By Will Bryan
MaxPreps.com
The Butler Bulldogs have spent the first seven weeks of the season staring up at undefeated Independence in the Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16 poll. Butler held off all comers and yet still could not leapfrog Charlotte’s storied program.
A week and a half ago, prominent Butler alum Kenneth Moore returned to the Charlotte area after being signed by the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. An outspoken supporter of his high school, Moore put the Bulldogs onto the front pages of the local paper.
After Friday night’s game against East Mecklenburg, Butler was back in the headlines, although it might not have been for the reason they would have wanted.
The Bulldogs came back from 10 points down in the third quarter to beat the previously unbeaten East Meck Eagles, 20-10. With the win, Butler moved to 8-0 on the season and 4-0 in the conference, while East Meck fell to 7-1 and 3-1.
The remarkable story of Butler’s comeback wasn’t so much the deficit it overcame, but rather the colossal change in momentum.
In the first half, Butler only managed a total of 66 yards, with 49 of those yards coming on one passing play. Butler’s high-flying passing attack, led by sophomore Christian LeMay, was limited both by East Meck’s game plan and the very soggy weather conditions which made throwing more difficult.
Butler coach Mike Newsome wasn’t about to excuse his team’s lack of offensive production on the weather.
“We got out-toughed the first half,” Newsome told the Charlotte Observer. “But our kids did exactly what we asked them to do after that, and played hard-nosed football. Our kids are tough kids. They don’t like that.”
After East Meck scored a touchdown on its first drive of the second half to take a 10-0 lead, Butler running back Anthony Short came up with a big play to turn the tide. With the ball on the Eagles’ 26-yard line, Short picked up a fumbled snap from his tailback position and raced into the end zone to cut the deficit to 10-6.
After stopping the Eagles on their next drive, Butler kept the ball on the ground as they marched down the field before Short picked up his second touchdown of the game on a 9-yard reverse to give Butler the lead.
Butler’s Jawaun Edwards, who rushed for 56 second-half yards, scored Butler’s final touchdown by running through an East Meck defensive back and planting an exclamation point on the 20 straight unanswered points.
Mallard Creek 62, North Mecklenburg 13
Mallard Creek continued its undefeated season by rolling North Mecklenburg, 62-13, and advancing to 9-0 on the season.
The Mavericks scored every time that they touched the ball during the first three quarters and North Meck’s opening touchdown went for naught.
Mallard Creek quarterback Marquise Williams accounted for 316 total yards, including 107 yards rushing and 209 yards on 8-12 passing for three touchdowns.
Mallard Creek scored five touchdowns during the second quarter and held North Meck to three negative yards while racking up 273 of their own. The Mavericks scored five touchdowns during the quarter.
Charlotte Country Day 21, Charlotte Christian 3
Country Day took possession of first place in the NCISAA standings by shutting down Charlotte Christian in a battle of private school powerhouses, 21-3.
Country Day held the Knights to just three points after Christian had averaged nearly 33 points a game during the season’s first seven week. Nursing an ankle injury, Christian quarterback Luke Bard was limited to 40 yards passing while his running game was held to 19 yards on the game.
Country Day’s dominant defensive effort was absolutely necessary after the Bucs turned the ball over on their first three possessions, including an interception that gave Christian the ball deep in Bucs territory.
The Bucs scored two touchdowns on special teams and their third came on a fumble recovery in the endzone by Michael Watterson.
Myers Park 25, Ardrey Kell 21
Myers Park drove 80 yards for a touchdown in the game’s final three minutes to defeat Ardrey Kell, 25-21. The win evened the Mustangs at 4-4, 2-2 in conference, while it dropped Ardrey Kell to 3-5, including an 0-4 mark in league play.
With their starting tailback sideline with an injury, Myers Park turned to defensive back Tyree Simpson to carry the load on the final drive. Simpson tallied carries of 33, 12, 11 and six yards to help get the Mustangs down the 1-yard line where quarterback Stuart Ahlum sneaked in for the winning touchdown.
The game went back and forth throughout the whole second half until Ardrey Kell found itself with ideal field position deep in Mustang territory. Myers Park kept the Knights out of the end zone and Ardrey Kell settled for a field goal, setting up the Mustangs’ game-winning drive.
Will Bryan covers the Charlotte, N.C., area for MaxPreps. He may be reached at wbryan08@gmail.com.
