BUTLER TWP — Long drives vs. big plays.

Big plays won.

Norwin's five touchdown drives all took less than a minute to complete and four 10-plus play drives came up empty for Butler in the Golden Tornado's 42-0 Quad County Conference loss Friday night at Art Bernardi Stadium.

“We did what we wanted to do,” Butler coach Eric Christy. “Possess the ball and keep their talented offense off the field.

“We just didn't finish.”

Butler (0-6, 0-4) had two golden opportunities to score early in the game. The Tornado took the opening kickoff and drove 64 yards in 11 plays. The drive short-circuited when a second-down shotgun snap from the Norwin 19 eluded quarterback Kyler Callihan and resulted in a 20-yard loss.

Following a pooch punt, the Tornado got the ball right back. Norwin quarterback Jack Salopek was forced out of the pocket on the Knights' first offensive play and was intercepted by Bryan Presco at the Norwin 25.

Alas, a holding penalty moved the Tornado back on first down and Callihan was eventually sacked on fourth-and-4 from the 21.

“Our defense made plays when we had to,” Norwin coach Dave Brozeski said. “But, yeah, they were pushing us around a little bit.”

Salopek tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Gianni Rizzo to get Norwin on the board late in the first quarter. Running an up-tempo attack, the Knights' drive moved 71 yards in five plays — in just 43 seconds.

Shortly thereafter, the game turned completely in Norwin's favor in a 33-second span.

Butler put together an 11-play, 46-yard march to the Knights' 11-yard line. A fumbled snap in the backfield resulted in a 34-yard return by Norwin's Michael Ryan to near midfield. Salopek found Billy Kerston for a 52-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline.

The Knights recovered an onside kick and two plays later, Salopek hit Sean Pavlic for an 8-yard TD pass. Just like that, Butler trailed 21-0.

“That (onside) kick only went about three yards and was going out of bounds,” Christy said. “One of our guys was overly aggressive and touched the ball.

“We keep finding ways to give momentum back to the other team. We have to stop doing that.”

The Knights (3-3, 2-2) scored late in the half when Callihan was hit high and lost the football. The ball popped right into the arms of Ethan Nelson, who raced 21 yards for a score.

Butler ran 40 plays to Norwin's 14 in the first half, yet trailed 28-0.

“We can score quickly like that,” Brozeski said. “Jack makes good, accurate throws and he makes good decisions.”

Salopek, who has a scholarship offer from Pitt, threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns. He added a 4-yard scoring run in the third period. Rizzo scored on a 57-yard run on the first play of the second half.

Callihan had 29 carries for 166 yards for the Tornado. He had 26 carries for 134 in the first half.

Chris Mertz added 59 yards on the ground as Butler ran 61 plays to Norwin's 29 and churned out 16 first downs.

“I know the final result looks the same, but from the coaches and players' standpoint, definite progress was made tonight,” Christy said.

“Our line played much better. We moved the football consistently.”

The Tornado lost three fumbles and put the ball on the ground six times.

“We have to stop wondering what's going to happen next and develop a killer instinct to finish those drives and put the ball in the end zone,” Christy said.

Butler was shut out for the third consecutive game. The Tornado travel to unbeaten North Allegheny next Friday.

Norwin 7 21 14 0 — 42

Butler 0 0 0 0 — 0

First Quarter

N — Gianni Rizzo 25 pass from Jack Salopek (Carter Breen kick), 2:20

Second Quarter

N — Billy Kerston 52 pass from Salopek (Breen kick), 6:59

N — Sean Pavlic 8 pass from Salopek (Breen kick), 6:36

N — Ethan Nelson 21 fumble return (Breen kick), :31

Third Quarter

N — Rizzo 57 run (Breen kick), 11:42

N — Salopek 4 run (Breen kick), :43

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Norwin, Jack Salopek 3-13, Zeke Houser 6-63, Gianni Rizzo 1-57, Tanner Queen 2-16, Nick Flemming 3-10. Butler, Kyler Callihan 29-166, Chris Mertz 11-59, TEAM 3-(-43), Darin Skidmore 2-5, Bryan Presco 3-8, Trent Valent 5-21, J.R. Herold 4-28.

Passing: Norwin, Jack Salopek 7-14-226-1. Butler, Kyler Callihan 3-3-32-0, Bryan Presco 0-1-0-0.

Receiving: Norwin, Sean Pavlic 2-46, Gianni Rizzo 2-49, Billy Kerston 1-52, Tanner Krevokuch 2-79. Butler, Austin Rodgers 1-7, Logan Donnel 1-13, Chris Mertz 1-12.