BUTLER TWP — Central Catholic made a playoff push Friday night — and pushed Butler around in the process.

The Vikings (7-2, 5-2) held the Golden Tornado (4-5, 3-4) to 138 yards of total offense in posting a 31-0 Northern Eight football victory.

Butler had 67 yards net offense before embarking upon a 16-play, 71-yard drive in the fourth quarter that ate 7:41 off the clock. The Tornado turned the ball over on downs at the Central 9-yard line with 2:17 to play.

“We can't match the physicality of teams like Central and that's a concern,” Butler coach Clyde Conti said. “North Allegheny, Upper St. Clair, Central ... These teams just over-match us that way.

“We have one kid — Bobby Vernick — who has the physicality to play at the level those teams play at. That's why he'll wind up playing college football.”

Vernick was in on numerous tackles for Butler and led the team offensively with 69 yards on 10 carries.

The Tornado were banged up Friday as well. Starting quarterback Jordan Cratty left the game in the second quarter. Running back-linebacker Jake Olenick left early in the third period and receiver Canan Roskovski was hurt in the first half.

“We lost a few guys, had to play who's healthy ... It is what it is,” Conti said. “We'll look at the film, find out who's healthy enough to play next week and try to do better.”

Central got a quick jump Friday night as Luigi Lista-Brinza returned the opening kickoff 57 yards to the Tornado 36. Six plays later, Joe Cosentino scored on a quarterback sneak.

The Vikings had a 21-0 lead by halftime, but lost their leading rusher (Lista-Brinza) to a charley horse early in the game. Todd Coles wound up with 16 carries for 91 yards and fullback Leo Loughrey scored on a pair of short runs in the second quarter.

“Luigi should be fine for next week,” Central coach Terry Totten said. “I normally empty my bench in as game like this, but I wanted to get these kids as ready for the playoffs as possible.

“We have a bunch of first-year starters out there.”

Central's shutout was its fifth of the year.

Butler had two opportunities to score in the first half. Jake Alston recovered a Central fumble at the Viking 49, but the Tornado fumbled a snap two plays later and lost the ball.

Vernick and Jake Lenhart combined to sack Cosentino for a 13-yard loss late in the half, Butler getting possession at the Central 43 following a punt.

Tom Jendesky was sacked for a seven-yard loss on third down and the Tornado were forced to punt.

“We lose our compsure when we fall behind,” Conti said. “We're fine when we're ahead on the scoreboard. When we fall behind, we don't know what to do.”

Central's second touchdown was set up by Butler fumbling away a snap at its own 6-yard line.

Central's only penalty of the first half — a holding call — wiped out an 87-yard Coles touchdown burst in the waning seconds of the half.

“Todd's a quality back. We've got some people who can run the football and we wanted to establish a presence up front,” Totten said.

Mitchell MacZura booted a 31-yard field goal in the third quarter for Central and Shafer Swann got behind the Butler secondary for a 75-yard TD catch in the fourth.

Swann is the son of former Steeler receiver Lynn Swann.

“Shafer is a big-play threat just like his father was,” Totten said.

Jendesky was sacked four times Friday night.

“A summer of practice and 10 games in, we still have people lining up the wrong way,” Conti said. “We definitely have some things to work on.”