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Bears’ season concludes with 18-14 loss to Ballard Memorial
The BCHS Bears, who were hosting a playoff game for the fourth time in school history, squared off with the Ballard Memorial Bombers on Friday, November 7th in the first round of the KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl in Class 2A action.
After being outscored 12-0 in the first half, the Bears came roaring back to take a 14-12 lead into the 4th quarter; unfortunately, the Bombers used a blocked punt—a Bear forte—which set up excellent field position (Bears’ 12-yard line) to score the go-ahead touchdown with 9:44 to play.
Statistically, the game could not have been more even. Missed opportunities, turnovers, and the big play were deciding factors in the 18-14 loss by the Bears, who represented the #2 seed from District 2 in 2A.
Before the game, Superintendent Scott Howard congratulated Coach Ryan Emmick on their runner-up finish in District 2 by presenting a plaque at midfield. The Bears went 4-1 throughout district play, with their only loss coming against Owensboro Catholic.
Ballard, who was the #3 seed out District 1, made a long, two-hour bus ride to play the Bears. Many sports enthusiasts predicted the Bears in this game, but the Bombers did not come out flat as anticipated.
After Mason Barks broke through and slammed the ball carrier for a loss on the second play by Ballard, the Bombers exhibited they had the means to air it out. On third down, junior quarterback Andrew Burton dropped back and barely overthrew an outstretched receiver.
Butler County brought the house on the punt, which left nine white jerseys surrounding Drake Embry, who was catching the punt. Somehow, Embry eluded the tacklers and made a decent return.
Blake Graham and John Payton ripped off a few runs of seven yards or better to help position Butler County inside the red zone; however, the drive stalled out when Rex Henderson was pushed out barely short of the first down marker.
Ballard Memorial took over on downs and trekked 85 yards on a good mixture of play calling. Two key plays came on third-down conversions. One was a 22-yard pass play that senior Dre Bledsoe barely got a foot down before Henderson knocked him out. The other was his younger brother, Devyn, breaking off 20 yards, straight up the middle.
Down 6-0, the Bears were unable to get anything going on their next possession.
Moments later, senior Ethan Dunning put his team up two scores. He caught a short pass, broke a tackle, made a couple Bears miss, and raced down the sideline for six more.
Butler County had the ball three more times in the first half, but they failed to score. Their best chance occurred when Graham tackled the Bombers’ punter at the thirty of Ballard. Henderson scampered down to the twelve on the next play, but the Bears turned it over on downs at the six.
Embry made an interception on a deep pass near his team’s goal line to keep the guests from scoring again before going to the locker room; however, the Bears gave the ball back on a tipped-pass that was intercepted by Dunning.
Butler County received the ball to start the second half. Jake Martin, who has continued to play through various injuries, gave his Bears a surge when he took a handoff and exploded through an opening for 30 yards.
Forced into a third and long, Henderson hit Embry in stride down the sidelines. Embry took a viscous hit, but the thirty yard gain set up first and goal.
Finally, Martin shot through another a hole from the ten and his Bears were on the scoreboard. Cole Maxfield’s extra point made the score, 12-7.
Ballard Memorial went three-and-out and punted the ball back to the Bears.
Henderson scurried for a couple first downs on his feet, but a couple of his throws to Graham highlighted the next drive. On third down, they hooked up on a 23-yard pass; then, the tandem got six points on a fourth down, 23-yard play with 4:14 to play in the third quarter.
After Maxfield’s PAT made it 14-12, the teams traded the ball back and forth until Ballard’s Conrad Hansen ran right past two blockers and got a piece of Martin’s punt.
Two plays later and the Bombers were back in command, 18-14. The score was Dunning’s third touchdown of the night. He also netted 140 yards from the line of scrimmage.
Henderson, Martin, Graham, and Payton continued to move the ball in chunks and BC looked primed to score on their next possession. However, a drop, an incomplete pass, a penalty, and an eventual sack erased those dreams and their best chance for the rest of the game.
Butler County’s football players will hang up the cleats for the winter. They will soon be back in the weight room training for next season. It has been an exciting season and football fans will patiently wait for next year’s Bears to start again.
Story by Greg Moore, photos by Jeremy Hack, Beech Tree News
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