WEXFORD — The difference in size between the two lines was quite noticeable.

So was the difference on the scoreboard.

North Allegheny used its huge offensive and defensive fronts to punish Butler along the line of scrimmage Friday night at Newman Stadium, cruising to a 41-7 Northern Eight football victory.

The Tigers (5-1, 4-1) rushed for 395 yards on the night, led 35-0 by halftime and limited the Golden Tornado (0-6, 0-4) to one first down through three quarters. NA's linemen measured 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, 6-7 and 285 pounds, 6-5 and 275, 6-3 and 275 — just to name a few.

“North Allegheny has been big since the beginning of time,” Butler coach Rob Densmore said. “They're a great football team on both sides of the ball.

“We were young out there tonight. We were playing five or six sophomores, but all of our kids played hard. These kids aren't quitting.”

Mike Pope scored three touchdowns for NA in the first half — one on a 65-yard punt return — and quarterback Ethan Maenza scored on a 62-yard run.

The second half was scoreless unntil the teams swapped touchdowns in the final two minutes. Turner White broke free for an 89-yard scoring run for the Tigers with 1:22 to play. North Allegheny played its reserves in the entire second half.

Butler got on the board with six seconds to play when sophomore Brandon Fleeger connected with Kelley Kuharic for a 53-yard bomb down the right sideline.

“Their defender deflected the ball and Kelley made a great play,” densmore said. “He's a senior and he deserves that. That's a memory he can carry with him forever.

“We had to try to score late like that. If we don't, we're giving up as coaches. The players aren't going to give up and neither are we.”

Other highlights for the Tornado included Logan Dubyak intercepting a pass inside the Butler 20 to snuff out a Tiger threat in the first half and Rhett Wahler recovering a loose football downfield after North Allegheny blocked a punt.

The interception was Butler's first of the season.

North Allegheny was whistled for 13 penalties totalling 98 yards.

“That's uncharacteristic of us,” Tigers coach Art Walker Jr. said. “A lot of it was stupid stuff, things we'll have to correct.

“You can always play better, but our kids came out focused tonight and we gave Butler our best. That's the way Coach Densmore ... any opposing coach ... would want us to play.”

Butler returns home to play Pine-Richland next Friday.

“I have pride in our kids, unconditional pride in this program because I know how hard these kids work and how much time they put in,” Densmore said.

“We got gashed for some big plays tonight. Take those away and this is a tight game in the first half. Those plays we missed tonight are plays we'll make next year. That's how I look at it.”