Bulldogs make most of Butler turnovers
Donta Green has watched Westinghouse improve throughout the course of the season, and he likes where his team is at this point.
“I think we’ve improved more on the technical side and understanding the game,” Green said. “We’re a pretty young team. We had a lot of guys playing hero ball at the beginning, but now people are understanding what their part is and it’s really coming together.”
Butler, their Friday opponent, likely would not argue.
Westinghouse (6-0, 3-0 City League) dominated in every facet, and senior Khalil Taylor continued his rise as a dominant player as he helped spark the Class 2A Bulldogs to a 39-6 runningclock whipping of Class 6A Butler (4-3) at Cupples Stadium.
“We’re just focused on better, and we don’t care who the opponent is,” Green said. “We just want to be efficient and perform at a high level every week.”
It didn’t hurt the Bulldogs that Butler dug itself a hole of deep proportions. The Golden Tornado committed turnovers on each of its first five drives, four on interceptions by quarterback Mac Schnur and the other on a Schnur fumble on a muffed handoff.
To make matters worse, the Bulldogs converted all five turnovers into touchdowns.
“It went quickly. When you play a good team — and that’s a great team — you have to adjust quickly,” Butler coach Eric Christy said. “We just kind of shot ourselves in the foot a little there.”
Taylor, a defensive back and running back, was a key reason.
On the first drive of the game, he picked off a tipped Schnur pass to give Westinghouse the ball at its own 37. It only took five plays until the Bulldogs turned that into a 60 lead on a 1-yard run from quarterback Keyshawn Morsillo.
That interception began the string of five consecutive Butler possessions with a turnover, even though only one of the turnovers was an actual return for a score. That was a 15-yard fumble junior defensive end Michael Richardson took to the house with 2:52 remaining in the first quarter to give the Bulldogs an 18-0 lead.
After the Richardson return, though, things really fell apart for Butler.
On the third play following the fumble, Schnur threw his third interception of the quarter, which resulted in a 24-yard touchdown run from Taylor.
On the second play after the ensuing kickoff, Schnur was picked off for the fourth time, this one on the first play of the second quarter, which led to a 23-yard touchdown pass from Morsillo to Sincere Smith and a 31-0 Westinghouse lead 40 seconds into the period.
After Butler turned the ball over on downs deep in Westinghouse territory, Taylor shook loose for a 70yard touchdown that gave the Bulldogs a 39-0 lead at the intermission and started the mercy rule.
Taylor finished with 10 carries for 151 yards.
“He’s great,” Green said. “Every time he’s on the field, he’s ready to make a play, and we’re excited to have him.”
More City League
University Prep 36, Brashear 14: Daniel Cain scored on a short run in the first quarter to open the scoring for the Eagles before quarterback Jaquille McIntosh tookover. The freshman was 4 of 9 for 159 yards and two scores to help put the game away. Brashear quarterback Shawn Solomon was under pressure most of the game but completed 7 of 18 for 89 yards and a touchdown and also carried35 times for 103 yards.
Steubenville, Ohio 32, Allderdice 6: The Dragons traveledto Ohio to face the Big Red and were soundly defeated. Allderdice dropped to 2-5for the season.