BUTLER TWP — Butler's defense is finally healthy — and just in time.

The Golden Tornado (2-1) travel to Bethel Park (1-2) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday, facing a Black Hawks team that spreads the ball around the field.

"They don't place too much importance on any one player offensively,"Butler coach Garry Cathell said. "They've got a lot of kids who can make plays, they are sound fundamentally and they're big.

"We thought Norwin was big when we lined up against them. Bethel Park is bigger yet, by five to 10 pounds a man."

The Black Hawks defeated Norwin, 24-23, last week, despite starting quarterback Jeff Stewart missing the game with a concussion. His backup, Erik Olsen, threw for 143 yards in the victory and running back Justin Pratt had 23 carries for 108 yards.

"We've seen the Pratt kid before and we know what he brings,"Cathell said. "We're anticipating Stewart being ready to play for them, though that won't affect how we prepare very much."

Butler played without linebacker Alex Tatangelo, its leading tackler from last year, last week against Fox Chapel. He injured his shoulder during a midweek practice.

Fellow linebacker Eric Petanovich missed the week before that with a collarbone injury, but returned to action last week. Both will play Friday.

"Eric played really well last week,"Cathell said. "He's back into the swing of things now, flying all over the field."

Another Butler player kicking into gear now is running back-kick return specialist Michael Bresnahan.

"We anticipated Michael being our starting tailback this season, then he pulled a hamstring the first week of preseason camp and it's been nagging injuries for him ever since,"Cathell said. "He's battled a quad, a knee. ... Now he's finally healthy.

"How much we use our tailbacks in a given week depends on what the defense is giving us. (Fullback)Ben Ashcraft isn't going to leave the field, so in our four-receiver packages, the tailback comes out."

Bresnahan and Dan D'amore have a combined 29 carries from the tailback position through three games.

Bethel Park has artificial turf this year, meaning that the remainder of Butler's regular season road games — Bethel Park, Erie McDowell, North Hills and North Allegheny — will be played on turf.

"That can benefit us,"Cathell said. "We're not a very big team this year. Everybody we play will be bigger than us, in fact, but we're quicker and faster.

"It will be nice to play on a dry surface. We haven't done that yet. Even our practice field has been muddy."

Mike Horsman, a 220-pound defensive end, is Butler's biggest defensive player. Defensive lineman Mike Porter is under 200 pounds.

Quarterback Nick Monteleone leads Butler's offense with 467 yards passing and 121 yards rushing. He threw his first three touchdown passes of the season last week.

Jordan Roycroft has 15 catches for 229 yards, while Andy Strutt has 13 catches for 128.

Aaron Dorondo had eight tackles against Fox Chapel last week — five solos — along with two quarterback sacks and a fumble recovery.

"We need to continue to improve and play a good football game down there," Cathell said of the Bethel Park game. "We don't want to get on a roller-coaster, win a game, lose a game, etc.

"We've already proven we can win on the road. Now we have to do it again."