Butler 34 Hasbrouck Heights 6    

September 28, 2924 

Butler was in control of the game with a stingy defense and an offense that could move the ball for a 34-6 win over Hasbrouck Heights. 

First Quarter: The Butler defense threw Hasbrouck Heights for losses on second and third downs and forced the Aviators to punt. Taking possession on the Heights 46, Butler moved to the 3-yard line in three plays and scored three plays later on a 1-yard run from David Smith on the quarterback keeper. The two plays that set the Bulldogs up were a 19-yard run by Matt Barile and a 19-yard Smith pass to Mikey Henehan. Later in the quarter, Butler advanced when Smith scampered 23 yards past midfield, but that was all and the Bulldogs ended up punting early in the second quarter. 

Second Quarter: A PJ Coffey option pass to Peter Calvi went 29 yards to the Heights 37, but the Heights defense stiffened and forced a Butler punt. At this point, Heights had generated minus 1 yard of offense and no first downs. They changed things by driving when Michael Napolitano threw an option pass to Brady Shine for 22 yards to the Butler 44. But Butler lineman Luca Toriello intercepted and went 45 yards for a touchdown and a 13-0 lead with one minute remaining. 

Third Quarter:  Butler came out with the ball, Smith found Coffey for 24 yards to the 26 and connected again for a 32-yard touchdown, with Coffey catching the ball, and running down the right sideline, before cutting left past defenders. The Bulldogs came right back and scored on a 5-yard Coffey run. 

Fourth Quarter: Heights bridged the third and fourth quarters and got on the board with a 3-yard run by Jake Summers. The score was set up on the previous play when Dan Amendola completed a 19-yard pass to Nico Nipitella, who made a nice move around defenders. Butler returned, going ten plays and Smith found Calvi for a 20-yard score with just under six minutes remaining. 

Comments: Butler looked ready to obliterate Hasbrouck Heights after the game’s first two possessions, but the game settled down. The Bulldogs still had their way for most of the game. Their defense held Heights to six first downs and 94 yards of total offense: 27 in the first half and 67 in the second. They had 358 yards of total offense with 240 coming in the second half. Smith passed for passed for 167 yards. Coffey had three receptions for 95 yards, gained 62 on the ground, and completed a pass for 29 yards with a touchdown both running and receiving. Calvi had four receptions for 73 yards and one score.  

Heights played hard but was outmanned by a better team. The Aviators profited from big plays last week but were limited tonight. They battled until the end and need to regroup for next week and the upcoming interdivisional game in their league.