Butler drops regular season finale

By Mike Allshouse

Special to the Eagle

October 29, 2022 Last Updated: October 29, 2022 12:04 AM High School

LATROBE — It was not the outcome that Butler coach Eric Christy envisioned.

“It was a little bit flat,” Christy said of his team’s 28-14 loss at Greater Latrobe. “I don't know. We were told on the bus ride down here that we hit the playoffs, so we were hoping it would hype up the team, but it might have done the opposite and flattened us.

“ I'm not sure why. It should have been the other way. We were trying to get them focused here and maybe they were looking too far into next week.”

The Golden Tornado learned on the bus ride to Greater Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium that a judge ruled that they will be allowed to participate in the 2022 and 2023 playoffs.

“We got into the playoffs,” Christy said. “I know the district fought really hard for us. And that was awesome on their part. I wish we would have had something here to show them, but we did not. Hopefully, we can figure that out and turn it around for next week.”

Butler came out a bit flat in the first half of its game against Latrobe and it allowed the Wildcats to gather momentum after a scoreless first quarter, as they would explode for 14 points in the second quarter.

The Wildcats got their first points of the quarter when quarterback John Wetzel kept the ball and pushed into the end zone from two yards out. With the Ben Bigi kick, Greater Latrobe went up 7-0 with 10:22 left in the half.

Less than four minutes later, the Wildcats struck again. This time Wetzel found running back Robert Fulton for a 36-yard strike. With the point after, Latrobe had a 14-0 lead with 6:36 left to halftime.

Butler looked to make it a game after the half when the Golden Tornado got a bit tricky when Braylon Littlejohn — instead of punting the ball — kept it and scrambled for big yards on a 4th and 2. It kept the Golden Tornado drive alive and set them up at the Wildcats' 26-yard line.

And capitalize Butler did when Mac Schnur found Littlejohn on a 6-yard TD pass. With the point after, the Golden Tornado closed the gap to 14-7.

But Greater Latrobe responded in the fourth quarter, where it posted two more touchdowns.

The first came on a Fulton five-yard scramble for the score. Latrobe’s other score of the fourth quarter came when Wetzel kept the ball and ran 23 yards for the touchdown to push the Wildcats' lead to 28-7.

Butler didn’t quit and Schnur connected 30 yards through the air with Landon Lacey for the final score of the night to make it 28-14.

For Greater Latrobe head coach Ron Prady, it was good to get a win after the Wildcats' loss last week to section powerhouse McKeesport.

“It felt good to be here and winning on our home field,” Brady said. “We felt that this (game) was important for our program. Our kids played their hearts out. It is a satisfying win.”

While it was satisfying for Greater Latrobe (6-4), for Butler (4-6), it is back to the drawing board before it gets its playoff run started next week.

“We played a playoff-caliber team,” Christy said. “Latrobe is a good team. They played hard. My hat is off to them, they found a way to win and do what they needed to do. We are trying to figure out some small things. We have to find the guys who stepped up and who didn't. We need to address that and figure out what we need to do.”

Butler is set to play McDowell in the playoffs.

“We have Erie McDowell,” Christy said. “I’m not sure where or when. I don't think Butler football has made the playoffs two seasons in a row in like 30 years. I feel like this group has done something that hasn't been done in a long time. It is exciting.”

Butler 0 0 7 7 – 14

Greater Latrobe 0 14 0 14 – 28

Second Quarter

GL — John Wetzel 2 run (Ben Bigi kick)

GL — Robert Fulton 36 pass from Wetzel (Bigi kick)

Third Quarter

B — Braylon Littllejohn 6 pass from Mac Schnur (Max Gianneski kick)

Fourth Quarter

GL — Fulton 5 run (Bigi kick)

GL — Wetzel 23 run (Bigi kick)

B — Landon Lacey 30 pass from Schnur (Gianneski kick)

Individual Statistics