Eli Butler and Colby LeBarron of Warrior Run celebrate a touchdown by Butler against Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Warrior Run won 21-7. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

First, he increased his speed and strength. Then, Eli Butler dramatically increased all his statistics.

A relentless offseason spent working, lifting and speed training has translated into big numbers. More important to the Warrior Run senior, it has helped his team flourish and move within a victory of history.

Butler went from a good linebacker to an exceptional one. He went from seeing limited offensive action to becoming one of the area’s most well-rounded weapons. Butler shined again last Friday at Loyalsock, running for 127 yards and three touchdowns, producing a sack, making 11 tackles and helping Warrior Run win its District 4 Class AA quarterfinal, 21-7.

The Defenders (7-4) defeated Loyalsock for the first time since 2005, reached the district semifinals for just a third time and will try and reach their first district final Friday when they head to Towanda. Butler, his ferocious work ethic and his immense improvement are major reasons why.

“Defensively, I expected to be predominantly playing there,” Butler said. “I guess they saw something on our offense that was able to benefit us and if that’s something I’m able to do to help our team, I’m all for that.”

That is what his teammates and coaches like most. Butler is a team-first player and a captain. The numbers he has produced (993 rushing yards, 445 receiving yards and 123 tackles) are a means to an end. He also blocks well and is content doing whatever it takes to help Warrior Run win.

Butler and his teammates have experienced that feeling a lot since an 0-3 start last year, going 13-7 since then while becoming the first Warrior Run team to win playoff games in consecutive years.

“It’s my senior year, so I’m doing all I can to help us keep going,” Butler said. “But it’s a team effort.

We all rallied together.”

What people are seeing Butler do now is the finished product. What they did not see, however, is what made this all possible. It was all those weights lifted, all those sprints ran, all those football workouts attended.

Putting the whole package together, Butler became faster and stronger. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder also became much tougher to block and stop. Coming off a good season at linebacker, Butler has gone to another level this season and is among the area leaders in tackles for loss with 25.

“Eli has made an unbelievable impact,” Warrior Run coach Derrick Zechman said. “He was a good player, but he elevated his game and went from no one knowing that much about him to becoming one of the top players around on both sides of the ball.”

That Butler has become one of the area’s standout linebackers might not be shocking considering his success the last three years there. But what he has done offensively is a stunner. Butler carried the ball just 37 times for 146 yards his first three years, never more times than 16 in a season and never for more than 79 yards. Oh yeah, he also caught just five passes.

Now Butler has become one of the area’s most well-rounded running backs. He is four yards from reaching 1,000 rushing yards, going over 100 in both Loyalsock wins. Butler also is second on the team with 26 catches for 445 yards and four touchdowns.

“It’s unexpected. He worked really hard in track season. He got a lot faster,” defensive end/fullback Stone Allison said after wreaking his own havoc and producing three sacks. “It’s crazy having him running so fast. He’s gotten a lot better.”

“In the offseason, I wasn’t able to see the immediate results. I saw gradual results,” Butler said. “But looking back from last year to this year I could definitely see a jump I made in my acceleration and speed. My ability to just trust our line has made a tremendous impact and they have been able to open up some huge plays for us.”

Butler runs the same way he tackles: hard. A nice person off the field, Butler runs violent on it and produced gained strength as Friday’s game progressed. He ran for 118 second-half yards and scored on runs of 1, 15 and 32 yards.

Butler also has kick return and interception touchdown returns this season, totaling 18 scores four ways. He has become a true Swiss Army Knife. Butler also has become quite a success story.

Coaches often stress how important working in the offseason is but there words are not always heard. How crucial it is then to have a player like Butler. The younger players seeing him come so far, so fast can only heighten their desire going forward.

“Eli plays with emotion and passion. He’s a leader on both sides of the ball. He can play college football and help a lot of teams. He’s fun to watch,” Zechman said. “He put in the work. He has that gear. The passing game and running game and the tackles he gets … he just makes plays.

“He’s unbelievable. We’re very blessed to have him on the team.”

FIGHTING BACK: Montoursville rallied from a 14-point second quarter deficit and edged Mifflinburg, 28-27 in a thrilling District 4 Class AAA quarterfinal. The Warriors (6-5) made a dramatic goal-line stand after Mifflinburg had a first and goal at the 5-yard line before then going 98 yards for the go-ahead touchdown as Christian Banks scored from 28 yards out.

Senior lineman Nicco Desanto made it 28 straight points when he recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown. Fellow senior Todd Crawford made some massive plays, catching a 46-yard touchdown to ignite the comeback, making a sensational drive-extending catch on the go-ahead touchdown mark and recovering the onside kick to clinch victory.

Freshman quarterback Elijah Eck also came up big, throwing for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Fellow freshman Jay Houseknecht caught three passes for 74 yards and a score as Montoursville earned a spot at Danville in Friday’s semifinals.

RECORD BREAKER: South Williamsport senior Dylan Scheller basically owns the program receiving record book now. Following his eight-catch, 100-yard performance in a 63-27 District 4 Class AA quarterfinal loss at undefeated Troy, Scheller broke whatever significant receiving records were there for the taking.

A week after breaking single-game catch and yards records, Scheller set new standards for single-season yards (1,018, becoming program’s first 1,000-yard receiver), career catches (100) and single-season catches (59). All this despite teams consistently double teaming him and South traditionally being a run-heavy offense.

Quarterback Tadd Lusk is the program’s first 1,000-yard passer since A.J. Flick in 2017 and ran for 12 touchdowns, while freshmen running backs Cade Lusk and Eli White both went over 500 yards.

EXTRA POINTS: Hughesville wide receiver Conor Knight joined Zach Fry as the only Spartan receivers of the 2000s to reach 1,000 yards, catching three passes for 35 yards in a 39-0 District 4 Class AA quarterfinal loss at Southern Columbia. Knight finished the season with 67 catches for 1,009 yards and 12 touchdowns. Blake Davis played the final seven weeks with a broken wrist on his non-throwing hand but still tied Landon Henry for second on the single-season touchdown pass chart with 22 … Montgomery closed a huge turnaround season, dropping a 49-19 District 4 Class A semifinal at Line Mountain. The Red Raiders (7-4) made a six-win improvement and produced seven wins for the first time in 25 years. They trailed 14-12 after the first quarter but Line Mountain pulled away in the second half. Trace Furman ran for and caught a touchdown, Coy Bryson closed out his fantastic high school career with 124 yards and Lincoln Miller threw a touchdown.

Chris Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse