Beech Tree News Network

Russellville made one more play than what Butler County did and that proved to be the difference last Friday night as the Bears fell 52-42 to the visiting Panthers. 
Butler County got off to a tough start as a fumble on kick-off return led to a quick Russellville touchdown. 

A 24-yard pass from quarterback Rex Henderson to receiver Jacob Hixenbaugh helped set up a 7-yard touchdown run by Dillon Brosnan.  Logan Richardson's point-after kick gave the Bears a 7-6 lead. 
Butler County's defense stopped Russellville on their next possession while the Bears' Henderson scored from four yards out at 1:05 left in the first quarter.  The P.A.T. gave the Bears a 14-6 lead. 
Russellville tied the game early in the second quarter on a short drive. 

Carries by Ian Embry helped set up the Bears' next score - a 7-yard touchdown run by Rex Henderson at 5:41. 
With Butler on top 20-14, the Panthers hit back with a 64-yard touchdown run.  The two-point conversion gave Russellville a 22-20 lead. 
Following a Butler County fumble, the Panthers extended their lead to 28-20 on a 20-yard pass play. 
The Bears roared back in the final moments of the first half as a Henderson to Blake Graham 34-yard pass play led to a 20-yard touchdown pass from Henderson to Hixenbaugh with 4 seconds left in the half.  The conversion attempt failed.  Butler trailed 28-26 at the half. 

The second half was more of the same back and forth battle as teams traded touchdowns:
 - Butler scored at 7:48 in the third on a 9-yard run by Henderson; Henderson passed to Graham for the two-point conversion (BC 34, RHS 28)
 - Russellville scored at the 3:42 mark and made the conversion to go ahead 36-34.
 - Butler scored at 1:27 on a 2-yard run by Henderson; Henderson passed to Hixenbaugh for the conversion (BC 42, RHS 36)
Russellville added another touchdown with 9:19 left in the game on a 6-yard run on first-and-goal.  A successful conversion gave the Panthers a 44-42 lead. 
Butler was moving offensively its next possession and benefitted from a pass interference call on Russellville.  However, the Bears' scoring drive came to a halt as a Henderson pass was blocked on a fourth-and-six play. 
With under three minutes left on the clock, the Bears' defense stepped up (including a sack for a 7-yard loss by Ty Smith) and presented the Panthers with a fourth-and-twelve play.  The Panthers then pulled a seldom-used play out of their hat as a couple pitches in the backfield and a little misdirection led to a 25-yard touchdown pass play for Russellville.  The conversion gave the Panthers a 52-42 lead and their final margin of victory.   

Butler County (2-1, ranked #12 in Class 2A) will be on the road tonight at Apollo.  Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.  Apollo (2-1) defeated Muhlenberg 35-14 at home in week one; they lost 42-6 to South Warren at home in week two action; Apollo defeated Logan County 35-12 last week on the road. 
Tonight's Butler-Apollo game will be aired live on The New Q - 101.5 FM with John Embry and Cody Donaldson.  

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Below are film grade stats provided by Mark Allen, director of football operations for Butler County High School. 

Butler Co. Bears /Week #3 Offensive Stats:

1st Half Totals
24 Runs = 153 yds (3 TD's)
10 Pass =  (4 completions/ 10 attempts) / 88 yards/ (1 TD)
Total Offense 1st Half= 241 yards

1st Poss- fumble lost opening kickoff
2nd Poss- 8 plays & TD / PAT Good
3rd Poss- 10 plays & TD / PAT Good
4th Poss- 10 plays & TD/PAT  Missed
5th Poss- 4 plays  & fumble lost
6th Poss- 2 plays & TD/ 2pt conv No

Halftime

2nd Half Totals
13 Runs= 46 yds (2 TD's)
13 Pass=  (2 completions/ 13 attempts)/ 6 yds * NOTE both completions were 2 pt conversion passes

