BUTLER TWP — Senior Night produced some memories on the field for Butler Friday night at Art Bernardi Stadium.

It produced its share of frustration as well.

The Golden Tornado and McDowell combined to score touchdowns on eight consecutive possessions to begin the second half, but missed chances by Butler in the first two quarters proved costly in its 48-24 District 10 Class 6A loss.

The loss was the fourth straight for the Tornado (4-5) and marked their final home game of the 2022 season.

“We had our chances in the first half and either didn’t convert or didn’t take advantage,” Butler coach Eric Christy said. “When you don’t finish off your opportunities against a team the caliber of McDowell, it’s going to bite you in the end.”

The Trojans (7-2) took a 21-0 lead into the locker room at halftime, scoring on quick drives of 84 and 90 yards, using big plays. A 68-yard punt return by Trey Goodwine set up their final score of the half, an 8-yard touchdown run by Artis Simmons on the only play of the possession.

Goodwine caught a 53-yard touchdown pass earlier in trhe half.

In the meantime, Braylon Littlejohn dropped a certain pick-six defensively and Butler got the ball inside McDowell’s 10 twice in the first two quarters. The first time was courtesy of a 72-yard Littlejohn interception return that gave the Tornado possession at the Trojans 9-yard line. Butler turned the ball over on downs.

The Tornado drove 67 yards late in the half, getting the ball to the 8-yard line. Max Gianneski’s 25-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left to end the half.

“Too many missed tackles tonight and a couple of turnovers ... and I dropped one,” Littlejohn said. “We know we can play. We’ll clean things up and get ready for next week.”

The teams repeatedly traded blows in the second half. The Tornado struck first as Mac Schnir found Declan Dobson for a 43-yard touchdown pass. Dobson had an interception later in the game. But Simmons and the McDowell offense continually responded, with help from long returns on special teams. Jake Hower and James Zigler had kick returns of 54 and 55 yards, respectively, in the second half.

Simmons wound up with 13 carries for 135 yards and four touchdowns. Ben Moore threw for 191 yards and three scores for the Trojans.

Schnur injured his knee late in the first half and did not play the final minutes of the second quarter. But he wasn’t done for the night.

“No way was I coming out (in the second half),” Schnur said. “I took a helmet to the knee and the pain is killing me right now. But this is my last home game, last time I’ll be on this field with these guys.

“That chance wasn’t going to happen again.”

He made the most of it, completing 24 of 42 passes for 374 yards and four touchdowns. Three of his scoring tosses went to Littlejohn, who had 12 catches for 288 yards, carried the ball eight times for 68 and had the 72-yard interception return.

“That was a special performance,” Christy said. “I don’t recall another (Butler) receiver having a game quite like that.”

“The line enabled me to see the field and I rolled out to buy more time,” Schnur said. “Braylon is one of those guys who just makes plays. You throw the ball in his direction and he’s going to come down with it.”

Litttlejohn shrugged off his effort.

“It felt pretty good, I guess,” he said. “But we want to win games. We have to keep working.”

Butler closes the regular season next Friday at Greater Latrobe.

McDowell 7 14 21 6 — 48

Butler 0 0 18 6 — 24

First Quarter

M — Artis Simmons 5 run (Ashton Sontheim kick), 1:50

Second Quarter

M — Trey Goodwine 53 pass from Ben Moore (Sontheim kick), 7:31

M — Simmons 8 run (Sontheim kick), 3:30

Third Quarter

B — Declan Dobson 43 pass from Mac Schnur (kick blocked), 8:34

M — Simmons 14 run (Sontheim kick), 7:39

B — Braylon Littlejohn 23 pass from Schnur (pass failed), 4:34

M — Goodwine 30 pass from Moore (Sontheim kick), 2:12

B — Littlejohn 85 pass from Schnur (pass failed), 1:50

M — Simmons 12 run (Sontheim kick), 1:07

Fourth Quarter

M — Ray Jackson 13 pass from Moore (kick blocked), 11:53

B — Littlejohn 50 pass from Schnir (pass failed), 8:20

Individual Statistics

Rushing: McDowell, Ben Moore 7-32, Artis Simmons 13-135, Christian Santiago 1-9, Ray Jackson 1-5, Bobby Blue 3-15, Stephon Porter 3-25. Butler, Mac Schnur 5-(-8), Dashawn Cox 4-9, Landon Lacey 4-24, TEAM 1-(-2), JunJun Andrada 2-4, Braylon Littlejohn 8-68.

Passing: McDowell, Ben Moore 11-22-191-2. Butler, Mac Schnur 24-42-374-0, Braylon Littlejohn 0-1-0-0, Noah Ritchie 0-1-0-0.

Receiving: McDowell, Ray Jasckson 6-91, Trey Goodwine 3-91, Artios Simmons 1-1. Butler, Dashawn Cox 7-34, Landon Dubyak 2-21, Braylon Littlejohn 12-288, Declan Dobson 1-43, Landon Lacey 1-6, Ryan McLister 1-7.