Bears win 28-7

Sun, 11/06/2011 - 7:01pm — Diane Dyer

The Butler Co. Bears football season was on the line. Win and advance, lose and your season is over. The Bears crushed the #2 seed, home favored Caldwell Co. Tigers 28-7. A Bears defense that played with a chip on its shoulder all night long and a running attack that chewed up the clock and kept the high octane Tigers offense watching from the sidelines most of the night.

Caldwell Co. quarterback was ranked statistically as the #2 passer overall in the state with 2,500 yards on the season and an offense that was averaging nearly forty points per game. Jaylen Boyd, Caldwell Co.’s star running back had 1,100 yards on the season. Both would fall far below their weekly average, as the Bears defense completely shutdown the high powered offense, actually shutting them out. The only Tiger score of the night came late in the game from their special teams.

The Bears entered the game as the #3 seed, so traveling on the road and labeled as the underdog most area news media and the experts felt the Bears season would end at Caldwell Co.
Someone forgot to tell the Bears, the Bears defense, offense and kicking game plan was a formula that ruined the opening round for the Tigers.

The Bears linebacker Matt Renfrow intercepted the highly touted passer on the first possession; the Bears would drive to the one yard line only to be stopped just inches short of the goal line. A scoreless first quarter set the tone, but as the first half continued a weakness appeared quickly in the Tigers, the punting game. The Bears repeatedly would begin with excellent field position especially after a seventeen yard punt, when in the second quarter the Bears took over at the thirty-one yard line. A six play drive was capped off by senior running back Clay Embry ran in from five yards out for the first score of the night. A Cole Tynes kick was blocked but the Bears led 6-0 with 6:53 to go in the first half of play.

On the very next Bears possession; due to a short punt the Bears had to drive only thirty yards, this time on five plays. Senior running back Jarod Brosnan on first and goal from the eight bulled his way in making the score 12-0; the Bears went for the two point conversion and Clay Embry punched in the three yard run, pushing the score at the half to 14-0 Bears. The Bears took all the momentum into the locker room at halftime. Caldwell Co. frustrated and in many ways at times it’s own worst enemy, as the home team was flagged seventeen times for 165 yards in penalties.

The second half the Butler County offense and defense completely dominated their opponent. The Tigers would only get the ball for twenty offensive plays and only have the ball for 5:40 of the 24:00 of play. The Bears defense hurried, harassed, and kept the Tiger offense off balance the entire night; as what could only be described as bone jarring, crushing hits by every member of the Bears defensive unit. While the Bears offense pounded the rock, ran the football and chewed up the clock. All the Tigers offense could do was watch as the Bears time of possession in the second half saw the Bears keep the ball for 18 of the 24 minutes of play.

The Bears with only 16 seconds left in the third quarter of play Flener connected with Embry on a 30 yard touchdown strike to make the score 20-0; the Tynes kick was good 21-0 Bears. The fourth touchdown of the night for the Bears came on a three yard plunge by quarterback Flener, the Tynes kick again was good, Bears 28-0. The Tigers lone score of the night was a 93 yard kickoff return making the final score 28-7, and the Bears go in to Princeton and stun the heavily favored Tigers of Caldwell Co. High School.

The Bears now advance to the 2nd round of the KHSAA State Playoffs. This Friday, Nov. 11th the Bears will take on #1 seed the Owensboro Catholic Aces at Steel Stadium on the campus of Ky. Wesleyan College. The Aces advance after their first round win over #4 seed Reidland 62-0. Game time tentively set for 7pm but subject to change. Details of game TBA. Here also is a inside look at the numbers of the Caldwell Co. game.

Scoring Summary & Stats: Courtesy David Clark*

Caldwell Co.        0       0       0       7   -      7
Butler      Co.       0       14     7       7   -     28

Bears/ Rushing
Tynes ----- 2 carries/ 2 yds
Oliver --- 17 carries/ 49 yds
Embry-----9    carries/ 46 yds (1 TD)
Brosnan – 14 carries/ 58 yds (1 TD)
Flener --– 14 carries/ 22 yds (1 TD)

Bears/ Passing
Flener------ 3 completions/ 10 attempts (1TD) (1 INT) 67 yds
Woodcock- 1 completion/2 attempts 2yds

Bears/ Receiving
Tynes----- (1 catch)-      29 yds
Embry-----(2 catches)- 32 yds (1 TD)
Moore----(1 catch)          8 yds

                                  Caldwell Co.       Butler Co.
First Downs                     7                          17
Yds. Rushing                 (-2)                        177
Yds. Passing                  112                         69
Total Offense                110                       246
Penalties                    17-165yds            9-75yds
Fumbles Lost                 0                             1
Interceptions                 2                             1
Turnovers Total            2                             2
Time of Poss:             15:10                    32:50