Total Offense 2nd half = 52 yards

1st Poss- 4 plays & TD/2 pt conv. Good
2nd Poss- 3 plays & punt
3rd Poss-  4 plays & TD/ 2 pt conv. Good
4th Poss- 3 plays & punt
5th Poss- 6 plays & turned over on downs
6th Poss- 4 plays & turned over on downs

Total Offense
37 Runs = 199 yards ( 5 TDs)
23 Pass =    94  yards (1 TD)
55 Plays = 293 Total Offense

Passing        Completions/ Attempts/ Yards/ TD/ INT
Henderson            6                 23               94      1      

Receiving       Catches/ Yards/ Targets/ TD's
Hixenbaugh       3            49            6           1
Graham              2             38           7           0
Shanklin             0              0            3           0
Cameron            1              7            1            0
Havens               0             0             2            0

Rushing            Carries/ Yards/ TD's
Henderson           15          92       4
Embry                   10          78       0
Graham                6            17       0
Brosnan                4             8        1
Hampton              1            4        0
Shanklin               1             0       0

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Russellville Offensive Game Stats/ Week # 3:

1st Half Possessions
1st Poss- 5 plays & TD
2nd Poss-5 plays & out on downs
3rd Poss- 8 plays & TD
4th Poss- 3 plays & TD
5th Poss- 6 plays & TD

27 Total Offensive Plays
12 offensive plays 1st quarter
15 offensive plays 2nd quarter

23 Runs =204  yds Rushing
  4 Pass = 37 yds passing

Total Offense=241 yds (1st Half)

2nd half Possessions
1st Poss- 3 plays & out (fake punt failed)
2nd Poss-8 plays & TD
3rd Poss- 1 play (fumble lost)
4th Poss- 3 plays & out/ punt
5th Poss- 5 plays & TD
6th Poss- 9 plays & TD
7th Poss- Took knee 3 snaps in a row, game ends.

28 Total Offensive Plays (2nd half)
15 Offensive Plays 3rd quarter
13 Offensive Plays 4th quarter

25 Run Plays =140 yds rushing
  3 Pass Plays=  23 yes passing
Total Offense= 163 yards (2nd half)

Game Total Offense RHS
55 offensive plays
48 Runs = 344 yards rushing
  7 Pass  =   60  yards passing
Total Offense=404 yards 

#9 West -            15 carries= 38 yds    (2 rushing TD's)
#4 Jones-             11 carries =107 yds  (2 rushing TD's)
#26 Bigbee-       18 carries = 185 yds  (1 rushing TD)
#10 McMurray    5 carries =  14  yds

#4 Jones -      2 catches/ 43 yds ( 2 TD's)
#26 Bigbee-  1  catch/     17 yds

#10 McMurray  Passing  (3 completions/ 7 attempts/ 60 yds/ 2 TD's)

Graded on Sat. Sept. 5th
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Butler Co. Defensive Stats/ Week # 3 Russellville 52-42:

Linebackers            Tackles/ Assists/ Misses / Big Plays
#36 Smith                      6            3            2
#22 Kirby                       8            2            5
#52 Courtney               4            1             6       caused fumble
#21 Brosnan                 2            3             5
#24 Graham                 3            0              2

D. Line                    Tackles/ Assists/ Misses/ Big Plays
#34 Hunt                       0           2            1
#85 Cameron                0          0            1
#55 Flener                     4          2            2
#75 Markham              3          1            0
#53 Arnold                   3           1            1        
#63 Lee                         2           1            0
# 9  Allen                      2            1           1
#59 Wood                    0           0            1
#78 Gaskey                  0           0            1

D.Backs                   Tackles/ Assists/ Misses/ Big Plays
#7 Hixenbaugh          5             2              8         recovered fumble
#12 Henderson         2              0              5 
#27 Embry                 0              0              2
#5   Shanklin              2             0              1
#28 Hampton            0             0              1