BUTLER TWP — With 20 first downs and 416 net yards, Butler churned out plenty of offense.

But Westinghouse churned out big plays at critical times — including a pair of momentum-changing possessions — in coming away with a 44-34 football victory Friday night at Art Bernardi Stadium.

“Their athleticism came up big for them all night,” Butler coach Eric Christy said.

The Bulldogs (6-0) — playing their second game in five nights — returned a pair of squib kickoffs for touchdowns. One was an 80-yarder by Kai'Ron Collins, the other a 60-yarder by Davon Fennell.

Collins' return was midway through the second quarter and pulled Westinghouse within 21-20. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty cost the Bulldogs 15 yards on the PAT. They went for two points and took the lead when Sincere Smith caught a pass in the end zone from quarterback Keyshawn Morsillo.

Fennell's return was on the second-half kickoff, giving the Bulldogs a 37-21 lead at the time.

“This was the first opponent that did squib kicks against us,” Westinghouse coach Dontay Green said. “We're returned five or six kicks for touchdowns this year.

“We take special teams very seriously. Our starters play on those units. If you start on offense or defense for us, you also play special teams.”

The first half went back and forth, the Golden Tornado (3-3) attempting to take a 24-22 lead on a 30-yard Max Gianneski field goal try with 4:01 left in the half.

Gianneski's kick was blocked. The Bulldogs answered with a 9-play, 66-yard drive. Morsillo scored on a 2-yard run with 19 seconds left as Westinghouse took a 30-21 lead into the locker room.

“I didn't know what kind of game to expect tonight,” Christy said. “Neither one of us knew much about the other.

“I thought our defense played fairly well against a very explosive team. But they hurt us on special teams.”

Still, Butler fought back.

Trailing 37-21, the Tornado got closer when Cooper Baxter connected with Ethan Trettel for a 54-yard touchdown strike. Trettel had caught a 65-yard TD pass from Mac Schnur in the first half.

Butler then put together an 11-play, 77-yard march that culminated with a trick play. Schnur tossed a backward pass to Baxter, who found Blaze McCandless alone in the end zone for a 10-yard TD catch, his first varsity touchdown.

Trailing 37-34, Butler needed a stop — and appeared primed to get one.

Westinghouse faced a 4th-and-11 from the Butler 35. Morsillo flipped a flare pass to Malik Harris, the running back breaking free down the left sideline for a touchdown with 11:51 to play.

“That fourth-down play was big, obviously, but a game like this ... you can look at so many things,” Christy said.

The Tornado embarked upon a long drive with 8:15 remaining, getting to the Westinghouse 11. Three incompletions were followed by a sack of Schnur with 2:19 to play and the issue was decided.

“Huge win for our program,” Green said. “The stigma of being in the City League is people don't believe we can leave the city and win.

“We beat an excellent team tonight. Butler is very good. We're not used to giving up 30 points to anybody. But they use so many kids and formations, it was hard figuring them out.”

Schnur threw for 152 yards and Baxter 85 for Butler. Baxter had two touchdown passes and ran for two scores.

Trettel had five catches for 140 yards and his two TDs. Jonathan Livermore intercepted a pass in the end zone and Jediah Wills recovered a fumble for Butler.

Darryl Perkins and Deshaun Blackwell had interceptions for Westinghouse.

“A loss is never a good thing, but what I liked is we were playing an undefeated team and our kids expected to win — and they're hurt because they didn't win,” Christy said. “I like that mind-set.”

Westinghouse 14 16 7 7 — 44

Butler 14 7 13 0 — 34

First Quarter

B — Cooper Baxter 8 run (Max Gianneski kick), 8:52

W — Keyshawn Morsillo 2 run (Osavio Martin kick), 6:35

B — Ethan Trettel 65 pass from Mac Schnur (Gianneski kick), 6:18

W — Davon Jones 22 pass from Morsillo (Martin kick), 4:07

Second Quarter

B — Baxter 5 run (Goanneski kick), 8:19

W — Kai'Ron Collins 80 kick return (Sincere Smith pass from Morsillo), 8:01

W — Morsillo 2 run (Collins run), :19

Third Quarter

W — Davon Fennell 60 kick return (Martin kick), 11:52

B — Trettel 54 pass from Baxter (pass failed), 10:02

B — Blaze McCandless 2 run (Collins run), 2:46

Fourth Quarter

W — Malik Harris 35 pass from Morsillo (Martin kick), 11:51

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Westinghouse, Keyshawn Morsillo 10-65, Malik Harris 12-49, Kai'Ron Collins 2-18, Khalikl Taylor 1-(-3). Butler, Mac Schnur 4-1, Landon Lacey 3-13, David Graef 1-2, Cooper Baxter 18-91, Landon Dubyak 4-12, Braylon Littlejohn 5-34, Lance Slater 3-26.

Passing: Westinghouse, Keyshawn Morsillo 7-12-153-1. Butler, Mac Schnur 10-20-152-2, Cooper Baxter 4-6-85-0.

Receiving: Westinghouse, Jaymir Oneal 2-74, Davon Jones 2-22, Kai'Ron Collins 2-22, Malik Harris 1-35. Butler, Lance Slater 1-(-4), Ethan Ttrettel 5-141, Braylon Littlejohn 4-58, Blaze McCandless 1-10, David Graef 2-15, Cooper Baxter 1-8.