Butler falls to Edmonson; eyes Russellville in week 3
Butler County held close for much of the first half before falling 36-8 to visiting Edmonson County on Friday, August 24 in Morgantown. Edmonson scored early on their first possession but the Bears' defensive team, which logged a lot of minutes on the field, was able to keep the Wildcats' margin manageable. The Bears trailed 19-0 at the half.
Edmonson broke open the game a bit in the second half and extended its lead before the Bears' finally found the end zone - its first touchdown of the season. Following a five-play 90-yard drive, which included a 49-yard run by Ethan Lawrence, quarterback Jagger Henderson connected with Solomon Flener for a 19-yard touchdown pass. Henderson passed to Warren Cameron for the 2-point conversion. Nevertheless, Edmonson secured the 36-8 win.
Although the coaching staff saw some positives for Butler County, head coach Brandon Embry still sees too many mistakes being made.
"We have to continue to work on little things in all aspects of the game," said Embry. "Too many mistakes are being made on both sides of the ball.
The coach liked much of what he saw on the defensive side of things.
"Defensively we started to come together against Edmonson County; just have to be overall better tacklers," said Embry.
Below are team statistics from the Edmonson County game:
Butler Co. 1st Half Possessions
1st Poss...… 3 plays & Punt
2nd Poss..... 3 plays & Punt
3rd Poss...… 4 plays & lost fumble
4th Poss...… 1 play & lost fumble
5th Poss...….3 plays & Punt
6th Poss...….3 plays & Halftime
Butler Co. 1st Half Totals
12 run plays..... +12 yards
4 pass plays..... +10 yards
16 total plays....+22 yards total offense
3 Punts/ 3 series 3 & out
2 Lost Fumbles
4 QB Sacks (-17yds)
Rushing 1st Half
#18 Cox...….. 1 carry/ 0 yds
# 11 Beasley....7 carries/(-8 yds) 1 lost fumble
#22 Lawrence 4 carries/ +20 yards
Receiving 1st Half
#18 Cox...…... 0 catch/ 1 target
#14 Diaz...…...1 catch/ 1 target/ 1 lost fumble
#2 Yates...…...0 catch/ 1 target
#22 Lawrence..1 catch/ 1 target +10 yds
Passing 1st Half
#11 Beasley ….. 2 completions/ 4 attempts/ +10 yds
(4) QB Sacks (-17yds)
2nd Half Possessions & Totals/ Butler Co. Offense
1st Poss..... 3 plays & Punt
2nd Poss.....lost fumble KOR
3rd Poss.....10 plays & over on downs
4th Poss.....5 plays & TD.... (90 yard drive)
2nd Half Totals/ Butler
11 Run plays...…. +86 yards
8 Pass plays...…. +53 yards
19 Total plays...…+139 yards total offense
Rushing 2nd Half Only
#22 Lawrence...… 4 carries/ +62 yds
#3 Cameron...…. 4 carries/ +13 yds
#`12 Henderson.... 1 carry/ + 9 yds
#40 Roberts...……. 1 carry/ + 4 yds
#11 Beasley...…….. 1 carry/ (-2) yds
Receiving 2nd Half Only
#44 Flener……. 3 catches/ 4 targets/ +50 yds/ TD
#18 Cox...………1 catch/ 3 targets/ +3 yds
#3 Cameron......1 catch/ 1 target/ +3 yds
Totals...………..5 catches/ 8 targets/ +56 yds
Passing 2nd Half Only
#12 Henderson 5 completions/ 8 targets/ +56 yds/ 1TD
Game Totals/ Butler Co. Offense
23 Run Plays...…. +98 yds rushing
12 Pass Plays...… +66 yds passing
35 Total Plays...…+164 yds total offense
3 Lost Fumbles*
Rushing Totals....
#22 Lawrence 8 carries/ 82 yds
#11 Beasley 8 carries/ (-10 yds) 1 lost fumble
#27 Morris 1 carry/ 1 lost fumble
#18 Cox 1 carry/ 0 yds
#40 Roberts 1 carry/ 4 yds
#12 Henderson 1 carry/ 9 yds
Receiving Totals
#44 Flener …… 3 catches/ 4 targets/ 50 yds/ TD
#22 Lawrence... 1 catch/ 1 target/ 10 yds
#14 Diaz...……. 1 catch/ 1 target/ 1 lost fumble / 0 yds
# 3 Cameron....1 catch/ 1 target/ 3 yds / 2pt conv. pass
#18 Cox...……...1 catch/ 4 targets/ 3yds
#2 Yates...…….0 catch/ 1 target
Totals...………. 7 catches/ 12 targets/ 66 yds
Passing Totals
#11 Beasley...…. 2 completions/ 4 attempts/+10 yds
#12 Henderson.. 5 completions/8 attempts/ +56 yds / 1TD
Butler County now turns its attention to Russellville in week three, where the Bears will travel to the Panthers on Friday, August 31. A perennial powerhouse in football, the Panthers are considered to not be quite as strong this season as they have been in years' past, which may provide an opportunity for Butler County. Still, Coach Embry expects a challenge.
"Against Russellville we are going to have to be sure tacklers and contain their athletes when we are on defense," said Embry. "Offensively we have to limit mistakes and not start in a hole early in the game. Turnovers have killed us as well the first two games. You can't turn the ball over and expect to compete with good football teams."
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The game will be aired live on WLBQ 101.5 and streamed live on the Beech Tree News and WLBQ Facebook pages.