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The Butler County Bears, who played sound football in all three phases of the game, jumped on the Hancock County Hornets, another district foe, 30-6 just before the half. They never relinquished the lead and held on for a 43-41 triumph, despite their counterparts’ 28 points in the third quarter.

Special teams got on the scoreboard first. They got a two-point safety when Dillon Brosnan clamped down on the punter, who attempted to fling a pass.

Jake Martin made another nice kick return and the Bears’ offensive unit was ready to take over after a punt and turn over on downs their first two series.

Drake Embry, who had another stellar night, completed a nice catch and run to keep the drive alive. Caleb Deweese caught a rope from Rex Henderson for another first down as well.

Henderson’s keeper made it 8-0, then what he did on the conversion was absolutely spectacular. Rolling to his left after a misguided snap, Rex outran one Hornet. Then, while getting tackled at the waist, he floated a left-handed pass to Embry for the 10-0 lead, 2:55 left in the 1st quarter.

Hancock moved the football on their next possession; however, once they got into the red zone, the Bears tightened down. John Payton forced pressure on the Hornets’ QB, who ran into the Bears’ other defensive end, Kaleb Hunt. The sack set up consecutive incompletions; BC took over on downs.

Henderson ran it a couple of times and utilized Deweese and Blake Graham on a few pass completions. He then went back to Embry for a 27-yard touchdown, extending the lead, 16-0.

The Hornets next possession resulted in six points behind the strong running of senior Trevor Garrison, who is much heavier than either sophomore middle linebacker, Brosnan or Dylon Kirby. It did not seem to bother them, though, they hit him all night long. Kirby also led the Bears with 17 solo tackles and two sacks.

Leading 16-6, the Bears wanted to methodically move the ball and score just before the half. They were good on that with a steady mix of runs and passes. Kory Johnson made a sliding catch to move the chains on a third down conversion, too.

Facing fourth down, Henderson noticed tight coverage on Embry to his left. Henderson and Embry read one another and the Hornet cornerback tried to jam Drake, but he made a spin move to leave him standing. He sprinted underneath the Henderson-pass for six more.

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Cole Maxfield, who made three extra-point attempts in the McLean County game, duplicated the feat in this game as well. His first XP put the Bears up 23-6 with only 41 seconds left before half.

The ensuing kickoff hit a Hornet, which prompted Jacob Courtenay and Kaleb Hunt to dive for the ball. Kirby somehow snuck away from the pile with the football. The offense had time to score, again.

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Deweese caught a 25-yarder after Martin stretched out for what would have been a breathtaking catch. Martin cashed in on the next play, Henderson’s third touchdown pass of the half, this time from the twenty. Maxfield’s PAT made it 30-6.

Butler County’s defense spent the majority of the 3rd quarter on the field. Garrison ripped up chunks of yardage on the ground or from dump off passes from Nathaniel Morris, Hancock’s senior quarterback.

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At the 2:11 mark, it had become a two-point game, 30-28.

However, Butler’s special teams scored again. Martin, who had a couple nice returns earlier, followed his blocks through the initial hole. Thereafter, his cut made some miss and he broke loose from a couple more wannabe tacklers. Brandon Jones threw a good block on the only other man who had a chance.

Martin’s 86-yard kickoff return gave his Bears some breathing room, 36-28.

Hancock receiver Michael Vaeth, who had 11 catches for 156 yards and three touchdowns, picked up three of those receptions and the last score of the third quarter to put his team in positon to tie.

Kirby blitzed through the bulky Hornet line to bring down the big load of Garrison and keep Butler County clinching a two-point lead.

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Seconds later, Embry torched the Hornets’ secondary for a 62-yard touchdown, his third of the night. Maxfield’s extra-point made the game two possessions, 43-34.

Kirby stripped Garrison, who was beginning to tire, on Hancock’s next possession.

Henderson took a couple knockout attempts toward the end zone. One of his passes was caught over the shoulder by Graham and should have delivered; on the other hand, the referee waved it off, out-of-bounds.

The Hornets got inside the Bears’ twenty on two additional occasions and managed to score, once. Following the Hancock score, their onside kick was recovered by Jones and the Bears killed the rest of the clock.

The Bears (6-3) will close out the regular season this Friday, Halloween night at BCHS against Edmonson County. Expect the Wildcats (4-5) to bring tenacity in this neighboring county rivalry.

 CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE Box Scores for Hancock County @ Butler County.pdf

 Story by Greg Moore, photos by Jeremy Hack, Beech Tree News