BUTLER TWP — Once Butler lost the momentum, it turned up again.

On Hempfield's side of the field.

The Spartans overcame a rough start Friday night and stormed past Butler, 42-7, in a non-conference football game at Art Bernardi Stadium.

The Golden Tornado (1-6) began the game with positive notes on both sides of the ball. After Hempfield's Joey DeFloria returned the opening kickoff 49 yards to midfield, Butler forced the Spartans to turn the ball over on downs.

Junior linebacker Jeremy Hanford stopped quarterback Ty George for a 2-yard gain on third-and-8, then knocked a pass away from DeFloria on fourth down.

Butler then marched 66 yards on 13 plays, a 27-yard scramble by Tom Jendesky on third-and-9 the key to setting up his own 1-yard touchdown plunge late in the first quarter.

“We knew Butler would come out and play us tough,” Hempfield coach Rich Bowen said. “It was their Senior Night and they were fired up early.

“Still, we wasted two good returns on special teams early and that's to Butler's credit.”

A 49-yard kickoff return by Lorenzo Barchetti was wasted when John Domit's 36-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.

On third-and-10 from the Tornado 20, Jendesky got loose for 15 yards and an apparent first down. But a holding penalty wiped out the play and forced Butler to punt.

It was the Tornado's lone penalty in the first half.

“That holding penalty was huge ... just the timing of it,” Butler coach Clyde Conti said.

It was Hempfield's game from there.

George launched a 37-yard bomb to Dylan Sikora to draw the Spartans (5-2) even on the scoreboard. Moments later, Butler punter Steve VanLaningham had trouble with the snap and his kick was blocked by Logan Swan, who returned it 2 yards for the go-ahead score.

“We just make too many fundamental mistakes,” Conti said. “We know we're undersized and they (Hempfield) have some talented players. We can't afford that.

“Losing momentum like that usually happens to teams that haven't had a lot of success. Teams that know how to win or that are used to winning find that momentum.”

George scored on a 13-yard run before the end of the half. DeFloria — who led the Spartans with 148 yards on 21 carries — broke free up the middle for a 65-yard scoring run early in the third quarter and the rout was on.

“Our key right now is keeping Joey healthy,” Bowen said of his 1,000-yard back. “That's why we took him out later in the third quarter.”

Butler mistakes set up Hempfield's final two touchdowns. A bad snap rolled past Jendesky on a fourth-and-1 play, giving the Spartans possession at the Tornado 21.

Jendesky was intercepted by DeLorian Day, who returned the theft 23 yards to the Butler 12 early in the fourth period.

Hempfield is trying to secure its first winning season since 1997 and the first home WPIAL playoff game in school history.

Injury-riddled Butler lost a few more players Friday night, including running back Justin Johnson, who was carted off the field as a precautionary measure in the fourth quarter.

“We had to cancel our junior varsity game (Saturday) because of the injuries. It's embarrassing, but it's one of those things,” Conti said.