JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley didn't win the Eagle Traveling Trophy Friday night.

The Raiders earned it.

Seneca Valley overcame a pair of Butler first-half leads, turned away a potential game-tying scoring threat in the third quarter and went on to defeat the stubborn Golden Tornado, 24-9, Friday night at NexTier Stadium.

The game marked a football season-opening Northern Eight Conference game for both teams. The Raiders won the Eagle Trophy for a record sixth straight year.

“There's never anything wrong with a win,” SV coach Don Holl said. “A lot of people thought this game would look a little different tonight, but emotion plays a big part in football.

“(Butler coach) Clyde Conti had his team geared up and ready. He's a great guy, a great friend — and a great football coach.”

Both teams scored on their first two possessions of the contest. Butler took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards in 14 plays. Jake Olenick capped the drive with a 1-yard run on fourth down.

The Raiders answered with a 13-play, 71-yard drive of their own. Quarterback Jordan Brown scrambled 20 yards for a touchdown on third-and-7. Earlier in the possession, SV gambled on fourth-and-7 from the Butler 45, Jon Dorogy running for 10 yards on a reverse.

“Our program is at the point where we expect to do it,” Holl said. “Besides, it was early in the game and both teams had a lot of at-bats left.”

A 74-yard kickoff return set up a 19-yard field goal by Butler freshman Devin Fitz. Again, the Raiders answered, this time with a nine-play, 75-yard TD drive. Brown hooked up with tight end R.J. McCauley for an 8-yard score.

A 57-yard scramble by Brown set up a 35-yard Chad Izenas field goal with 14 seconds left in the half.

The Raiders had a 17-9 lead at halftime. Fitz's PAT was blocked after Butler's touchdown.

“This was the best effort I've seen from a Butler team since I've been here,” Conti said. “I'm proud of the effort our kids put forth tonight.

“Seneca Valley's defensive front is tough, and I was afraid it would give us problems. And the Brown kid is everything everybody says he is.”

Brown therew for 192 yards and two touchdowns — including a 6-yarder to McCauley in the final quarter — and rushed for 92 yards and a score.

“Everything about this offense suits me perfectly. We have fun out there. This was far from a perfect game, though,” Brown said. “We have a ways to go.”

SV's final touchdown was set up by a desperation 31-yard pass down field on a third-down play. The ball deflected off a Tornado defender and into the arms of receiver Paul Hudanick as the latter laid prone on the ground.

“That play was a heartbreaker for us,” Conti admitted.

Early in the third quarter, Jordan Cratty hit Roskovski for 34 yards down to the Raiders' 15. SV's defensive line, anchored by Nick Dahlstrom and Zarian Prenatt, dug in from there, however, and Fitz's 37-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.

Tyler Bommer and MCauley intercepted passes in the fourth quarter for the Raiders.

Roskovski had 242 all-purpose yards for Butler — eight catches for 99 yards, two kick returns for 107, a punt return for 36.

“We didn't play our best game tonight,” Holl allowed. “I'm a big believer in converting layups when you get them and we missed a few layups tonight.”