Raiders Storm Past Butler Area Tornadoes

The Butler Area Tornadoes started out with a bang at Friday's home game against the playoff-bound Seneca Valley football team by capitalizing on a Raiders fumble on just the second play of the game.

Butler running back Demetrius Lockley ran into the end zone less than two minutes into the first quarter. The extra point by kicker Colin Williamson put the Tornadoes ahead 7-0. 

They wouldn't stay ahead much longer.

While Butler took the early lead, the Raiders went on to defeat the Tornadoes by a score of 47-21.

It was senior recognition night at , so it was fitting senior Oliver Philogene put the Raiders on the board with a tipped pass reception from Raiders quarterback Jordan Brown 20 seconds after Lockley's touchdown. Michael Denny's kick evened up the game.

While SV's Brad Gresock later recovered a Tornadoes fumble, there no further scoring in the quarter.

Barely four seconds ticked off the clock before the Tornadoes were back in the lead on a completion from QB Zach Radar to Kolby Kriess. Seneca quickly retaliated when Troy Witt crossed into Butler's end zone.

The extra point was no good, and Butler led 14-13 with 9:17 left in the half. With 3:39 remaining, Brown carried the ball into the end zone himself. The extra point attempt again was blocked, this time by Tornado Trevor Wideman. Key defensive plays by Carson Kessler and Nick Dahlstrom prevented further scoring by the Butler offense.

The Raiders went into the third quarter with a 19-14 lead.

Butler started the second half with a turnover recovered by SV's Brad Gresock. Brown threw a completion to R.J. McCauley for a first down that culminated in a touchdown by Seneca Valley running back Forrest Barnes from the Butler 39-yard line.

The play also gave Barnes what he needed to pass 1,000 rushing yards for the 2011 season.

A personal foul against Seneca Valley didn't undermine an interception by Seneca Valley's Jonathan Dorogy, who took it down the field for another six points. The penalty was assessed on the following play.

Raiders defensemen McCauley, Gresock and Ryan Peluso thwarted attempts by Tornado running back Lockley to close the gap on the 33-14 score.

Brown's pass to Witt for a first down at the beginning of the fourth quarter led to a second Philogene touchdown with the extra point by Denny.

The Raiders weren't done yet.

Senior David Hall ran in a touchdown midway through the quarter for a 47-14 game. The extra point by Denny tied the season record for extra points previously held by SV graduate Mickey Flood.

One last push by Tornadoes running back Rob Vernick led to a touchdown by quarterback Radar and one more extra point near the end of the game.

Final score:  47-21

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