BUTLER TWP — Before the Butler football team can win a game, it has to take a lead in a game.

"It always seems like we're digging ourselves out of a hole," Golden Tornado coach Jeff McAnallen admitted. "We really could use a positive start."

That would be Step 1. And the winless Golden Tornado will try to take that step when they play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Pine-Richland (3-2, 0-1).

Butler has led in only one game, taking leads of 7-0 and 14-7 against Norwin in the first half of an eventual 24-21 loss.

That was also the only game this year in which Butler scored in the first quarter. The Tornado have failed to score in the first half in three of their five games.

"We haven't been able to run the ball all that well because we're having trouble sustaining our blocks," McAnallen said. "Shaler was a big, physical football team and they forced us out of our running game."

Jake Thompson leads the Butler ground game with 183 yards and five touchdowns on 44 carries. No other Tornado running back has rushed for as many as 100 yards.

Shaler running back Matt Ramey had 201 yards rushing last week alone against Butler.

"(Ramey) had a great game, but he was primarily following his blocks and the holes they were opening," McAnallen said. "Shaler ran five or six basic plays, then play action. It was old-style football: just run right at you and make you try to stop them.

"Pine-Richland will be totally different from that. We counted 38 different offensive formations, including a lot of motion. We have to be ready for anything," he added.

The Rams handed Butler a 21-14 loss last year at Art Bernardi Stadium.

The Tornado are 0-11 in section play under McAnallen. Butler has not defeated a section opponent other than Seneca Valley since posting a 21-14 triumph over North Allegheny in 2003.

"That's a streak we have to change. Clearly, this is a big game for us. I've told the kids it's a must win," McAnallen said. "You go to 0-2 and you put yourself in danger of having to win your last couple of games to reach the playoffs."

Quarterback Cole Harvey completed nine of 12 passes for 124 yards last week and was named the Butler Quarterback Club's Offensive Player of the Week. Brian Jendesky intercepted a pass and was named Defensive Player of the Week.

Cole Baxter recovered a fumble for Butler last week as the Tornado won the turnover-takeaway battle for the first time this season.

"We didn't make mistakes in that regard, but we lost a few one-on-one battles against Shaler," McAnallen said. "Their skilled kids were better than our skilled kids.

"Now we're facing a team with more outstanding skill. No. 14 (quarterback Eric Kordenbrock) is the real deal. He's a tremendous playmaker who puts the ball right there.

"Their running back, Justin Williams, is a track kid. If he gets to the corner, it's a 100-meter dash and no one's going to catch the kid. Their big-play receiver, Tommy Berexa, gets the ball on crossing routes and breaks them loose.

"They throw the ball to a bunch of people, though. We have to be very fundamental on defense," McAnallen added.

The coach hinted that Butler might run more plays from the shotgun formation Friday.

"Cole used his athleticism to make some plays for us that way," McAnallen said. "We have to free people up because Pine-Richland doesn't miss tackles. They are athletic on defense. They get to the ball and make tackles."