Kevin Shriver shines as Butler football pops Erie on the road to clinch another .500 season
ERIE — Kevin Shriver set out to make an impact on offense this season for Butler’s football team after playing strictly on defense last year.
“I don’t have the build of a running back, but I have speed,” said the senior.
It was on display Friday night as he gashed Erie’s defense for three touchdown runs in a 22-14 win on the road at Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The first score saw Shriver gallop for 49 yards midway through the first quarter, putting the Golden Tornado (5-4) up in a game in which they never trailed in beating the Royals.
Once Shriver got beyond Erie’s linebackers on the play, he was home free. He rushed for 92 yards in the game while teammate Jake Kollinger, more of a bruising runner, picked up 55.
“Both can do some great things for us on offense, but they also play on defense,” Butler head coach Eric Christy said. “That factors into how much they run the ball, but a lot of times, it comes down to leaning on the hot hand.”
The victory clinches a second straight .500 season for Butler, which last did so in 1996-97.
Trailing the Tornado 9-0, the Royals (2-7) began to click with their passing game late in the first half.
Back-to-back completions from Jack Musone to Dyarren Woodard totaled 45 yards, setting up Marquis Leggett’s 5-yard scoring run. Butler’s halftime lead was a slim one at 9-7.
Searching for separation, Butler got it with two touchdown drives in the second half.
The first, a 12-play, 60-yard march, ate nearly eight minutes off the clock to begin the third quarter.
Quarterback Will Dunaway connected with Nash Cuffman, who made his return from injury, three times for 28 yards on the drive, and Shriver scored from 3 yards out to put the Tornado up 15-7.
After Butler’s defense held on Erie’s ensuing drive that reached the Tornado’s 12, Butler embarked on a 13-play drive that ended with Shriver’s final score from 8 yards out with seven minutes left in the game.
Dunaway, who passed for 105 yards in the second half after a slow start, had teamed up with Kollinger for a 16-yard pass play on a third-and-5 from Butler’s 40 to keep the chains moving.
“We saw an opportunity to get on ’em and bring down their confidence with those drives,” Christy said of the Royals.
Erie attempted to rally. Musone completed four passes for 59 yards to set up his own touchdown run, cutting his team’s deficit to 22-14 with 3:49 left, but Butler never relinquished possession afterward, thanks in large part to Dunaway’s 37-yard pass to Deacon Simko.
“We’ve struggled this year allowing penalties to get in our head,” Shriver said. “We had a few tonight but stayed focused on just playing our game.”
Cuffman, a senior, saw his first action since breaking his left ankle in the season-opener against Shaler.
He caught five passes for 41 yards Friday, which was much-needed production with Nicco Baggetta out of the lineup with his own injury.
“There was a time, right after the injury, when I thought my season was over,” Cuffman said. “It meant a lot for me to contribute tonight, just get back on the field with my friends who I’ve played football with since we were little kids.”
Cuffman and the other seniors may have one game left in a Butler uniform, but the scheduled game against Central Clarion next Friday is in limbo.
The Wildcats will be involved in the District 9 Class 2A playoffs, which begin next week. As of Friday afternoon, Central Clarion had not been notified if it will be suiting up for a playoff game or receiving a bye, which could allow its game with Butler to take place.
“We’re going to prepare as if we have a game next week,” Christy said.
Butler athletic director Bill Mylan added: “If we don’t play Clarion, I’m doing everything I can to find us an opponent for next week.”
Butler 6 3 6 7 — 22
Erie 0 7 0 7 — 14
First Quarter
B — Kevin Shriver 49 run (kick blocked), 6:39
Second Quarter
B — Alex Morris 27 field goal, 4:58
E — Marquis Leggett 5 run (Ben Musone kick), 2:58
Third Quarter
B — Shriver 3 run (kick failed), 4:13
Fourth Quarter
B — Shriver 8 run (Morris kick), 7:01
E — Jack Musone 4 run (Ben Musone kick), 3:49
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Butler, Kevin Shriver 14-92, Jake Kollinger 17-55, Coby Christy 1-4, Will Dunaway 4-17, Deacon Simko 3-17 Erie, Marquis Leggett 12-25, Jah’Kai Gavin 2-5, Jack Musone 6-7, Dyarren Woodard 2-(-5), TEAM 1-(-23).
Passing: Butler, Coby Christy 2-3-19-0, Will Dunaway 10-20-124-0. Erie, Jack Musone 12-21-167-1.
Receiving: Butler, Nash Cuffman 5-41, Patrick Kisoma 1-14, Deacon Simko 2-51, Jake Kollinger 3-26, Chase Boden 1-11. Erie, Keishaun Richmond 3-32, Dyarren Woodard 4-82, Amir Hansbrew 1-4, Marquis Leggett 1-0, Jordan Selby 2-43, Anthony Metzler 1-6.
