WEST VIEW — North Hills didn't have far to travel — and didn't take long to get there.

The Indians began their first six possessions inside Butler territory, turned that field position into five quick touchdowns and rolled past the Golden Tornado, 42-7, in a mutual WPIAL football opener Friday night at Martorelli Stadium.

The loss was Butler's 16th straight to North Hills.

“Butler has a young team and we wanted to jump on them early,” Indians coach Pat Carey said. “Get an inexperienced team down early and it can be hard for them to bounce back.”

The Indians scored three touchdowns each in the first and second quarters. Butler took the opening kickoff, went three-and-out, then snapped the ball on the ground to punter Dennis Goodwine. He was tackled in the backfield and the play handed North Hills a first-and-goal at the 5-yard line less than two minutes into the contest.

Tyler Brennan scored his first of five touchdowns on a 2-yard run two plays later and the Indians were off and running.

“That kid is a tremendous player,” Butler coach Eric Chruisty said. “North Hills has a lot of speed and athleticism.

“They know what they're doing down here. They have their system and it's worked well for that program through the years.”

Brennan's 32-yard run set up his own 6-yard scoring run midway through the first period. After 295-pound lineman Lirion Murtezi intercepted a screen pass near midfield, Brennan's 3-yard TD run capped a 48-yard drive and North Hills has a 21-0 lead.

“Tyler can be explosive with the ball in his hands and we got him the football in a variety of ways tonight,” Carey said.

Trailing 35-0 late in the first half, the Tornado put together a drive that crossed midfield. But on second down from the North Hills 48, Brennan intercepted a Matt Rairigh pass and returned it 68 yards for a score.

Of North Hills' five first-half scoring drives, four were accomplished in three plays or fewer.

“I was afraid a night like this might happen,” Christy admitted. “We had a lot of first-year football players out there and it showed.

“We have plenty of film to break down, things to look at. All we can do is keep improving and move forward.”

The Indians did not play their starters in the second half. With the mercy clock running, Butler drove 67 yards in 10 plays for its only touchdown. Chris Mertz scored on a 3-yard run with 2:05 left in the third quarter.

Butler drove to the Indians 10-yard line on its final possession, but a 28-yard Emery Douthett field goal attempt was foiled by a botched snap.

Butler travels to Baldwin next week.

“We'll get on the bus, come back down south and try again next week,” Christy said.

Butler 0 0 7 0 — 7

North Hills 21 21 0 0 — 42

First Quarter

NH — Tyler Brennan 2 run (Daniel Wagner kick), 10:00

NH — Brennan 6 run (Wagner kick), 6:23

NH — Brennan 3 run (Wagner kick), 1:02

Second Quarter

NH — Brennan 32 run (Wagner kick), 8:54

NH — Damon Thompson 5 pass from Dylan Pawling (Wagner kick), 7:03

NH — Brennan 68 interception return (Wagner kick), :21

Third Quarter

B — Chris Mertz 3 run (Emery Douthett kick), 2:05

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Butler, Chris Mertz 7-22, Matt Rairigh 11-53, Kyler Callihan 9-37, Bryan Presco 5-36, Trent Valent 1-3, Justin Kabay 2-3, TEAM 1-(-15). North Hills, Dylan Pawling 2-23, Tom McDonough 6-37, Tyler Brennan 7-83, Joe Ryan 2-9, Tyler Tomasic 8-25, Max Sharp 5-(-9), James Hollinger 2-(-7), Curtis Foskey 1-(-1), William Fonzi 1-15.

Passing: Butler, Matt Rairigh 6-14-40-2. North Hills, Dylan Pawling 2-4-14.0

Receiving: Butler, Zach Slomers 1-6, Nate Sespico 1-8, Anthony Daviduk 1-5, Mitchell Wong 2-6, Daniel Hunter 1-15. North Hills, Brandon Manning 1-9, Damon Thompson 1-5.