UPPER ST. CLAIR - Butler's football team drowned in a sea of big plays Friday night at Upper St. Clair.

The unbeaten Panthers reeled off 11 plays that gained 18 or more yards, as well as blocking a punt and a field goal in throttling the Golden Tornado, 35-7.

"Big plays killed us," Butler coach Garry Cathell said. "That was it."

Upper St. Clair piled up 402 yards in total offense - 225 on the ground, 177 through the air.

"We did some good things out there tonight - when the kids did what they're supposed to do." USC coach Jim Render said.

The Panthers didn't punt until 5:09 remained in the game. They lost a pair of fumbles and were short on a 43-yard field goal attempt.

Danny Cafaro blocked a Butler punt on the Golden Tornado's first possession, enabling USC to set up shop at the Butler 24-yard line. Sean Lee scored on a 3-yard run four plays later.

USC scored on its second possession as well. Bobby Petrini, who had 103 yards receiving on the night, caught an 18-yard strike from Josh Helmrich and Gil Ellerbe darted 29 yards around left end.

Ellerbe capped the quick 60-yard scoring march with a 9-yard touchdown run.

Butler put together its only drive of the half late in the second quarter. Quarterback Nick Monteleone ran for a pair of first downs, but Cafaro blocked Chris Haley's 44-yard field goal attempt.

"We have a few kids who think they can block kicks and they enjoy trying to get to them," Render said.

Butler linebacker Frank Kowalkowski thwarted a Panther scoring threat by recovering a fumble at the Tornado 33. But on the play after Cafaro's blocked field goal, the USC receiver caught a 49-yard bomb from Helmrich at the Butler 8-yard line.

Again, the Tornado escaped trouble as consecutive quarterback sacks by Dan Tatangelo and Adam Pritts forced Evan Magliocca to try a 43-yard field goal, which was short with 1:35 left in the half.

But USC still wasn't done.

Getting possession at Butler's 43 following a punt with 23 seconds to go, the Panthers moved forward on a 13-yard run by fullback Ramy Nubani.

Helmrich spiked the ball to stop the clock, then threw a 30-yard TD pass to Petrini for a 21-0 halftime lead.

"That one burst our bubble a bit," Cathell said. "Being down three scores at the half is a lot different than two."

After Tatangelo recovered a USC fumble early in the third quarter, Butler got on the scoreboard courtesy of the Monteleone-Noah Hartung connection.

The junior receiver caught passes of 14, 9 and 10 yards to key a 44-yard drive. He then caught a 1-yard touchdown pass with 4:56 left in the third quarter.

On the Panthers' next snap, however, Lee got loose up the middle for a 64-yard score.

"If we don't give up that play, it's 21-7 and we moved the ball on our next possession," Cathell said. "We might have gotten back in the game."

A 23-yard completion to Hartung and 14-yard run by Bob Alexander got Butler to USC's 21-yard line, but the Tornado turned the ball over on downs from there.

Nubani runs of 34 and 19 yards highlighted a 79-yard Panther drive the other way. Nubani's 1-yard plunge capped the scoring with 9:40 to play.

Monteleone threw for 124 yards and rushed for 32 to lead Butler's attack.

"I saw some good things from Nick tonight," Cathell said. "He made some strides. We're going to keep looking at the positives and keep working. We'll continue to do that until the season's over.

"We're still searching, but one game doesn't make a season and we're just 0-1 in the conference. We're not gonna quit."

While Butler remained winless, USC remained perfect despite losing 27 seniors from last year.

"I'm pleased with where we are right now. I won't say I'm surprised," Render said.

Butler makes its 2004 home debut next Friday against Shaler.