North Jersey's No. 18 team hopeful that everything comes together | Top 20 countdown

Jason Luciani still reflects on the 2021 season and sees it as a turning point for his Butler football program.

It was the year following a COVID-altered campaign, and the veteran Bulldogs coach was forced to start a bunch of freshmen and underclassmen as depth played a significant factor.

Butler finished a respective 4-6 that season, and it set the tone for the next three years.

The small Morris County program (which includes student-athletes from Bloomingdale in Passaic County) went 6-4 and qualified for the postseason in 2022, then went 9-2 and reached a sectional final in 2023. The Bulldogs begin 2024 ranked No. 18 in the North Jersey Public Top 20.

“We had some growing pains with this group of seniors over the years, but we’ve worked through everything as a team during that time,” Luciani said. “We’ve shown consistent and steady improvement each season. Now it’s the seniors’ time to shine. We’re really excited for this coming season and what’s ahead.”

Butler returns a significant portion of last year’s team that reached the North 2, Group 1 sectional final.

Led by multi-dimensional athlete PJ Coffey (32 receptions, 496 yards, six touchdowns; 10 carries, 112 yards, four touchdowns), the offense brings back four starting linemen, the starting tight end, and multiple starting receivers. On the other side, the defense returns nine of 11 starters.

“While we lost some talented players to graduation, we bring back a good portion of our team,” Luciani said. “It’s a group of blue-collar, hard working kids who play with grit and show up. Nothing comes easy, especially in the conference we play in. There’s work ahead.”

MORE: Inside look at HS football teams in Bergen and Passaic counties

The tradition

Butler has won eight NJSIAA sectional titles. The last came in 2018, when the Bulldogs defeated Park Ridge, 35-28, in North 1, Group 1.

The Bulldogs claimed consecutive North 2, Group 1 titles in 1982 and ‘83, but their glory years came in the 1990s when they won five in an eight-year period, highlighted by four straight championships from 1994-97.

Since 1974, Butler has qualified for the postseason 47 times and has appeared in 15 sectional finals.

The challenge

As is the case with most small-school programs, depth remains a challenge.

The Bulldogs need to replace starting left tackle, Jason Murray, a 6-foot-5, 295-pound front man who earned numerous postseason accolades. A new quarterback enters the picture as well with junior Dave Smith getting the nod.

“It’s not easy to replace that size and experience on the front line, especially being a small school,” Luciani said. “We’re seeing some good competition in the offseason and in summer workouts.”

Interest in the program has been promising over the years as Luciani noted 50 players are on this year’s roster.

Expectations

After missing the NJIC playoffs by one game last fall, Butler is determined to make a run at a conference title and a state title.

The Bulldogs move to another division within the NJIC, where the schedule will include traditional powers Hasbrouck Heights and Hawthorne.

“We need to worry about getting better every week and being prepared for each game,” Luciani said. “A lot of our guys got their feet wet and were thrown into the fire when they were freshmen. There’s been a lot of experience and growth in the last four years.”

Schedule

Sept. 6 : at Hawthorne

Sept. 13 : vs. Saddle Brook

Sept. 20 : vs. Secaucus

Sept. 27 : at Hasbrouck Heights

Oct. 4 : vs. New Milford

Oct. 11 : TBD

Oct. 18 : TBD

Oct. 25 : TBD

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: North Jersey's No. 18 team hopeful that everything comes together | Top 20 countdown