BUTLER TWP — Winning isn't necessarily everything.

For Butler, it may not be enough.

The Golden Tornado (2-5, 1-4) head to Fox Chapel (3-4, 2-4) for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday needing to defeat the Foxes by seven points or more to qualify for the WPIAL Class AAAA playoffs.

“The way we have it figured, if we win this game and force a three-way tie for that fifth spot, we need to win by at least seven to get in on Gardner points,” Butler coach Rob Densmore said.

Fox Chapel has already defeated Seneca Valley, which has defeated Butler. A Tornado win Friday would leave each team with two Northern Eight Conference wins.

Since the head-to-head situation between the three would be even — each being 1-1 against the other two — Gardner points would come into play.

“Our main goal Friday night is to make the playoffs. We'll do what we have to do in that regard,” Densmore said.

If Butler has the ball in Fox Chapel territory with a four or five-point lead late in the game, there will be no quarterback taking a knee. If the Tornado is in that situation with the score tied or trailing by one, there will be no field goal attempt.

“I'll have no hesitation in situations like that to take a shot at getting to the playoffs,” Densmore said. “Any coach would appreciate and understand that situation. I don't think it would cause an issue with anybody.

“If Fox Chapel wins this game, they're in the playoffs. We're standing in their way. I'm sure their coach is emphasizing that to his kids. I know I would be.”

Butler has been outscored 69-10 in the past two weeks in losses to North Allegheny and Pine-Richland. Devin Fitz booted a 37-yard field goal in the fourth quarter last week to end a seven-quarter scoreless drought for the Tornado.

“I didn't want us getting shut out two weeks in a row,” Densmore admitted. “We wanted to build some momentum for this game and we added a defensive score later.

“We need to be more physical than Fox Chapel in this game. They've got some skilled people and they can spread the field. We want to be able to run the ball, control the clock. Of course, we want to do that every game.”

Damien Pickett is Butler's leading rusher with 518 yards on 105 carries, but has been slowed by ankle problems. He left the Pine-Richland game last week after only one series.

Lucas Dubyak has 58 carries for 292 yards and Tim Vernick has rushed for 120 and 72 yards in games Pickett has not been available to play.

Jamison Smith has passed for only 56 yards combined in the past two games after throwing for a season-high 155 against Seneca Valley. Kelley Kuharic has a team-leading eight receptions for the Tornado while tight end Rob Kunst leads the squad with 127 yards on six catches.

“We're disappointed our passing game isn't where we'd like it to be at this point, but we have been working on things to give us some flexibility in the event we have trouble running the ball,” Densmore said.

Defensively, the Tornado have generated 15 takeaways. Reid Werth has two interceptions, Eric Hindman five quarterback sacks and two fumble recoveries, Jeremy Hanford 37 solo tackles.

“Hanford, Dubyak, Werth, Hindman ... You can go on and on with the consistent, hard-nosed play we're getting from our defense,” Desmore said. “We will need all 11 guys flying to the football Friday.”

Butler leads its all-time series with Fox Chapel, 8-2, though the Foxes claimed a 49-17 decision last year.