GREENSBURG— Seemingly trapped for a loss, Nick Monteleone danced his way out of trouble and rambled downfield for a 16-yard gain.

No, it wasn't in Butler on a Friday night. It was in Greensburg on a Saturday night.

But it certainly served as a reminder of the former.

"Yeah, it felt good to get out there and play a little bit again,"Monteleone said. "I wish I could have played a little bit more."

A three-year starter at Butler from 2004-2006, Monteleone threw for 4,538 yards and 27 touchdowns in his high school career. He also rushed for 929 yards and 16 scores — as a drop-back quarterback.

Now a sophomore quarterback for Seton Hill, a fourth-year NCAADivision IIfootball program in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Monteleone saw his first appreciable playing time with the Griffins Aug. 30.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound former Tornado was to rotate series all night against Slippery Rock University, but a sprained knee curtailed that plan.

Still, Monteleone completed four of six passes for 34 yards and carried six times for 32 yards before leaving the game early in the third quarter.

"I'm OK," he said, standing in the locker room with an ice pack on his knee. "Icould have played if I had to."

Instead, the Butler graduate watched senior David Wess, a transfer from the University of Cincinnati, complete 13 of 17 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown in a 27-20 victory over The Rock.

Wess had served as scout team quarterback at Cincinnati for two years before coming to Seton Hill.

Wess and Monteleone will soon be relegated to backup status again when junior Matt Dowdell, who threw for 2,092 yards and 18 touchdowns last year, returns next week from a knee injury.

Monteleone was the Griffins' No. 2 quarterback last year, but played sparingly in only three games, completing one of six passes for six yards.

Now Wess is trying to force him further down the depth chart.

"I'm glad David's here,"Monteleone said. "The competition is making me work harder. No one's guaranteed a spot here.

"I'm happy with my progress, but I still have a long way to go."

Monteleone's goal is to be the starting quarterback one day and to lead the Griffins to a WVIACchampionship.

First-year head coach Joel Dolinski sees Monteleone doing it.

"He's an incredible talent and I love his attitude,"the coach said. "Nick has the physical capabilities to be the starter here right now. He just needs to catch up with the game mentally at this level."

Dolinski said Monteleone wasn't ready to be a college quarterback as a freshman.

"It wasn't going to happen for him last year, but not many freshmen get on the field at that position,"Dolinski said. "If something happened to Matt long-term now, this team has full confidence in Nick's ability.

"He's progressed through hard work, simple as that."

Seton Hill finished 1-9, 2-9 and 3-8 during its first three seasons. The veteran-laden Griffins have their sights set on the WVIACtitle this season.

"Oh, yeah, it can happen,"Monteleone insisted. "This is an extremely talented team."

One that might have Monteleone behind center on a regular basis in another year or so.

"Absolutely., I still believe Nick Monteleone will be the starting quarterback here someday," Dolinski said. "In fact, I'm counting on it."