NCPreps.com - Butler Defense Looks Impressive in 27-6 Win Over Mallard Creek

August 18, 2012

Kevin Utz
NCPreps.com Staff Analyst

CHARLOTTE - Butler and Mallard Creek came into Friday night's game as the top two ranked teams in the state so facing off week one is an opportunity to prove who will likely be regarded as the favorite for the 4AA state title.

Early Butler would prove why many people ranked them as the top team in the state by displaying complete dominance in all three phases of the game. Butler's first half was mistake free allowing zero points, forcing two turnovers, scoring on three long touchdown passes and converting on a long field goal.

On the first play Butler's Channing Stribling came up with a huge interception that would set the tone on defense all night.Butler QB Riley Ferguson then hit Josh Glisson on a swing pass that he would take 49 yards to give Butler a 7-0 lead.

Ferguson would then hit WR Uriah LeMay in stride on a quick out and up for 32 yards and the score. After adding a field goal with only 47 seconds left Butler looked to take a 17-0 lead into halftime. Mallard Creek would quickly drive down the field until QB Emiere Scaife would get sacked and fumble. As time expired in the half Ferguson once again found LeMay for a 30 yard touchdown stretching the lead to 24-0.

Mallard Creek chances looked slim as they trailed by 24 and looked overmatched on defense and struggled to move the ball. As the second half started it looked as if Mallard Creek would fight their way back into contention by forcing three straight interceptions. After the first interception the Mavericks offense went to the state's top player WR Marquez North who took the snap from the wildcat and dashed 9 yards for the touchdown. This would be the only blemish on the Bulldog defense as they blocked the extra point. On the other two interceptions the ball was given to the Maverick's offense inside the opponents 30, but the Bulldogs would have none of it holding them to field goal attempts on both possessions. Both field goals were missed. Marquez North was held to zero catches in the game and only touched the ball on his 3 carries which totaled 15 yards.

Butler (1-0) would hold on to win 27-6 over Mallard Creek (0-1), a strong performance by the Bulldogs but more work can be done as said by Butler coach Brian Hales, "some of the mistakes we made, it's the 1st game of the year, we are far from where we are going to be in October, November, and ideally December." If that is true then many teams across the state need to be worried.

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