No. 7 Butler defeats East Forsyth in North Carolina quarterfinals

Josh Glisson scored three touchdowns as Butler (Matthews, N.C.) defeated East Forsyth (Kernersville, N.C.), 25-15, Friday night in the quarterfinals of the North Carolina Class 4AA playoffs.

Both teams came in undefeated but it was Butler (13-0), ranked No. 7 nationally in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25, that asserted its dominance. The Bulldogs scored consistently and came up with big defensive stops to keep its dream of a state title alive.

East Forsyth gained an early lead when it took advantage of an interesting turn of events in the first quarter. Butler stopped the Eagles on fourth-and-inches to take control of the ball, but Butler fumbled on the very next play and gave the ball back to East Forsyth at the Butler 40-yard line.

The Eagles marched down field and eventually scored on a quarterback sneak from Garrison Duncan on fourth-and-goal. The PAT was blocked, but East Forsyth took a 6-0 lead.

Butler responded early in the second quarter, when Glisson ran the ball into the end zone from two yards out to give the Bulldogs a 7-6 lead with 10:59 left in the half.

Glisson struck again two minutes later, this time receiving a 17-yard touchdown pass from Riley Ferguson to extend Butler's lead to 13-6, after a missed PAT.

After another Ferguson touchdown pass and a failed two-point conversion, East Forsyth got back on the board with a 30-yard field goal just before halftime, cutting the lead to 19-6.

East Forsyth kept its momentum going on the opening drive of the second half, moving the ball down field and eventually scoring on an 8-yard run by Duncan. The Eagles missed another extra point and trailed 19-15.

Butler responded with 3:52 left in the third, however, extending its lead to 25-15 after a 12-play, 69-yard drive capped by a Glisson 2-yard touchdown run.

East Forsyth continued to mount the comeback effort in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles were stopped just one yard from the goal line with 3:41 left in the game, sealing the win for Butler.

East Forsyth and Butler last met during the 2010 playoffs, a game won easily by Butler (56-7) along the way to a state championship and 16-0 record.

East Forsyth (13-0) knocked off defending champion Page (Greensboro) a week ago, 44-24. Duncan ran for 185 yards and accounted for three touchdowns. The 6-3, 215-pounder came into the game with 1,488 passing and 1,266 rushing yards with 32 total touchdowns.

Last week, University of Michigan recruit Channing Stribling had two touchdown receptions and also scored on an interception and a kickoff return – all in the first half of Butler's 55-26 blowout of Independence (Charlotte). It was the second win in three weeks for the Bulldogs against their chief rival

Butler will move on to the semifinals, while East Forsyth (13-1) concludes an impressive season.