Butler's defense turned Friday's romp against Myers Park into a half-a-field game.
The Bulldogs won 31-0 and didn't allow Myers Park past the Butler 41.
Butler, No.2 in the N.C. 4A poll, improved to 7-0, and 3-0 in Southwestern 4A. It has rolled up at least 31 points in every game, but this victory belonged to the defense.
“We work hard in practice,” linebacker Jacob Davis said. “Everyone ran to the ball. And we just tackled.”
Butler limited Myers Park to 61 yards – 22 in the first half and 39 in the second. The sloppy Mustangs nearly had as many turnovers (five) as first downs (six). A lot of that had to do with Butler's precision.
“Our defense has played well all season,” Butler coach Mike Newsome said. “They do a good job of adjusting each week to what other people are going to do.”
“We've got the best coaching staff around, and I know defensively we get them put in the right position and our kids make plays. When you've got good athletes in the right position, they're going to be successful.”
Butler's Nate Charest had two interceptions, and Davis had one. Myers Park quarterbacks Stuart Ahlum and Jonathan Weymann were a combined 7 of 24 for 47 yards.
Christian LeMay, a sophomore, sparked Butler's offense with three touchdown passes. He was 8-of-17 for 167 yards.
Markel Moore ran for 134 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Charest caught three passes for 76 yards, and Anthony Short and Jawaun Edwards had touchdown catches.
Butler's offense was more methodical than mercurial.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Bulldogs scored 24 in the second to remove all doubt.
Moore capped an 80-yard drive with a 27-yard touchdown on an option pitch to the right side.
Myers Park (3-4, 1-2) fumbled on its next play, and Edwards scored on a 19-yard screen pass to give Butler a 14-0 lead.
Vaughn Bandy's 49-yard field goal late in the half made it 17-0. The overflow crowd at Myers Park probably thought the Mustangs had a chance.
Poor clock management erased that.
Three straight incompletions forced Myers Park to punt with 75 seconds left. Butler needed only four plays to score, as LeMay threw a 27-yard touchdown to Short with 19 seconds in the half to make it 24-0.
“Our defense feels like they can keep us in games, and they have,” Newsome said.
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