MT. LEBANON - Butler quarterback Nick Monteleone was throwing the football all over the field and finding plenty of success doing so.

Until one of his passes wound up in the wrong hands.

Mark Sutton jumped a sideline route late in the first half, stepping in front of a Golden Tornado receiver and running untouched down the left sideline with a 32-yard interception return for a touchdown.

The play opened a 17-point lead for Mt. Lebanon (5-3, 4-2) and paved the way to a 50-17 Quad North football triumph over Butler (2-6, 0-6) Friday night.

"That interception was a big play in this game," Mt. Lebanon coach Chris Haering said. "It turned things into our favor.

"We didn't think they (Butler) would come out and be totally committed to the pass. It surprised us. We had to adjust at halftime."

Monteleone completed 19 of 26 passes for 177 yards in the first half as no Butler running back had a carry in the first two quarters.

Except for Monteleone scrambles or quarterback draws, the lone Butler player to run the ball in the first half was tight end Aaron Dorondo, who lined up in the backfield and took a pitchout for a 4-yard loss.

The Golden Tornado never handed the ball off for a running play until the reserves were on the field in the game's final four minutes.

"Passing the football is what we do well and we have to go with what's working right now," Butler coach Garry Cathell said.

What's not working right now is the Tornado defense.

Mt. Lebanon scored touchdowns on its first four possessions. Kicking off to Butler to begin the second half, the Blue Devils recorded a safety on the first snap of the quarter when Bill Barringer sacked Monteleone in the end zone for an 11-yard loss.

Following the free kick, the Blue Devils drove 53 yards in six plays before quarterback Nick Till tossed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Sutton.

Less than three minutes into the third quarter, Mt. Lebanon had a 37-11 lead.

"This is the best our offense has executed all season," Haering said. "We were clicking on everything."

And Butler failed to halt the onslaught.

"We're moving the football, but we just can't stop anybody," Cathell said. "It's frustrating. We're not stopping anybody's running game and I have no idea why.

"We're tried slanting and stunting. It's not a technique thing. Mt. Lebanon's kids aren't that much stronger than ours. … I can't figure it out."

Mt. Lebanon wound up becoming the first team to score 50 points against Butler in more than a decade. The 50 points were the most allowed by a Butler team since a 49-12 loss to Shaler in 1994.

The Blue Devils rolled up 387 yards and 20 first downs of offense.

North Hills and Shaler also have 20-first down games against the Tornado this season.

Till completed seven of nine passes for 160 yards. Sutton rushed for 73 yards and Chip Young rushed for three touchdowns.

Monteleone threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Dorondo from 10 yards out and throwing to Adam Zaccari for a 4-yard score.

Monteleone attempted 39 passes before leaving the game with four minutes remaining. Butler played its reserve unit after play was delayed 15 minutes because of an injury to the Tornado's Matt Saeler.

Saeler was part of the wedge, blocking on a kickoff return, and didn't get up after the play. He was taken from the field on a stretcher with a neck injury.

"I didn't see the hit, but he was unconscious when the trainer first got out there," Cathell said. "He was conscious when they took his helmet off.

"We're hoping for the best."

Players on both teams were kneeling along their respective sidelines as medical personnel treated Saeler.

Saeler was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh and was released early Saturday morning.

"This puts a damper on any football game," Haering said. "I hope the kid is OK."

Notes:

Every possession of the first half would have ended in a score had Chris Haley's 52-yard field goal attempt not fallen short on the final play of the half. … Haley did hit a 25-yard field goal in the first quarter, his 10th of the year. … Butler's longest running play was 21 yards as Ben Ashcraft took a direct snap on the play. … Both teams punted only once and combined to produce 39 first downs. … Butler tight end-linebacker Noah Hartung underwent knee surgery earlier in the week and is out for the season. … Butler hosts Seneca Valley next Friday with the winner receiving the Butler Eagle Traveling Trophy.