovich are the tackles, Jacob Pomykata and Derek McLafferty the guards.Pomykata is confident the Tornado are headed for a good season.“All I want to do is win,” he said. “Get to the playoffs and win a fewplayoff games, beat some good teams.“The talent we have on this roster ... we are very capable of doing that.”Butler will use a 425 formation defensively. Babay returns as a defensive tackle, Kreinbucher as a defensive end.Baxter and sophomore JunJun Andrada will anchor the linebacker spots, along with senior Jonathon Livermore.Schnur is back at one corner and Slater returns at safety. Trettel and Landon Dubyak will see action in the secondary. Jake Zirnsak, a senior, will be another key defender.“We've got a strong senior class and a talented sophomore group coming up,” Baxter enthused. “We're all on the same page. We're working together to get this thing turned around.”Max Gianneski, a junior on the boys soccer team, will handle the kicking chores for the Tornado this season.“We borrowed him from soccer. We appreciate the coaches' cooperation in that regard,” Christy said.Butler opens the season Aug. 27 at Kiski Area. The Tornado's first home game isn't until Sept. 10 against Meadville.BUTLER2021 ScheduleAug. 27-at Kiski Area, 7 p.m.Sept. 3-at Erie, 7 p.m.; Sept. 10-MEADVILLE, 7 p.m.; Sept. 18-at McDowell, noon; Sept. 24-GENERAL McLANE, 7 p.m.Oct. 1-HARBOR CREEK, 7 p.m.; Oct. 8-WESTINGHOUSE, 7 p.m.; Oct. 15-at Cathedral Prep, 7 p.m.; Oct. 22-FRANKLIN, 7 p.m.; Oct. 29-SLIPPERY ROCK, 7 p.m.2020 results (2-4)Cathedral Prep 21-55, McDowell 7-45, Erie 25-35, Cathedral Prep 6-56, Blackhawk 55-14, Slippery Rock 28-3
