HOMECOMING WIN: Bears roll 28-14 over Ft. Knox

Sat, 09/01/2012 - 11:43am — John Embry

The Butler County Bears' football team took care of business Friday night with an impressive and decisive 28-14 homecoming win over a solid Fort Knox team. Although just two touchdowns separated the two squads, the up-tempo, fast-paced game didn't feel that close as the Bears controlled the line of scrimmage, ruled the airways, and gradually wore down the athletic Eagles.

Butler County Bears VS. Fort Knox Eagles

Fort Knox pushed into Bear country on its first possession. Senior defensive lineman Levi Johnson helped stop the Eagles on second down with a big tackle. On fourth-and-one at the BC 27-yard line, Fort Knox quarterback Brandon Franklin almost found a receiver in the end zone but the play was broken up by Bear defensive back Zeke Woodcock.

On its first possession, Butler County came out aggressively, setting the tone for the game. However, as a run by junior Walker Weathers and a pass completion from senior quarterback Elijah Flener to Kory Johnson were moving the ball for the home team, a fumble brought the Bears' first offensive drive to a halt.

The Eagles threatened again in their next possession but tackles and good secondary coverage by Travis Brooks, Dylan Havens, Jake Martin, and Drake Embry helped keep them out of the end zone. Again, it was a fourth down play that almost led to an Eagle score but Elijah Flener picked off the pass in the end zone.

With their backs literally against their own goal line, Flener led the Bears' offense on an impressive and efficient scoring drive. It started with a 16-yard carry by running back Walker Weathers on first down — an important play that gave the Bears some breathing room. Flener kept the ball on a QB keeper, advancing to the 36-yard line. Pass completions to Caleb Deweese and Matt Moore took the Bears past mid-field and into Fort Knox country. Flener and Cody White picked up short gains, while a pass completion from Flener to Dylan Havens created a third-and-one play for the Bears at around the Fort Knox 20-yard line. From there, Flener found Zeke Woodcock across the middle for the touchdown play at the 4:43 mark in the first quarter. The extra-point kick by Jake Martin missed the mark, hitting the left goal post but not going through. But, the Bears still led 6-0.

In the waning moments of the 1st quarter, Fort Knox's offense found its mark. A nice tackle by Cole Dean saved a touchdown at 2:36 but a QB keeper by Brandon Franklin on first-and-goal at the 5-yard line was good for the touchdown at 1:30. The extra-point kick was good, giving the Eagles a 7-6 lead.

The Bears came rolling back as the Flener-Weathers tandem proved effective — both on the ground and in the air. Still, the Eagles forced a BC punt. However, any momentum for Fort Knox was short lived as Dylan Havens picked an errant pass to give the Bears optimum field position with first-and-goal from the 7-yard line. Nevertheless, the Bears were turned away three times before Flener found Kory Johnson on fourth down for the touchdown at 10:50 in the second quarter. Flener connected with receiver Matt Moore for the 2-point conversion, giving the Bears a 14-7 advantage

Fort Knox tried to rally on its next possession but a key quarterback sack by senior defensive lineman Jacob Richmond hindered those efforts. With 6:59 remaining in the first half, senior defensive back Dylan Havens broke up a fourth-and-nine end zone pass from inside the Bears' 20-yard line.

Butler turned the ball over on downs but an interception by Travis Brooks gave the Bears' another chance to score before haltime — an opportunity in which they took full advantage. A flag on the play called back a potential touchdown but the Bears still had good field position at the Fort Knox 20-yard line. A pass from Flener to Johnson created a first-and-goal from the 5-yard line. From there, Flener hit Jake Martin for the score at 3:27. Martin's kick was good, giving the Bears' a 21-7 lead.

Pushing toward the Bears' end zone, Butler's defense stepped up on the Eagles' final possession of the half. Tackles by Richmond, White, and Martin, as well as solid secondary coverage by Havens, who swatted away another ball in the end zone, keep Fort Knox out of the scoring column. Butler held on to a 21-7 halftime lead.

A roughing-the-passer penalty against the Eagles on a fourth-and-fifteen play gave the Bears the break they needed to take a commanding lead. With good field position, carries by Weathers and Martin took the ball down to the 1-yard line. Flener took it in on the QB keeper at 9:07. Martin's low, line-drive extra-point kick was good as the Bears took a 28-7 lead.

The Bears' defense shut down Fort Knox on their next possession. A hard tackle by Matt Moore, swarming coverage by the defensive line, and an interception by Elijah Flener (who fumbled it slightly but then regained control), gave the Bears the ball.

Big gains by Flener, including narrowly dodging a sack before spinning and turning it into a gain, as well as pass completions to Woodcock and Drake Embry put the Bears in scoring position but they couldn't get into the end zone.

Fort Knox reached the end zone for the final time on a 40-yard run with 9:08 remaining in the game. The extra-point kick was good, making the score 28-14.

But, that was as close as the visitors could get. Peyton Bratcher snatched the ball and secured it on the Eagles' onside kick attempt. A pair of interceptions by Flener and Woodcock down the stretched stopped any hopes of another Fort Knox touchdown as Butler County took a well-deserved 28-14 win.

Conditioning proved key in the Bears' win, according to BCHS Head Coach Ryan Emmick, in an interview with WLBQ 1570/Beech Tree Radio after the game.

"From conditioning in January up through camp in July, these guys have worked extremely hard and it paid off," said Emmick. "Defensively, we had blue hats on the ball all night."

Game stats by WLBQ's David Clark (as reported by Mark Allen):

Butler Co. Ft. Knox

First Downs 21 13

Yds. Rush 258 157

Yds. Pass 169 138

Total Offense 427 295

Total # Off. Plays 75 54

Punts 2-40 yd avg. 1-38 yd avg.

Penalties 4-40 yds 8-65 yds

Interceptions 0 6

Fumbles Lost 1 0

Total Turnovers 1 6