Ever hear of ‘thunder and lightning’ at quarterback? Butler football’s making it work with Baggetta, Dunaway
BUTLER TWP — Upcoming opponents watching Butler football's film might be fooled when they finally line up defensively on the field.
Ahead of Friday night's trek to Meadville, Golden Tornado senior Nicco Baggetta has rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown over the first two weeks, starting both matchups at quarterback. Teams might start to believe he's exclusively in there to tuck the ball and put his shoulder down.
“Which is not the case,” Baggetta said after Friday night's 36-0 win over Taylor Allderdice improved Butler to 2-0. “Once everyone starts coming upfield, we just drop it over top. Or we put Will in.”
That’s Will Dunaway, the 6-foot-4 junior who looks “exactly like a guy who plays college football at quarterback,” Christy said.
Whereas Baggetta carries more of a running back's build at 5-foot-10, Dunaway is a pocket passer. Baggetta has carried the ball 20 times for 113 yards and a touchdown, and thrown for 89 yards on 8 of 20 passing. Dunaway is 11 for 17 for 166 yards passing and a touchdown.
The pair gives Butler coach Eric Christy a coveted luxury.
“We've got two Friday night quarterbacks, which most teams don't have one,” Christy said.
Baggetta holds the record for longest javelin throw in the school's history. When he collides with defenders, it sounds akin to a car accident — something Taylor Allderdice tacklers learned early in their loss.
“It really is like a 'thunder and lightning' kinda thing,” Baggetta said. “I run the ball, and I think I pass the ball well, and then Will throws the ball very well. So it's like, 'How do you game plan for that?' It's like you have to game plan double. There's not enough time in a week to do that.”
Baggetta and Dunaway take turns sliding out to receiver when not taking snaps. Baggetta feels the competition behind center made both of them better, and their chemistry throwing the ball to one another is “probably the best on the team,” Baggetta said.
His pass-catching talents have turned heads in the locker room. In the team's opener against Shaler, he had three grabs for 35 yards and a score.
“I caught two different hitches (against Shaler), and they're all like, 'Dude, you need to be out there on more hitches. Nobody wants to tackle you,'” Baggetta said.
“They realize, for our team, it makes it more diverse and (provides) more things for teams to have to prepare for, have to study for,” Christy said. “You can call it a competition, just call it a friendly competition. ... There's times for each one to get the ball to them.”
As the season wears on, that battle will continue and the attack will evolve. Baggetta, a two-way standout, views the situation realistically, knowing if he's going to play Division I football — which is his goal — he's going to be a slot receiver or a safety.
“I've been a team player my whole life,” Baggetta said. “I'm not necessarily being selfish, but I gotta make plays. Getting out there gives me more (of an) opportunity to get in open space and make a play.”
Christy has a certain wish going forward.
“I'd love to see him catch one (touchdown), throw one and run one,” Christy said.
