North Allegheny rolls past Butler
BUTLER TWP — North Allegheny is in no hurry to give up its throne.
The defending PIAA Class AAAA champions scored touchdowns after each of Butler's four turnovers and outgained the Golden Tornado 431-64 in total yardage while rolling to a 49-7 football victory Friday night at Art Bernardi Stadium.
“That team is just too good,” Butler coach Clyde Conti said.
The Tigers have outscored their first two opponents by the combined margin of 102-28. They've rolled up 1,000 yards of offense through two weeks.
Butler's lone score came on a 75-yard interception return by Demetrius Lockley with 6:43 left in the first half. That trimmed NA's lead to 21-7 at the time.
A sack of Tiger quarterback Mack Leftwich by Carlos Sanchez and Jake Hays on a third-down play moments later forced NA to punt from its own end zone. The Tornado gained possession at the Tigers' 19-yard line.
Three plays netted three yards and Colin Williamson's 33-yard field goal attempt sailed wide to the left.
Butler never threatened to score again.
“I'm proud of the way our defense kept them out of the end zone,” NA coach Art Walker Jr. said. “Butler gave itself a chance to get back in the game there and our defense came up big.”
The offense came up big as well. Leftwich scrambled 29 yards for a touchdown on a third-and-16 play, capping an 80-yard drive once the Tigers regained possession.
“Our best chance was after that short punt,” Conti allowed. “I'm not saying we would have won the game had we scored there, but we missed an opportunity.
“You can't lay the ball on the ground, either. That's something we have to correct.”
The Tornado lost three fumbles and backup quarterback Tom Jendesky was intercepted. North Allegheny turned each mistake into touchdown drives.
“That's always important,” Walker said. “When you get a turnover, you don't want to stall and punt, or give the ball back. We maxed out our opportunites tonight.”
Vinnie Congedo rushed for 100 yards and three touchdowns for NA. Leftwich threw for 117 yards and a score.
The Tigers ran 64 offensive plays to Butler's 29. The mercy clock took affect in the final minute of the third quarter when NA built a 42-7 lead.
Besides Lockley's interception, Steve Shoemaker recovered a muffed punt for Butler. But the Tornado offense never got going, managing only five first downs all night.
“My approach after this game is the same as after the last one,” Conti said. “I'm already thinking about Canon-McMillan. They beat Butler last year and return everybody.
“It's not going to be easy for us any week. We knew that going into this season.”
Butler (1-1, 0-1) hosts the Big Macs at 7:30 p.m. next Friday.
