Taking their shots
BUTLER TWP — Butler knew what it had to give. And Penn Hills took it.
Cam Tarrant completed 27 of 32 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns Friday night in leading the Indians past the Golden Tornado, 37-6, in a mutual Northern Seven football opener at Art Bernardi Stadium.
Penn Hills (2-0) has rolled up 1,170 yards of offense in two games. Tarrant has thrown for more than 800 yards and 10 TDs during that time.
“That team has some serious athletes,” Butler coach Rob Densmore said. “We had to play off of their receivers to avoid getting beat deep.
“I didn't think they'd be willing to dink and dunk against us all night, but they did. I give their coaches credit. They took what we gave them.”
Butler trailed 24-0 at halftime, allowing Penn Hills three touchdowns in the second quarter. The last one was on a 50-yard fumble return by Darrell Mason with three seconds left on the clock.
“That one hurt,” Densmore admitted.
The Indians lost running back Tim Smith to a toe injury early in the first quarter.
“At that point, we had to rely on throwing the ball,” Indians coach John Peterman said. “We know we have athletes out on the edge and we need to get them the football.
“Two years ago, we relied on rushing for 400 yards per game. This year, we may rely on throwing it for 400 yards per game.”
The Tornado put together a 12-play, 65-yard scoring drive to begin the third quarter. Noah Ryder scored on a 2-yard run as Butler ate more than six munutes off the clock.
The snap on the PAT was mishandled and the Tornado trailed, 24-6.
Penn Hulls answered with a nine-play, 69-yard scoring drive of its own. Tarrant found Terry Smith for a 17-yard touchdown pass on third-and-5. He hit Julian Major from 24 yards out to conclude the scoring with 5:03 left.
Major, receiving plenty of Division I scholarship offers, had 10 catches for 134 yards and two scores on the night.
“Butler was a physical football team tonight,” Peterman said. “They were laying out some hits. I was happy with the way we responded.”
Peterman wasn't happy in the penalty department. Penn Hills was flagged 16 times for 145 yards and had two second-half touchdowns — a 65-yard run and 76-yard punt return — wiped out by penalties.
“This is going to sound crazy, losing 37-6, but I liked the way our kids played tonight,” Densmore said. “I know we were more physical than they (Penn Hills) thought we'd be.
“I didn't have a good feeling after we lost our opener last year. I've got a good feeling now. We're coming off probably our best week of practice since I've been here. Our kids played hard.
“I know we don't have big numbers, but the kids who are here are all in. I honestly think we're turning the corner,” Densmore added.
Antonio DeVaughn paced Butler's rushing attack with 56 yards on 13 carries. Kyler Callihan recovered a fumble and Luke Michalek intercepted a pass for the Tornado.
Butler travels to Altoona next Friday.
