SV burned by backup
JACKSON TWP — Yes, Steve Dutkowski is a backup quarterback and, no, he didn't play like one Friday night.
North Hills' usual starting quarterback, Taylor Schmidt, was out with an injury.
All Dutkowski did in relief was throw for 278 yards and two touchdowns as the Indians upended host Seneca Valley 35-14.
He completed five of his first six pass attempts for 224 yards and a pair of scores.
"We had to change things up a bit tonight," said North Hills coach Jack McCurry, who is used to having Schmidt's running ability at his disposal. "Throwing the ball is what (Dutkowski) does well and he had a good week of practice."
On the Indians' second play from scrimmage, Dutkowski found Mark DeVita on a post route.
The senior wideout beat an SV defender's tight coverage before pulling in the pass and turning it into a 61-yard scoring play.
Just 50 seconds into the game, the Indians led 7-0.
"We thought we had a guy in position to make the play, but their kid ended up making it," said SV coach Don Holl.
Dutkowski scored on a 1-yard touchdown run later in the quarter before the Raiders (2-6, 0-5) answered with a scoring drive of their own.
Quarterback Jordan Brown led a 10-play, 53-yard march that was capped when Forrest Barnes took an option pitch 3 yards to the right corner of the end zone.
Aaron Tanda's extra point cut SV's deficit to 14-7 with 1:45 left in the opening quarter.
But the Raiders' momentum was brief.
Dutkowski hooked up with DeVita once again, this time from 74 yards out for another score.
The quarterback then hit Brody Zangaro on pass plays of 27 and 13 yards to set up Mike Sieber's 15-yard scoring run early in the second period for a 28-7 lead.
Holl knew his defense was in for a challenge against Dutkowski.
"He threw the ball 28 times after he came in last week," he said.
SV made it a two-score game with Brown's 2-yard sneak midway through the third quarter, but the Raiders got no closer.
"We missed a lot of tackles tonight and I was disappointed with that," said McCurry. "But we only gave up 14 points, and we thought if we did that, we'd have a good chance of winning."
North Hills' Josh Neurohr closed out the scoring with a 9-yard run in the final period.
DeVita caught five passes for 186 yards and the two scores.
Seneca Valley plays next Friday at Butler, while North Hills (7-1, 4-1) hosts North Allegheny.
