Straight Up Ballin’ at Breck—Rock Solid Up Front

 

 

By Greg Moore

Banner Sports Editor

 

Opening night of high school football occurred across the Commonwealth over the past weekend with approximately one-hundred games played on the traditional Friday night along with nearly twenty contests on Saturday. The moment was set for the Butler County Bears, who have been waiting to showcase their offseason diligence in the weight room/conditioning along with the team’s unity.

The Fighting Tigers of Breckinridge County, who are coming off a 3-8 season, hosted the Bears on Friday night with a packed house, while Bear Nation traveled somewhat light with it being a rambling route for many in the county. Nonetheless, the football atmosphere was clearly present with Coach Josh Robins and his men ready to go to war on the field.

One place that gets overlooked by most football fans is where the Bears are once again relevant as a unit, the offensive line. Offensive Coach Ryan Emmick and company has these men upfront ready to anchor the Bears young offensive attack, led by freshman quarterback, Brody Dockery. The rest of the skilled set comes with many new faces, also.

With senior linemen, Will Amos and Zander Stokes, pulling for the ball carrier, every running back would want to get his share. Junior Kevin Robins and sophomore Kaidan Richardson were lavishing it up on gaping holes created by their teammates on the line while the Bears’ receivers were getting after it at the next level, also. Both backs finished with two TD’s and probably over 100 yards on the ground.

 

 

While Richardson and Robins were making their splashes by ripping off runs, junior receiver Carson Davis was bursting into another gear to get under Dockery’s dimes. Davis reeled in two money catches in his high school debut for touchdowns as well as other grabs all over the field throughout the night. Davis had the big night, but Dockery spread it around, also.

Dockery’s numbers on the night will look good on paper; however, if his receivers get another opportunity, they catch a few more of his passes for even more eye-popping numbers in the freshman’s debut as Butler County’s varsity quarterback. Not only did the kid make throws, but he also picked up chunks of yardage on the ground, along with a couple two-point conversion runs.

 

 

Breckinridge County roared back to take a 14-6 advantage after the 29-yard Dockery-Davis hookup on a 4^th and 4 to cap off a four-minute, first series drive for BC. Breck’s junior QB, Jacob Spritzer, was leaving it out there for his junior receiver, Jaxson Dewitt, to make plays during those drives.

It looked like the Tigers were going to continue with momentum after they recovered an on-side kick. However, Richardson knocked the ball loose and Robins recovered the fumble to get the ball back for the Bears, who converted some big first downs and eventually scored on an acrobatic catch by Davis to help make it 14-14 at the half.

 

 

The third quarter was the difference maker; Butler scored on three of their four possessions. Switching up offensive looks with trails of Tigers on the ground behind runs of Robins and Richardson was typical during drives. And the defense and special teams came up with three takeaways to boot.

Christian White, another senior lineman, was all over the field on both sides of the ball with Amos and Stokes. Sophomore center, Jax Pendley, played well starting the offense along with first year, junior lineman, Konnor Hudson, who has been committed to the program since the winter.

More trench warriors include junior newcomer, Isaiah Bastin, seniors, Ben Clark (who was causing some chaos on defense) and Cayden Taylor, along with a host of sophomore and freshman. The future looks promising for BC Football with this kind of numbers to build around and plug in with confidence, it is where the game is won, as many know.

Breck Coach Brent Hottell told the Messinger-Inquirer this about his team, “While we have more depth than I can remember and we have some talented, hard-working skilled kids, I believe that our offensive and defensive line play will be our strength this season,” he said. “This is, as a collective unit, the deepest group of linemen that I have had in quite some time.”

This statement tells how well Butler County played at the point of attack. Film session is going to be so much fun for this deserving bunch. Nothing better than to watch the fruition of the labor put forth. It is truly a luxury to be able to make a substitution and not miss a beat.

Butler County controlled the clock and finished off the Fighting Tigers, who did continue to fight, 42-30 in Harned. They will be back in action this Friday night at home against the Ohio County Eagles, the only win the Bears had last year. The Eagles (0-1) took it on the chin against Trigg County, falling 54-0 on opening night.

Butler County will have another home game following this Friday’s matchup when they welcome Todd County Central on September 5^th. The Rebels got past Ballard Memorial on opening night, 32-28. Coach Robins led the Rebels before coming to Butler County. Hopefully, his Bears will be 3-0 before traveling to Leitchfield on the 12^th to take on the Grayson County Cougars, who whipped up on Edmonson County, 39-15 in Brownsville.