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Posted on Mon, Nov. 09, 2009

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Late scores lift Butler into Region VI finals

BY BROOKS SEELEY

Eagle correspondent

EL DORADO — The Butler Grizzlies made the big plays when it mattered most in another classic game with Coffeyville, winning 21-14 to advance to the Region VI championship game next Sunday at No. 2 Fort Scott.

It's the 18th consecutive victory against Coffeyville for No. 8 Butler, and also gives the Grizzlies a chance to end Fort Scott's national title hopes, something the Greyhounds did when they beat Butler on Oct. 31.

"Just like always, when it's Butler and Coffeyville you gotta put your seatbelt on and be ready for a wild and crazy ride and this one was another great example of that," Butler coach Troy Morrell said. "I'm just proud of our guys for making plays when the game was on the line."

It didn't look good for the Grizzlies after turning the ball over on downs for the second consecutive possession and giving the ball back to Coffeyville with 3:59 left in the game and a chance to run out the clock with the Red Ravens leading 14- 7.

Butler held the Red Ravens to a three-and-out, ending with a Scott Smith sack and used all three of its time outs to conserve as much time as possible.

"It was huge. I tell all the players that big-time players make big-time plays when they need to be made and guys stepped up and that's what we did," said Smith, who finished with two sacks.

Butler's offense, which had struggled all game, made the most of their opportunity as quarterback Ross Dausin led a five-play, 71-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Dontel Watkins to tie the score at 14-14.

On the ensuing kickoff, Coffeyville's Chris Stuart fumbled and Butler's Brett Soft recovered it at Coffeyville's 32-yard line with 2:32 left.

Dausin connected with Robert Demps — who had a career day with four catches for 96 yards and a touchdown — on third-and-three to keep the drive alive and Dalando Henderson scored on a 1-yard run three plays later to give Butler a 21-14 lead with 19 seconds left.

"We just had to dig down and show our heart," Demps said. "The last drive, Coach put it on our shoulders and we did it."

Coffeyville's Mulku Kalokoh finished with 135 yards and a touchdown to lead Coffeyville's offense. Kalokoh's 58-yard toucdown run put Coffeyville ahead 14-7 in the fourth quarter.

"I thought our kids did a good job, we had a chance to hold on there for about four minutes and try to win it but we made some mistakes," Coffeyville coach Darian Dulin said.

Butler will try to avoid its first three-loss season since 1997 when it plays for its fourth consecutive Region VI Championship.

"That was a tough loss and we're anxious to be able to have an opportunity to play (Fort Scott) again," Morrell said. "I know they are a tremendous football team. Our kids are going to be excited and ready to play."

Coffeyville (6-4) 0 0 7 7 — 14 Butler (8-2) 7 0 0 14 — 21

B—Demps 27 pass from Dausin (Ortiz kick)

C—Dvorak 27 pass from Summerlin (Pohlman kick)

C—Kalokoh 58 run (Pohlman kick)

B—Watkins 22 pass from Dausin (Ortiz kick)

B—Henderson 1 run (Ortiz kick)

Individual Statistics

Rushing—Coffeyville, Kalokoh 24-135, Summerlin 17-(-20), Shields 3-15, Stuart 3-5. Butler, Brazil 17-46, Jacques 12-47, Henderson 3-2, Dausin 1-(-7). Passing- Coffeyville, Summerlin 15-20-138-1. Butler, Dausin 12-22-245-1.

Passing—Coffeyville, Summerlin 15-20-138-1. Butler, Dausin 12-22-245-1.

Receiving—Coffeyville, Mosley 3-29, Kalokoh 3-18, Shields 2-23, Pohlman 2-14, Dvorak 1-27, Bynes 1-13, Sanchez 1-7, Love 1-6, Patton 1-3, Duranleau 0-(-2). Butler, Demps 4-96, Kennard 3-47, Watkins 2-29, Jacques 1-41, Soft 1-20, Davis 1-12.

No. 2 Fort Scott 42, Hutchinson 17 — Fort Scott improved to 10-0 on the season and set itself up for a shot at playing in the national championship game if it can defeat Butler next Sunday in the Region VI title game.

Hutchinson fell to 6-5 but will still play in a bowl game, the Salt City Bowl in Hutchinson on Dec. 5, with the opponent still to be determined.