PREP FOOTBALL: Bears fall to Mustangs

Thu, 09/21/2017 - 1:04pm — John Embry

The Butler County Bears lost a heartbreaker to the Muhlenberg Co. Mustangs 42-34 last Friday night. The Bears almost wrecked Homecoming night for the Class 6A Mustangs in a game loaded with offense.

Muhlenberg County took the early lead 8-0 with 4:42 in the first quarter of play, but the Bears responded on their third possession of the night on a nine play, sixty-eight yard drive. Senior running back Ty Smith scored on a two yard run for the touchdown, and the two point conversion pass from quarterback Gage Ward to Colten Embry tied the score at 8-8, with 0:53 seconds left in the first.

Muhlenberg County regained the lead on the next drive and scored making the score 14-8 on the last play of the first quarter. The Bears offense found success again, this time a touchdown pass from Ward to senior wide out Daltyn Havens that covered seventy-two yards for the touchdown. But the two point conversion run was no good. Score tied 14-14 with 10:22 in the second quarter of play.

The Mustangs then seemed to take control of the game and broke the tie and went up 28-14 with 5:10 left to play in the half. But the Bears kept battling and with 1:52 to go in the half, a Ward to Embry touchdown pass from fourteen yards out capped off another sixty-eight yard, nine play drive to make the score 28-20. The Bears went for a two point conversion but the pass fell incomplete; as both teams would go into the locker rooms at halftime.

The Bears defense on the night did cause problems for the Mustangs. Defensive lineman junior Kain Neighbors forced two fumbles, and junior defensive back intercepted a pass as the first half ended. The Bears were led by senior linebacker Colten Embry who had 10 tackles on the night.

The third quarter of play the Bears took the momentum, and at the 3:20 mark Ty Smith scored on a 13 yard run up the middle for the touchdown to narrow the score to 28-26. Smith on the two point conversion run, it appeared broke the plane at the goal line, but was ruled down and the Bears still trailed 28-26.

That Bears drive covered sixty-seven yards in six plays with the big play of the drive a fifty-two yard pass from Ward to Embry, that kept the drive alive.

The fourth quarter of play the Bears defense kept the Mustangs held in check. Trailing 28-26, the Bears put together what looked to be a game winning drive, going sixty-eight yards in ten plays. It was the fourth possession of the second half for the Bears. The go ahead touchdown would be a Ward to Havens pass good from eleven yards out to take a 32-28 lead, the first lead of the night for the Bears. The two point conversion run was a three yard run by Smith to make the score 34-28 Bears with only 2:24 left in the game.

The Bears offensive line made great strides and played more physical style of football this week. The starting offensive line is made up of center- Noah Beasley, guards Tanner Herrera, Weston Merritt, and tackles Alex Rich and Logan Binion.

But with only minutes left the Mustangs were able to come from behind and regain the lead and secure the win by a final score of 42-34. The Bears fall to (0-5) on the season. Next week the Bears will begin Class 2A District play as they continue to travel. The Bears will travel to Owensboro to take on the Owensboro Catholic Aces. Game time kickoff is 7 pm, Friday, September 22nd.