BUTLER TWP — Norwin dangled the carrot in front of Butler during each of their last three meetings on the football field.

The Golden Tornado were unable to snare it, losing to the Knights 7-6 last year, 35-28 in 2016 and 24-21 in 2009. The teams' last four confrontations were decided by a single score, in fact, as Butler claimed a 26-20 triumph in 2008.

Butler coach Eric Christy would love that trend to continue.

“We do seem to get that early energy at home, more so than on the road,” Christy said. “Right now, we're just trying to take the little positive steps and there haven't been enough of those.”

The Tornado (0-5, 0-3) host Norwin (2-3, 1-2) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a Quad County Conference game at Art Bernardi Stadium.

Butler's offense has yet to score a point in the first half this season and the Tornado offense hasn't scored at all without the mercy clock running. The Tornado have been shut out in their last two games.

“We're having trouble even getting to the other team's 40-yard line,” Christy admitted. ”Our immediate goals offensively for now are to put some first downs together, get into the red zone, limit the three-and-out's.”

The coach added that Butler's offensive woes begin up front, where the offensive line has struggled to gain control of the line of scrimmage.

“That's not the whole problem,” Christy said. “There's been other things, like dropped passes, missed assignments ... But football starts with getting the edge at the line and that hasn't happened for us.

“The biggest thing is fundamentals, like taking proper angles, being lower when we block asnd sustaining blocks. We're getting experience, but we're not progressing. Other teams are getting more experience, too. It's a matter of our catching up to and passing them in that regard. It's not easy.”

Butler has switched 315-pound Sam Enslen from guard to tackle, 290-pound Dennis Goodwine from tackle to guard, and tried other combinations.

Norwin coach Dave Brozeski described Butler as having “a nice-sized line, one of the bigger ones we will have faced.”

Two of the Knights' three losses are to conference powers North Allegheny (56-14) and Pine-Richland (44-7), the latter defeat coming last week.

Junior quarterback Jack Salopek threw for 1,800 yards last season and has thrown for 825 yards and seven TDs so far this season. He has thrown only three interceptions.

Salopek has been offered a football scholarship by Pitt. His top receivers are Billy Karsten (15 catches, 242 yards, 3 TDs) and Sean Pavlic (12 catches, 172 yards).

Ezekiel Hauser leads the Norwin running game with 320 yards and eight touchdowns.

“As our team becomes more successful, more opportunities will come for Jack individually,” Brozeski said. “He knows how to take care of the football.

“We've scored on big plays. We've been able rto sustaibn drives as well and any offense would prefer possessing the football. I know that's what Butler wants to do to us.”

Christy described Norwin as “one of the most talented teams in the section. Their quarterback is for real and they've got plenty of weapons.”

Butler may see quarterback Matt Rairigh return this week as he is recovering ahead of schedule from an injured knee. Sophomore running back Byron Manchester remains out with a concussion.

Kyler Callihan and Bryan Presco are both getting first-team reps in practice this week and both could see action at quarterback Friday night.

Butler did not complete a pass last week against Seneca Valley, though Callihan and Presco rushed for nearly 100 yards combined.

“We're trying to break things down for the kids, take care of the little things,” Christy said. “They've been staying after practice to work with us. We haven't had a lack of effort on this team, not at all.”