Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Bears entered post-season play with a debt to settle from last year. The Ballard Memorial Bombers had upset the Bears 18-14 the previous year and ended the Bears 2014 campaign at home.  The Bears looked to correct that hiccup and did so by way of a 42-21 win. The game for fans was everything that could hope for in a playoff game, including leads, lead changes, and big plays.

Ballard Memorial took the opening kickoff only to go three plays and out, punting away to the Bears. The Bears wasted no time, taking their first possession eight plays for a touchdown. Quarterback Rex Henderson connected with Blake Graham for a 20-yard touchdown pass.  The Logan Richardson kick was good, giving Butler a 7-0 lead with 6:27 in the first quarter of play.

The teams would swap punts on the next two series, but the Bears' third possession on a third down and three play saw Brenden Shanklin on a screen pass break a tackle and sprint 73 yards for the touchdown.  The kick was good to give Butler a 14-0 lead with 8:22 left in the half.  But, as we have seen all too often, high school football games are full of twists and turns and momentum changes. 
The Ballard Bombers would in the second quarter put up 21 unanswered points and take a 21-14 lead with 1:47 to go in the half. All three scores were touchdown passes and it appeared all the momentum would be in favor of the Bombers going to the locker room at halftime.  But, the Bears still had time to strike. Butler County, from the 33-yard line, would mount a seven-play drive covering 67 yards. The touchdown to tie the game was again Henderson to Shanklin from 5-yards out.  The kick was good to tie the score at 21 apiece with 0:19 seconds left in the first half of play.

Early in the third quarter the Bears took the kickoff and on a seven-play drive covering forty-two yards, quarterback Henderson, from 12 yards out, ran for the score.  Richardson's kick was good to give the Bears a 28-21 lead with 9:39 to go in the third. The Bombers would go three plays and out, having to punt right back to the Bears. The Bears offense responded again going on a ten-play drive.  The touchdown pass was Henderson to Graham from nine yards out.  With Richardson's PAT kick, the Bears led 35-21 with 5:25 to go in the third. The Bears defense would again hold the Bombers and force a punt. The Bombers found the rest of the night tough going and be held scoreless. The Bombers could only manage 96 yards total offense in the second half of play.
The Bears' defense of Flener, Arnold, Markham, Hunt, Cameron, Kirby, Smith, Brosnan, Allen, Lee, Hixenbaugh, Graham, Embry, & Henderson shut down the Bombers. A Bears' goal-line stand in the fourth quarter ended any hopes of a Ballard Memorial comeback.

The Bears' most impressive offensive drive of the night came in the fourth quarter of play - a 15-play drive that covered 98 yards. The touchdown pass was from Henderson to Graham from five yards out for the score. The Richardson kick was good, making the score 42-21 Bears with 10:49 left to play in the game.  The Bears would rack up 500 yards of total offensive on the night and finish strong, recording 21 unanswered points in the second half.
Butler County (9-2) advances in post-season play to the second round of the KHSAA State Football Playoffs.

The Bears will travel to Mayfield, Kentucky this Friday night, November 13.  The Mayfield Cardinals (10-1) also advanced with a win over Todd County Central last week. The meeting will be the first ever between the two schools in varsity football. The kickoff is set for 7 p.m.  The football stadium is War Memorial Stadium in Mayfield.

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Butler Offensive Stats vs Ballard Memorial
Playoffs Round #1    Win 42-21

Butler Co. Total Offense
70 Offensive Snaps = 500 yards Total Offense
44 Runs = 245 yds
26 Pass  = 255 yds

Rushing
Henderson    19 carries= 142 yds (1) TD
Embry            14 carries =  70 yds
Brosnan           9 carries =  35 yds
Graham           2 carries=  (-2yds)
Totals             44 carries = 245 yds

Receiving    Catches/ Targets/    Ydg.    TD's
Shanklin           6              8    138        2
Graham           4               7    62          3
Hixenbaugh    5              8       45
Havens             1             3      10
Totals              16           26     255       5

Passing      Completions/ Attempts/ Ydg/ TD/ Int.
Henderson           16             26    255     5      0

Butler Co. by Possessions
1st Poss-  8 plays & TD- kick good
2nd Poss-7 plays & punt
3rd Poss- 3 plays & TD-kick good
4th Poss- 3 plays & lost fumble
5th Poss- 3 plays & punt
6th Poss- 7 plays & TD-kick good
Halftime
1st Poss- 7 plays & TD-kick good
2nd Poss-10 plays & TD-kick good
3rd Poss- 15 plays & TD-kick good
4th Poss- 5 plays & punt
5th Poss- 2 plays/ took knee game ends

Score by Quarters      1    2       3     4     Final
Butler Co................. 7    14    14     7      42
Ballard Memorial....   0    21      0     0      21

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Butler Co. Defensive Stats vs. Ballard Memorial
1st Round KHSAA State Playoffs win   42-21 

Name ................. Tackles/Assists/ Misses/ # of snaps played
D. Line
# 55 Flener ............ 5             3             2           49  (1) QBSack
#34  Hunt ..............1              0             2           40
#53  Arnold............1             2              1           37
#75 Markham.......3              3              0           32   (1) QBSack
#85 Cameron .......3              2              3           23   (1)QBSack.
#63  Lee ...............1             3               4           17
#9    Allen ............0              3               1           12

Linebackers
#36  Smith............2             5               3           56  (1)QBSack
#21 Brosnan........8             1                5           56
#22 Kirby............13            2               5           56  (1)QBSack
#24 Graham....... 1             2               2            56 
#10 Havens.........1            0               0            9   

D. Backs
#12 Henderson.....2           0               1           56
#27 Embry...........2            0               4           56
# 7  Hixenbaugh...1           1               2           56  (interception)
Totals......................................... (38)