Butler football back to .500 after complete performance in shutout win over Connellsville
CONNELLSVILLE — A balanced offense and a defense that gives up yards grudgingly is usually a recipe for success, but it’s easier said than done.
Seeking to snap a two-game skid, Butler’s football team was able to achieve dominance on both sides of the ball Friday at Connellsville.
The Golden Tornado passed for 166 yards and rushed for 151 while holding the Falcons to less than 100 yards of offense until late in the fourth quarter of a 31-0 win at Connellsville Stadium.
The result evened Butler’s record at 3-3 and allowed the team to officially rid itself of the bad taste left from losses to Hollidaysburg and Westinghouse the previous two weeks.
“Coming down here and getting back on track feels amazing,” said Butler senior Quinlan Hanley, who caught two touchdown passes from Alec Teff and intercepted a pass on defense. “We had a great game plan in place and it just came down to executing.”
The Falcons (1-5) threatened to avoid the shutout late in the game. A 38-yard pass from Parker Lembo to Major Stash set Connellsville up at Butler’s 14-yard line. But the Tornado forced a turnover on downs moments later.
“It’s always good to shut a team out,” said Tornado lineman Duncan Weifenbaugh, who played on offense and defense. “We knew at the start of the game that we could push them around up front.”
It took Butler a few series to get going offensively.
With 3:31 left in the first quarter, the Tornado began a nine-play, 82-yard drive that culminated with Nico Baggetta’s 2-yard scoring run. Teff’s 26-yard pass to Hanley early in the march set the Tornado on their way.
Alex Morris booted a 23-yard field goal just before halftime for a 10-0 lead. At the break, Butler had 98 yards rushing and 94 passing.
“We are willing to take what the defense gives us, but we have been a very balanced team this year,” Butler coach Eric Christy said. “Our focus is one game at a time, and we were focused tonight.”
Connellsville lost starting quarterback Caden Mathews to a broken bone in his non-throwing hand on its second offensive series. An inexperienced Lembo took over and the Falcons’ chances of winning fell to running back Linkon Keller.
But aside from a 40-yard run early in the second quarter, Keller was shut down by Butler’s defense. On his other 13 carries, he gained just 28 yards.
Nash Cuffman joined Hanley in halting Connellsville drives with an interception in the second half.
“The defense’s play was outstanding,” Christy said. “Our defensive coordinator, Darrell Smith, did a fantastic job of getting our kids ready for this game.”
Teff threw three touchdown passes in the final two quarters — two short ones to Hanley and a 26-yarder to Owen Trettel.
Mark Klemz paced Butler’s ground attack with 94 yards on 20 carries and Jacob Kollinger added 65 yards on 15 carries.
Butler travels to West Virginia next Friday to take on University High.
Butler 0 10 7 14 — 31
Connellsville 0 0 0 0 — 0
Second quarter
B — Nico Baggetta 2 run (Alex Morris kick), 11:56
B — Morris 23 field goal, :01
Third quarter
B — Quinlan Hanley 2 pass from Alec Teff (Morris kick), 6:03
Fourth quarter
B — Hanley 4 pass from Teff (Morris kick), 11:54
B — Owen Trettel 26 pass from Teff (Morris kick), 6:49
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Butler, Mark Klemz 20-94, Jacob Kollinger 15-65, Nico Baggetta 2-(-8). Connellsville, Linkon Keller 14-68, Caden Mathews 1-2, Wyatt Hall 1-1, Parker Lembo 3-(-4), Grayden Gillott 2-1, Ethan Foley 1-2, Russ Miller 7-14.
Passing: Butler, Alec Teff 14-24-166-1. Connellsville, Caden Mathews 0-3-0-0, Parker Lembo 4-11-63-2.
Receiving: Butler, Quinlan Hanley 7-82, Mark Klemz 2-14, Nico Baggetta 1-11, Tyson Pino 2-14, Owen Trettel 2-45. Connellsville, Grayden Gillott 1-7, Christian Thomas 1-12, Geno Farrell 1-6, Major Stash 1-38.
