Bears pound Breck 45-3; Shanklin rushes for 5 TDs, passes for two

Tue, 09/17/2013 - 10:57am — John Embry

Cool, fall-like weather provided the near-perfect backdrop for a 45-3 Butler County drubbing of Breckinridge County in week four of the high school football season on Friday night at Harned. Butler County senior Bryce Shanklin was the catalyst for much of the Bears' offense as he rushed for five touchdowns and passed for two.

Although the game ended with a running clock and lopsided score, it actually started with Breck County scoring first. The Tigers, on their first possession, completed a second-and-ten pass for a 40-yard gain to push the ball well into Butler County territory at the 25-yard line. A strong defensive stand by the Bears kept the Tigers out of the end zone. Instead, Breck settled for the field goal to take an early 3-0 lead over the Bears. That margin proved to be the highlight of the night for Breckinridge County.

Bryce Shanklin almost picked up his first touchdown early in the first quarter but the play was called back due to a BC penalty - one of many penalties on the night for both teams. Carries by running back Travis Brooks and a pass completion from Shanklin to Jake Martin set up a score. On third-and-eight, Shanklin connected with receiver Zeke Woodcock for the 32-yard touchdown play with 5:48 remaining in the first quarter. The P.A.T. was no good but the Bears still grabbed the 6-3 lead. They would never look back.

Pressure by Hayden Hampton and other Bear defenders stopped Breck on its next possession. Shanklin hit Kory Johnson on a quick screen and Drake Embry for solid gains before scoring himself on a second down quarterback keeper to give the Bears a 12-3 lead.

Following an interception by Woodcock, the Bears' air attack took off with completions from Shanklin to Martin (+7) and Brooks (+22), but the drive ended due to a Breck interception.

Good defensive live play and secondary coverage by Caleb Deweese forced a Tiger punt on their next possession. A high Breck snap seemed to give the Bears great field position but a defensive holding penalty, in fact, gave the Tigers a first down. Tackles by Peyton Bratcher and other Bear defenders, as well as three consecutive false starts, halted Breck's offensive drive.

A 20-yard gain by Walker Weathers set up Shanklin's next touchdown with 7:33 left in the first half. The Bears scored again following a 38-yard pass completion from Shanklin to Deweese. Shanklin notched the touchdown at the 3:30 mark in the second. The Bears took a 24-3 lead into halftime.

Third quarter carries by Martin and Brooks, and a 20-yard completion from Shanklin to Drake Embry contributed to another Shanklin rushing touchdown with 9:10 left in the third quarter to give the Bears a 31-3 lead - following an extra-point kick by Martin.

Connor Reed recovered a Breck fumble but an interception of a Shanklin pass in the end zone stopped that drive. Drake Embry returned the favor by picking a Breck pass at 6:00. Shanklin found Matt Moore and Embry for solid gains in the air before scoring from 20-yards out himself. The P.A.T. made the score 38-3.

Trent Cox intercepted another Tiger pass to set up the Bears next scoring drive - one that would enact the "running clock" mercy rule. Shanklin found Woodcock for an 18-yard gain before connecting with Embry for the 31-yard touchdown run . Martin's P.A.T. kick was good to give the Bears a 45-3 lead and their final margin of victory.

Butler County (2-1) will return to action on Friday night, September 19, at home against Grayson County. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.

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- Story by John Embry, BtN/WLBQ.

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