NORTH HUNTINGDON TWP — Butler's sophomore quarterback Cooper Baxter believes the Golden Tornado left points on the field Friday night at Norwin Stadium.

Three times in the first half of Butler's 49-21 Quad County Conference loss, the Golden Tornado marched into Norwin territory.

Only once did the Golden Tornado (0-6, 0-4) score a touchdown. Twice, Butler turned the ball over on downs.

“We definitely left some points out there tonight,” said Baxter, who scored two touchdowns and also intercepted a pass. “We had a couple drives I feel we could have scored on. We didn't execute on drives in the first half. We didn't put up enough points in the first half.”

Missing those points hurt once the Knights (2-4, 1-3) found their stride after halftime. Norwin scored on its first three drives in the second half.

“We held them in check. When our offense couldn't capitalize, that hurt,” Butler coach Eric Christy said. “We were trying to complete some passes here and there, it wasn't clicking early on.”

Butler had its first opportunity to move the ball after Hayden O'Bryon scored on a 4-yard run to put Norwin ahead 7-0 with 6 minutes, 44 seconds left in the first quarter.

Four runs from Baxter, who led the Golden Tornado with 197 yards on 45 carries and scored twice, moved the ball to the Knight 44. On fourth-and-two, Baxter was dragged down inches short.

Christy was proud of Baxter, who played both ways for the first time this season, but said getting 45 carries won't be a regular occurrence.

“We have 25 kids dressed, so we are trying to find some kids to get it out,” Christy said. “It was the opponent we had that we had to lean on him more. We are going to distribute the ball moving forward. Tonight, we thought to stay in the game we had to stay behind (number) seven and let him lead the way.”

On Norwin's ensuing drive, Baxter intercepted Knights quarterback Jack Salopek, a Western Michigan recruit, and returned the ball to the Norwin 40.

Baxter fumbled the first play of the next possession and Butler wouldn't gain a yard before giving the ball back to Norwin.

The Knights (2-4, 1-3) didn't waste time once they got the ball back. Norwin doubled its lead when Salopek connected with Sean Pavlic on a 25-yard touchdown pass with 49 seconds left in the first quarter.

Baxter cut the lead to 14-7 by capping a 15-play, 62-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run with 3:51 left in the first half.

Norwin coach Dave Brozeski thought the Knights made too many mistakes in the first half. The Knights had three touchdowns erased by penalties throughout the game.

“We played against Butler and ourselves,” Brozeski said. “In the first half, we took too many key penalties. I was proud of how these guys responded.”

Salopek, who finished 18-of-22 for 410 yards and a school-record six touchdowns, tossed three touchdowns in the third quarter to extend Norwin's lead to 35-7.

Butler scored twice in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard run by Baxter and an 85-yard kick return by Zach Slomers.

Baxter was disappointed by the result, but didn't mind shouldering the workload.

“I enjoy it,” Baxter said. “I get mentally prepared because I believe if you are mentally prepared, you are physically prepared. On the scoreboard, it didn't work out too great. Other than that, I felt fine.”

Butler 0 7 0 14— 21

Norwin 14 0 21 14 — 49

First Quarter

N — Hayden O'Bryon 4 run (HJoey Castle kick), 6:44

N — Sean Pavlic 25 pass from Jack Salopek (Castle kick), :49

Second Quarter

B — Cooper Baxter 4 run (Emerson Douthett kick), 3:51

Third Quarter

N — O'Bryon 5 pass from Salopek (Castle kick), 10:50

N — Declan O'Brien 53 pass from Salopek (Castle kick), 7:52

N — O'Brien 10 pass from Salopek (Castle kick), 6:41

Fourth Quarter

B — Baxter 3 run (Douthett kick), 8:34

N — Connor Chrisman 66 pass from Salopek (Douthett kick), 7:32

B — Zach Slomers 85 kick return (Douthett kick), 7:32

N — Tyler Bilinski 8 pass from Salopek (Castle kick), 7:08

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Butler, Cooper Baxter 45-197, Zach Slomers 11-62, Justin Kabay 5-22, Antonio Harris 1-(-12). Norwin, Hunter O'Bryon 4-16, Jack Salopek 2-4, Dom Barca 3-3.

Passing: Butler, Cooper Baxter 2-11-52-0. Norwin, Jack Salopek 18-22-410-1.

Receiving: Butler, Anthony Daviduk 2-52. Norwin, Declan O'Brien 3-139, Connor Chrisman 5-133, Sean Pavlic 3-91, Tanner Krevokuch 2-23, Tyler Bilinsky 2-16.