PINE TWP — Pine-Richland’s offense didn’t need any help Friday night.

The Rams got some anyway.

Butler lost three key fumbles and Pine-Richland generated 495 yards of offense in posting a 49-19 Northern Eight football victory over the Golden Tornado.

“They’re just better, that’s all,” Butler coach Clyde Conti said. “They’re just better.

“What did the Slomka kid have, 500 yards tonight? That kid is a terrific football player.”

Connor Slomka actually rushed for 227 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries, including a 73-yard jaunt to the end zone on the game’s second play from scrimmage.

“He’s a hard-nosed runner who can get to the edge,” Pine-Richland coach Eric Kasperowicz said. “Connor had a great game. To tell the truth, he hasn’t reached his potential yet. He can do more.”

Ben DiNucci completed 15 of 21 passes for 197 yards and two scores. Michael Merhaut contributed six catches for 104 yards, including a 63-yard TD reception in the third quarter.

After leading 21-7 at halftime, Pine-Richland scored on its first three possessions of the third quarter and broke the game open.

“That’s the best second half Pine-Richland has put together since I’ve been here,” Kasperowicz said, who was offensive coordinator there the previous two years.

“It was nice to see us put away somebody like that. It’s a momentum booster.”

The Rams (2-1, 2-1) jumped on Butler for a 14-0 lead before the game was six minutes old. Brendan Burnham took snaps out of the Wildcat formation on the Rams’ second possession and capped a 64-yard TD march with an 18-yard run.

But Butler (1-2, 1-2) fought back.

Matt Christy’s 26-yard run highlighted a seven-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard scoring run by quarterback Tom Jendesky.

The Tornado got the ball back and faced fourth-and-inches at the P-R 37-yard line. The ball was fumbled in the backfield, however, and Pine-Richland’s Zach LeMirande pounced on it.

Primed to go in for a score late in the first half, Burnham fumbled the ball and the Tornado’s David Slomers recovered at the Butler 12 with 1:05 left in the half. The Tornado trailed only 14-7.

But on the next play, Butler botched a handoff and Pine-Richland recovered at the 8-yard line. The Rams scored just 19 seconds before halftime for a 21-7 lead.

“Those two fumbles we got were big,” Kasperowicz said. “We were letting that 14-0 lead get away from us.”

Butler lost a third fumble midway through the third period, this one in Rams’ territory while trailing 28-7. The next play was Merhaut’s 63-yard TD catch.

“We’re not trying to do it,” Conti said of the fumbles. “But they don’t help, especially with the style of offense we’re running.”

Butler attempted only three passes all night. The Tornado rushed for 294 yards, Jendesky getting 117 on 14 carries, Robert Burdine 98 yards on 18 carries. Burdine scored on a 57-yard run in the third quarter.

Butler’s final touchdown occurred in the waning seconds of the game. A 92-yard kickoff return by Kelley Kuharic was stopped a yard short of the goal line. Brandon Selfridge scored from a yard out with 33 seconds left.

“The effort is there with these kids,” Conti said. “They’re giving what they’ve got. When you give your best, you don’t owe anything to a living soul.”