North Hills rolls past Butler, 38-0
WEST VIEW — Butler missed tackles. North Hills didn't miss opportunities.
The host Indians scored on all three of their first-half possessions and returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown early in the game Friday night, paving the way for a 38-0 Northern Seven Conference football victory at Martorelli Stadium.
The loss was the third straight for the Golden Tornado (2-4, 0-4).
“Good football players can make you miss tackles and that's what was happening tonight,” Butler coach Clyde Conti said. “Our effort was there. They were just better than us.”
North Hills (4-2, 2-1) was sparked by Tyler Reddick's 48-yard return of the opening kickoff. That set up a five-play, 40-yard drive that ended with Anthony Rizzitano's 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Andrew Miller.
Three plays later, Jordan Blackmon returned a Colin Williamson punt 80 yards for a score. Blackmon was hit a split second after fielding the punt, but shook off the tackler and got loose down the left sideline.
Reddick had 17 carries for 162 yards and two touchdowns, including a 77-yarder. Christian LeJeune added 117 yards on five carries.
“This was one of our more complete efforts,” North Hills coach Jack McCurry said. “We were pretty good last week, too, though (42-0 win over Hempfield).
North Hills had six plays gaining 39 yards or more, five of those occurring in the second half.
The Tornado had two opportunities to score in the contest. Sophomore Tom Jendesky started at quarterback and guided his team on a 14-play, 50-yard drive that ate 7:14 off the clock following Blackmon's punt return.
The drive stalled at the Indians' 15-yard line and Williamson's 32-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.
Jordan Cratty recovered a fumbled North Hills handoff at the Indians' 21 in the third quarter. Butler turned the ball over on downs at the 14.
“Shutouts mean a lot to our kids,” McCurry said. “We have a board in our locker room that lists all of that type of stuff. When the opportunity is there to get one, they want it.”
Butler's offense managed only 106 yards and six first downs. Jendesky was sacked four times and eventually left the game with a leg injury.
“It looked like he took a helmet there,” Conti said. “We got a couple of kids banged up tonight. We'll deal with the injuries and get ready for next week.
“We've got three football games left to play and we'll do the best we can with who's available.”
North Hills rushed for 282 yards and churned out 19 first downs. Blackmon, who rushed for 179 yards last week, turned an ankle and left the game early in the first half.
The Indians had a chance to tack on a touchdown late, but took a knee from the Tornado 1-yard line after a 50-yard LeJeune run ended there.
“That was a classy act by Jack McCurry,” Conti said. “The JV's were in on both sides and they could have tacked on another one on us.”
“What does scoring another touchdown there do for anybody?” McCurry said. “It's common sense. Just shut it down. Just because the junior varsity is on the field doesn't mean you have to keep scoring.”
Butler travels to Mars for a non-section game Friday.
