Butler football starts 2-0 as Mark Klemz, Tornado run game shreds Brashear in home opener

August 30, 2025 Last Updated: August 30, 2025 12:05 AM Sports

BUTLER TWP — Brashear threw the ball early and often, but couldn’t get Butler football off the ground.

The Golden Tornado rushed for 352 yards and seven touchdowns Friday night in cruising to a 48-24 football win in their home opener Friday night at Art Bernardi Stadium.

Butler (2-0) scored on six of its first seven possessions, stopped only by the scoreboard clock. Its final possession of the first half began with only 13 seconds remaining.

“Our line did a great job in opening up holes tonight, and we featured two backs who really ran hard,” Butler coach Eric Christy said.

Mark Klemz rushed for 78 yards and three touchdowns in the first quarter alone as the Tornado raced to a 21-3 lead in the opening 12 minutes. Klemz finished the night with 13 carries for 175 yards and four scores.

Max Rihn took over the bulk of the ball carrying in the second half, amassing 79 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.

While the Tornado had a comfortable lead all night, Butler couldn’t get the mercy clock running as Brashear produced an effective passing game. David Kessler put the ball in the air 50 times, throwing for 300 yards and three touchdowns. Two of the Bulls’ scores occurred in the fourth quarter, when the game’s outcome was well-decided.

“It tests your stamina, having to chase the quarterback around that much,” Butler senior lineman Beau Burchett said. “That kid was pretty good, too. But we got to him a few times and disrupted a lot of those plays.”

Brashear (0-2) dropped its 10th straight game over the past two seasons.

Butler’s lone interception belonged to senior corner Mason Lacey, who picked a ball off in the end zone to thwart a Brashear scoring threat. The Tornado defense forced a turnover on downs inside the Butler 5-yard line late in the third quarter.

Besides quarterback scrambles, Brashear attempted to run the ball only six times.

The game lasted three hours.

“We controlled the line of scrimmage, so they threw the ball a ton,” Christy said. “This game took forever. I didn’t think it was ever going to end. They have some big, athletic receivers, but our defensive backs scrapped with them all night.”

Ultimately, Butler’s running game carried the night.

“They had a lot of size up front, and that was a challenge for us,” Burchett said. “The key for our line is communication. I can’t emphasize that enough. We’ve been working out since December, so we’ve been in shape. Now it’s just a matter of playing together.

“We operated as a unit and wore them down. More than 300 yards rushing ... that’s a good feeling.”

Brashear 3 7 0 14 — 24

Butler 21 13 7 7 — 48

First Quarter

Bu — Mark Klemz 14 run (Alex Morris kick), 8:18

Br — Dee Menandjua 27 field goal, 5:10

Bu — Klemz 7 run (Morris kick), 2:53

Bu — Klemz 10 run (Morris kick), :04

Second Quarter

Bu — Nicco Baggetta 14 run (Morris kick), 8:37

Br — Joseph Bell 2 pass from David Kessler (Menandjua kick), 4:51

Bu — Max Rihn 2 run (kick failed), 2:02

Third Quarter

Bu — Klemz 6 run (Morris kick), 10:38

Fourth Quarter

Br — Eric Swan 12 pass from Kessler (pass failed), 6:45

Bu — Rihn 19 run (Klemz kick), 3:15

Br — Jahleel Anthony 20 pass from Kessler (Swan pass from Kessler), 1:39

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Passing: Brashear, David Kessler 22-50-300-1. Butler, Nicco Baggetta 8-11-115-0, Will Dunaway 0-2-0-1.

Rushing: Brashear, David Kessler 12-40, Joseph Bell 4-4, Eric Swan 2-9. Butler, Nicco Baggetta 4-55, Tyson Pino 3-26, Marcus Vicari 1-37, Mark Klemz 13-175, Jacob Kollinger 3-20, Kevin Shriver 1-3, Max Rihn 14-79, Deacon Simko 2-10, Will Dunaway 2-4, Maddox Tack 1-13, Mason Myers 1-3.

Receiving: Brashear, Brandon Bonneau 1-9, Jahleel Anthony 7-102, Eric Swan 6-60, Joseph Bell 6-57, Justin Saunders 3-73. Butler, Deacon Simko 4-52, Tyson Pino 3-26, Marcus Vicari 1-37.