Butler preps for final season in District 10
BUTLER TWP — 42.
That’s the name of the Jackie Robinson movie. It’s also how many points per game Butler’s football team wants to average per game in 2023.
“I know that’s quite a lofty goal,” Golden Tornado coach Eric Christy said. “But we feel like we can generate that type of attack.”
Butler is coming off a 4-7 season, reaching the District 10 playoffs, but losing its final six games. That losing skid began with a 42-7 loss to Seneca Valley in Week 5 of the regular season.
The Tornado play at Seneca Valley this season. Butler returns to the WPIAL in 2024.
“That Seneca Valley game is important to us,” Christy admitted. “A win there would jump the confidence of our kids for the rest of this season and leading into next. We’ve beaten a WPIAL 5A team and our next step is to beat a 6A team.
“We also want to win the District 10 championship ... We would get a playoff win that way. We haven’t won a playoff game since 1992. It’s still about taking positive steps right now.”
Butler returns six starters offensively, including center AJ Baker, guard Keegan Bracken and tackle Terrell Holderman. Running backs David Graef and Landon Lacey also return, as does receiver Braylon Littlejohn (31 catches, 277 yards).
Graef had 192 yards rushing and two touchdowns in 2022, adding eight catches for 122 yards. Lacey had 60 carries for 261 yards to go with 12 catches for 97 yards and three scores.
“Both of those guys are versatile backs and Landon is one of the fastest athletes in the state,” Christy said. “It should be fun watching him run around out there.”
Other linemen are Colin Leitem, Nicholas Rohm and Traynor Covert. Ian Wilson, Quinlan Hanley and Preston Simko are other receivers while Landon Hill and Troy Herrington are among the tight ends. Mark Klemz has the inside track at fullback.
The quarterback position has become a battle between senior Noah Ritchie and junior Alec Teff. Littlejohn may take some snaps there as well.
“Ritchie is more of a runner while Teff is a pocket passer,” Christy said.“They offer different skill-sets. Both may see action, depending on the situation.”
Graef is excited about the team’s offensive capabilities.
“We should be able to drive downfield and hit big plays,” the running back said. “We’ve got skill guys who can break plays open, running backs who can catch the ball out of the backfield ... It’s up to us to put everything together.”
Defensively, Butler has seven starters back. Baker returns at middle linebacker, Bracken and Holderman on the line, Graef and Lacey at safety, Littlejohn and Wilson on the corners.
“Our strength there is our experienced secondary, but since those guys are keys offensively as well, we need to develop depth,” Christy said. “The same players can’t be on the field all the time.”
Other linebackers include Allen Crispin and Ethan Deless. Brandon Dick and Hill are other linemen and Alex Catalfano will contribute in the secondary. Matt McCombs and Evan Reinsel are the leading candidates at outside linebacker.
“Our lines have to do the job on both sides of the ball, particularly on defense,” Bracken said. “We’ve got active linebackers and secondary guys who can come up and make tackles. We have to keep the blockers off them.”
Littlejohn will handle the punting for the Tornado while Christian Mortimer, a senior soccer player, will take care of the place-kicking chores.
“We lost our top two tacklers from last season and we have to account for that production as a team defensively,” Christy said. “There will be opportunities for players to step up.
“The key to this season is to take more positive steps forward. We’ve got the numbers (roughly 80 players) to do that.”
