Nicco Baggetta nearly leads Butler football on two comeback attempts vs Wheeling Park in home finale

October 17, 2025 Last Updated: October 17, 2025 11:49 PM Sports

Butler’s Nicholas Baggetta (1) scores a touchdown against Wheeling Park in a football game Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

BUTLER TWP — Butler willed its way back into the game. Wheeling Park found a way to hold on.

Trailing by two touchdowns late in the third quarter, the Golden Tornado got within a score in electrifying fashion. But they were turned away inside the Patriots’ 30-yard line on two consecutive possessions late as the visitors secured a 20-13 football victory Friday night at Art Bernardi Stadium.

“That was a great high school football game,” Wheeling Park coach Chris Daugherty said.

After taking a 14-7 lead into halftime — being denied a third touchdown by a holding penalty in the final minute before intermission — the Patriots (5-3) drove 72 yards on 13 plays to go up 20-7 lead with 3:04 left in the third quarter. All 13 plays were on the ground.

Butler (7-2) was back in the game three plays later.

On third-and-2 from his own 36, quarterback Nicco Baggetta rolled to his right, looking to pick up the first down. He wound up with much more, darting down the right sideline for a 64-yard touchdown . Both teams missed the PAT after their third-quarter touchdowns, and the Tornado trailed 20-13.

“One thing I have to say about our guys this year ... they don’t flinch,” Butler coach Eric Christy said. “Just keep on fighting.”

“Their defense kept slanting toward the inside, taking that away,” Baggetta said. “Their was room to run outside, and we took advantage of it.”

The Patriots appeared ready to regain control, however, as a 49-yard punt buried the Tornado at their own 1-yard line. A three-and-out was followed by a short punt, and Wheeling Park took possession at the Butler 29.

But Butler’s Tyson Pino — who recovered a fumble in the first half — intercepted a third-down pass at the goal-line and returned it 47 yards. Marcus Vicari made a diving catch along the right sideline for a 35-yard gain on the next play, and Butler had a first down at the Patriots’ 18 with seven minutes to go.

Butler’s Nicholas Baggetta (1) and Mason Lacey (4) celebrate after Baggetta scores his second touchdown against Wheeling Park in a football game Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

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A high snap sailed over Baggetta’s head, resulting in a 12-yard loss. The Tornado ran a trick play on fourth-and-13, Baggetta handing off to Pino, who then threw to Baggetta for a 16-yard gain down to the 5.

But Butler eventually turned the ball over on downs.

The Tornado got one more shot, taking possession at their own 36 following a 47-yard punt with 2:12 to play.

“Their punter was a big factor in this game, flipping field position,” Christy said.

Butler drove to the Wheeling Park 29 for a first down, but did not gain a yard on the next four plays, giving the ball back to the Patriots with 1:02 to play. Wheeling Park took a knee from there.

“Talk about playing bend-but-don’t-break defense — that was us tonight,” Daugherty said. “That quarterback (Baggetta) is quite an athlete, and Coach Christy is doing a tremendous job with that team. I hope the community appreciates what it has in that guy. He’s a special man.”

Baggetta threw for 123 yards and ran for 124, scoring both of Butler’s touchdowns. Mark Klemz was held to 20 yards on the ground, meaning he needs 122 next week at Central Clarion to become the Tornado’s first 1,000-yard rusher in eight years.

“We were down by two touchdowns in the third quarter, yet almost came back to beat the seventh-ranked team in West Virginia,” Baggetta said. “That’s how far this team has come ... and we’re still coming.”

Brennan Wack ran for 102 yards while Isaac Sands rushed for 75 and two touchdowns for Wheeling Park. Wack has 1,307 yards rushing this season despite missing the last two games due to injury.

“We wanted to ease him back in tonight, and he ran well,” Daugherty said. “Brennan was a candidate for West Virginia Player of the Year before he got hurt. He may work his way back into that conversation.”

Butler closes its season next week, facing Central Clarion at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium.

“All I know is 8-2 sounds a lot better than 7-3,” Christy said. “We have a chance to go 1-0 one more week.”

Butler’s Nash Cuffman (26) attempts to block a Wheeling Park PAT in a football game Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

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Wheeling Park 0 14 6 0 — 20

Butler 7 0 6 0 — 13

First Quarter

B — Nicco Baggetta 21 run (Alex Fulmer kick), 2:12

Second Quarter

WP — Isaac Sands 4 run (Anthony Mealy kick), 8:00

WP — Sands 24 run (Mealy kick), 4:14

Third Quarter

WP — Nolan Yanchak 3 run (kick failed), 3:04

B — Baggetta 64 run (kick failed), 1:31

Individual Statistics

Passing: Wheeling Park, Jay Bordas 9-14-101-1. Butler, Nicco Baggetta 11-24-123-2, Tyson Pino 1-1-16-0.

Rushing: Wheeling Park, Jay Bordas 5-(-1), Brennan Wack 19-102, Isaac Sands 19-75, Nolan Yanchak 3-14. Butler, Nicco Baggetta 12-124, Mark Klemz 10-20, Deacon Simko 3-16, TEAM 1-(-12).

Receiving: Wheeling Park, Owen Dobrzynski-Hines 1-5, Isaac Sands 1-1, Tatum Justice 1-4, Nolan Yanchak 3-42, Brennan Wack 3-39. Butler, Tyson Pino 2-22, Deacon Simko 4-34, Nash Cuffman 2-16, Marcus Vicari 2-45, Nicco Baggetta 1-16, Mark Klemz 1-6.

Members of the Butler student section go wild after a turnover in a football game on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

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Butler’s Beau Burchett (52) blocks a Wheeling Park lineman in a football game on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

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Butler’s Vance Elliott (20) and Patrick Kisoma (88) pray before their game against Wheeling Park 20-13 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

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Butler’s Tyson Pino (9) and Marcus Vicari (5) attempt an interception against Wheeling Park 13 in a football game on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

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Butler’s Nicholas Baggetta (1) scores a touchdown against Wheeling Park in a football game on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

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Butler’s Nash Cuffman (26) catches a kickoff ball by Wheeling Park in a football game on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

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Butler’s Nicholas Baggetta (1) and Mason Lacey (4) celebrate after Baggetta scores his second touchdown in a football game on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

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Butler’s Nash Cuffman (26) attempts to intercept a point kick by Wheeling Park in a football game on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

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