Beech Tree News Network

With the 2024 Bye Week and no game this week, we look back twenty years at the 2004 BCHS Football Bears and what can only be described as still today the biggest football win in the program's history.

             Let's travel back in time and set the stage. Robert Tuck was in his fourth season as BCHS Head football coach. The 2004 Bears entered week #5 undefeated at 4-0, and on Friday, September 17, they faced district foe Owensboro Catholic Aces at home on the campus of BCHS. 

              Butler Co. Bears' game plan that night was to keep the Owensboro Catholic offense off the field as long as possible. The Bears relied on running the football, eating the clock, and dominating the time of possession. The Bears' game plan worked, and at the half, the Bears led by a score of 11-8—the inside numbers of the first half game. 

Owensboro Catholic -1st half totals

15 offensive plays- 78 yards total offense- 

Time of Possession 5:50 

Butler Co.- 1st half totals 

33 offensive plays- 161 yards total offense

Time of Possession 18:10 

             For fans who were at the game, the second half of football was one of those games you just always remember. Butler Co. fell behind as Catholic very late in the third quarter and took a 14-11 lead. But the Bears, early in the fourth quarter, retook the lead 18-14, only to see Catholic, on the next drive, regain the lead 20-18 but miss the extra point attempt. 

            In the third and fourth quarters, Butler Co. stuck to the power running game and dominated the time of possession again, with almost identical numbers. Bears running backs in 2004 were crucial for many wins: Clay Tynes, Holden Flener, Garrett Hampton, Dakota Tyree, Jordan Wallace, and quarterback Tad Phelps. 

             Butler Co. -2nd half totals 

              50 offensive plays- 198 yards total offense 

               Time of Possession- 18:30 

             Owensboro Catholic- 2nd half totals 

              16 offensive plays- 122 yards total offense 

             Time of Possession- 5:30 

           Trailing by the score of 20-18, the Bear's final drive of the night put themselves in position for a game-winning field goal. The kicker, Ben Parrigan, for the Bears on the game's last play, would be in the lineup to attempt the 27-yard field goal. 

              Owensboro Catholic used all *3 times outs to rattle Parrigan and get in his head. With only three seconds left, Ben Parrigan hit the game-winning field goal, the final score of Butler Co. 21, Owensboro Catholic 20. This is the only win ever over the Owensboro Catholic Aces in school history. September 17, 2004. 

               Butler Co. would finish the season with an overall record of (7-4) with a season-ending loss in November 2004 at Trigg Co. HS in a first-round playoff game.

                Owensboro Catholic would make it to the Class 2A State Championship game, losing to Belfry HS. 

                Again, we hope you've enjoyed the story of one of the most memorable football nights in Butler Co. High School history.