Butler sparks Highlanders

Driscoll 28, Nazareth 19

Quarterback Matt Butler had Driscoll's offense in midseason formSaturday as the host Highlanders staved off a late Roadrunners rallyfor a 28-19 victory.

Driscoll racked up 332 yards of offense with Butler contributing188 through the air. The 5-9 senior connected with Mike Tenuto for a20-yard third-down pass on the first series of the game to keep thedrive alive. Matt Kervin scored on a 12-yard run for a 7-0 lead.

Osborn Curtis tied the game for Nazareth with an 82-yard kickoffreturn; he later caught a six-yard touchdown pass.

Butler (10-of-18) put Driscoll ahead for good on the first play ofthe second quarter when he connected with Ryan Franken on a 59-yardtouchdown pass for a 14-7 lead.

"Butler is just the ultimate kid to coach," Driscoll coach TimRacki said. "He's intelligent, he has a great work ethic and he has abig heart."

One of Driscoll's biggest weapons is Jeremy Netzer, the team'ssmallest player. Netzer's 57-yard punt return set up the Highlanders'third touchdown, which came on Butler's 18-yard pass to DanPaplaczyk.

Netzer, a 5-5 junior, also picked off a pass and returned it 35yards for a touchdown, blocked an extra point and ran 19 yards to geta late first down that kept the clock running.

"If you want explosiveness, then Jeremy is your guy," Butler said."His pick put the nail in the coffin for them."