BUTLER TWP— The opening kickoff should have been a tip-off that Friday would not be a good night for the Butler varsity football team.

When the Golden Tornado kicked off to begin their game with Norwin, the kick deflected off a hand of the Knights' return man and bounced into the end zone. Butler covered the football and one of the officials signaled touchdown.

He was overruled, however.

"The rule is that if the momentum of the kick carries the ball into the end zone, it's still a touchback, even if the receiving team touches it,"Butler coach Garry Cathell said. "That's the way it was explained to me."

Butler's usually potent offense never reached the end zone in a 20-7 loss at Art Bernardi Stadium.

The Tornado (1-1) had the ball in Norwin territory during six of their eight possessions and Butler punted only once all night, yet its only score came on an 88-yard return of the second-half kickoff by Michael Bresnahan.

Bresnahan's score cut a 14-0 Norwin lead in half and the Tornado ventured into Knights territory again on their next possession. On fourth-and-1 from the Norwin 41, however, Dan D'Amore was stopped short of a first down.

"We weathered the storm there,"Norwin coach Dan Conwell said. "Our kids responded when they had to all night."

Much of that responding was courtesy of Dan Kozak. The senior all-purpose back ripped off a 23-yard run on the game's next play, setting up his own 31-yard field goal for a 17-7 Norwin lead with 22 seconds left in the third quarter.

Butler ventured across midfield again, but quarterback Nick Monteleone was sacked and receiver Andy Strutt was nailed for a 2-yard loss, forcing a punt. The punt snap sailed over Chris Haley's head and Norwin recovered the ball at the Tornado 22-yard line.

That miscue didn't hurt as Kozak wound up hitting the left upright on a 41-yard field goal attempt. He did add a 44-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter, capping a 29-yard drive after a Monteleone interception.

"We played a horrible game, simply horrible," Cathell said. "Can I explain it?No. Are we gonna push the panic button with these kids?No.

"If nothing else, maybe this will be a wake-up call for us. You have to be on your game and execute if you're going to beat people."

Butler fared no better in the first half. Haley was wide left on a 31-yard field goal try after the Tornado marched 61 yards in 13 plays on their first possession. Butler faced a third-and-2 from the Knights 16 on its next possession, but a snap out of the shotgun formation sailed over Monteleone's head, resulting in an 18-yard loss and forcing a punt.

"We haven't been having any problems with long snaps,"Cathell said. "Not in practice, scrimmages or anywhere. It's just one of those things."

Following the punt, Norwin (1-1) got on the board first with an 11-play, 80-yard drive. Pass plays of 26 yards to Luke Doney on a third-and-9 and 31 yards to Mike Shanahan set up Chris Keba's 15-yard scoring run on a reverse.

"We had blown coverages on those plays,"Cathell said. "That's how they completed those passes.

"Too many mistakes. ... That's coaching and I'm the coach. It's my responsibility."

After Keba's touchdown, Bresnahan fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Keba recovered at the Tornado 27. Kozak scored on a 3-yard run five plays later, with 28 seconds left in the half.

Nine of Butler's 41 offensive plays in the game resulted in lost yardage. The Tornado netted 120 yards in offense and only seven yards rushing.

Norwin rushed for 183 yards, led by Kozak's 29 carries for 113.

"Danny's just one of those kids who plays with all heart,"Conwell said.

"We beat a good football team tonight. We needed this. We let one slip away last week. We got one tonight."

Notes: Bresnahan had four kick returns for 143 total yards. ... Butler hosts Fox Chapel next Friday night and will have its third annual Hometown Heroes presentation before the game.