Butler football’s defense leads way after Deacon Simko’s pick-6 fuels second straight shutout vs Meadville
MEADVILLE — Deacon Simko made Butler defensive coordinator Darrell Smith look like a sage Friday night.
The Golden Tornado were leading host Meadville 3-0 early in the second half.
“We were talking on the sideline, who was going to score a touchdown for us on offense,” Butler coach Eric Christy said. “Coach Smith said, ‘Hey, the defense can score, too.’”
Shortly afterward, Meadville attempted to convert a third-and-6 from Butler’s 46. Simko jumped a sideline route, picked off Harrison Richards’ pass and raced 59 yards for the first of Butler’s three touchdowns in the second half of a 23-0 football victory over the Bulldogs.
“That was my first defensive score for varsity,” Simko said. “I didn’t know the sideline route was coming, but (Meadville) runs the Wing-T and their quarterback was lolli-popping his passes all game. I had time to get there.”
Though the extra point attempt was blocked, Butler had a 9-0 lead and its offense came to life afterward.
Back-to-back completions from Will Dunaway to Nicco Baggetta covered 60 yards, the latter connection good for a 23-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.
Kevin Shriver, who stars in the spring for Butler’s track team, raced 87 yards for the final score in the fourth period.
“Not many guys have 4.4 speed,” Christy said. “When he got to the edge, I knew he was gone.”
It’s the second straight season Butler (3-0) has opened with three straight wins, though Friday’s first half had its share of frustration.
The Tornado reached Meadville’s 24- and 28-yard line on their first two drives but turned the ball over on downs in both cases, as a pair of holding penalties hindered their progress.
Alex Morris salvaged the third drive, which began after a botched punt attempt by the Bulldogs (0-3), with a 34-yard field goal, but Butler was whistled for three false start penalties.
“We’re not where we need to be offensively,” Christy said. “We have a lot of things we need to clean up.”
Meadville’s deepest drive of the game came on the ensuing drive. It stalled at Butler’s 11, and James Miller’s 28-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right just before halftime.
The Bulldogs have attacked teams with a run-heavy offense for years but seem to be undermanned in 2026.
They averaged just 3.2 yards per carry in losses to Erie and Oil City to begin the season. On Friday, they managed just 125 yards on 41 carries.
“Butler threw about everything they had offensively at us in the first half, and I thought our defense played well,” Meadville coach Ray Collins said. “But we can’t find a rhythm on offense and we need to get it in gear.”
Shriver finished the game with 146 yards rushing on 10 carries.
Baggetta rushed for 89 yards, had 60 yards receiving and passed for 43. He broke the pinky finger on his left (non-throwing) hand.
Butler makes the trip to Ohio in Week 4 to face Austintown Fitch.
Butler0 3 13 7 — 23
Meadville 0 0 0 0 — 0
2nd Quarter
B — Alex Morris 34 field goal, 2:11
3rd Quarter
B — Deacon Simko 59 interception return (kick blocked), 10:17
B — Nicco Baggetta 23 pass from Will Dunaway (Morris kick), 3:09
4th Quarter
B — Kevin Shriver 87 run (Morris kick), 6:28
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Butler, Nicco Baggetta 10-89, Kevin Shriver 10-146, Jacob Kollinger 5-12. Meadville, Leo Collins 13-33, Jamel Mitchell 15-58, Asher Johnson 2-7, Hudson Palmie 1-(-10), Ben Howe 7-25, Spero Moutsos 3-12.
Passing: Butler, Nicco Baggetta 6-15-43-0, Will Dunaway 6-11-75-0. Meadville, Harrison Richards 4-9-28-1.
Receiving: Butler, Deacon Simko 3-20, Jacob Kollinger 2-9, Mason Bundy 2-15, Charles Rodgers 1-4, Will Dunaway 1-2, Nicco Baggetta 2-60, Chase Boden 1-8. Meadville, Leo Collins 1-12, Colton Redden 2-11, Jamel Mitchell 1-5.
