HOLLIDAYSBURG — Butler erupted for 27 points in the fourth quarter Friday night to break open a close game and cruise to a 40-20 non-conference football victory over winless Hollidaysburg.

Butler’s defense sacked Hollidaysburg quarterback Tucker Rossman four times, picked off three of his passes and held the Golden Tigers to 223 total yards, most of which came in the second half.

“Our defensive game plan was good,” Butler coach Eric Christy said. “The defense played well the whole game. We were able to get pressure on their quarterback and it just continued throughout the game.

“We wore them down, I think, in the second half with our running game.”

Butler, which led 7-0 at halftime, scored 33 points during its second half surge, and had four rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter en route to its third victory of the season.

With the Golden Tornado clinging to a 13-6 lead early in the fourth quarter, Braylon Littlejohn raced 52 yards for a touchdown to give the visitors some breathing room.

David Graef’s added touchdown runs of 9 and 59 yards in the fourth quarter and also scored on a 52-yard run and Landon Dubyak on a 4-yarder.

Also, Landon Lacey had 11 yards rushing on six carries as Butler piled up 292 yards on the ground.

“We were in the shotgun a lot early on and we switched back to Wing-T stuff and they didn’t adjust to it,” Christy said.

Butler’s defense now has eight interceptions in the past two games.

Terrell Holderman also had two of his team’s four sacks.

Mac Schnur threw two touchdown passes and had one of Butler’s three interceptions.

Hollidaysburg’s Drew Wyland spelled Rossman in the second half for a few series at quarterback. He was the team’s leading rusher with 62 yards on seven carries, caught two passes for 14 yards and completed one pass for 12 yards,

The Golden Tornado held the Tigers to just 78 yards rushing and 222 yards of total offense.

Hollidaysburg coach Homer DeLattre: “ They had great coverage. I don’t care who your quarterback is, if you can’t run the ball, it doesn’t matter. He had three guys in the backfield on three-step drops. It’s not the quarterback’s fault.

“We had some opportunities in the first half, but we couldn’t run the football. They had five guys in the box and we didn’t run it very well. And we didn’t pass-protect very well, either.”

Chridty said: “It feels good to be 3-1. It’s nice to be back winning.”

The Tigers were missing starting receiver Nick Burkey and starting running back Elijah Ransom. Both were injured last week against State College. Wyland and Maddox Baihey had interceptions for Hollidaysbsurg and Cristian White blocked a 20-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter.

Butler travels to Erie for a critical District 10 6A game next Friday.

Butler 0 7 6 27 — 40

Hollidaysburg 0 0 6 14 — 20

First Quarter

B — Davis 19 pass from Schnur (Gianneski kick), 11:03.

Third Quarter

B – McLister 25 pass from Schnur (Pass failed), 8:55.

H – Steiner 2 run (Kick failed), 5:55.

Fourth Quarter

B – Littlejohn 52 run (Gianneski kick), 10:46.

B — Graef 9 run (Gianneski kick), 8:10.

H — Albarano 18 pass from Rossman (Sosnowski kick), 5:01.

B — Graef 59 run (Kick b;locked), 3:55.

B — Dubyak 4 run (Gianneski kick), 8:10.

H — Steiner 8 run (Wedel kick), 0:05.

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Hollidaysburg, Wyland 7-62, Barronner 6-17, Steiner 2-10, White 2-3, Szynal 1-7, Bell 1-6, Brua 2-minus 4, Rossman 6-minus 23. Butler, Lacey 6-111, Graef 3-68, Littlejohn 2-60, Catalfano 1-17, Cox 8-16, Dubyak 4-8, Andrada 2-10, Schnur 9-2.

Passing, Hollidaysburg, Rossman 18-28-3-132, Wyland 1-2-0, 12. Butler, Schnur 9-20-2-129.

Receiving, Hollidaysburg, Bell 5-53, Albarano 2-22, DeLattre 6-20, Steiner 1-18, Szynal 1-17, Wyland 2-14, White 2-6. Butler, McLister 3-42, Davis 2-40, Lacey 2-26, Cox 2-21.