Prep Rewind: Henry Jonas and Myers Park defense fuel close win at Butler
In his first three seasons at Myers Park High School, Henry Jonas was a defensive end. His main job was to come off the edge and try to get to the ball carrier or the quarterback.
See ball, hit man.
But sometime before the start of the 2021 spring season, the Myers Park coaching staff decided to move Jonas to middle linebacker. That meant a lot more thinking. That meant calling defensive signals.
That meant being the leader.
On Friday, Jonas looked plenty OK being the leader.
Jonas had a fumble recovery that led to points and an interception that led to the game-winning field goal in Friday’s 24-21 win at Butler in a battle of teams ranked in the Observer’s Sweet 16 poll.
No. 8 Myers Park (3-0) beat No. 4 Butler (2-1) for the third straight season and set up a game at No. 10 HIckory Ridge next week that could eventually determine the league champion.
“Honestly,” Jonas said after his monster game, “I have to give it all to the team. We went all out tonight. I don’t want to take credit for it. It feels pretty good to beat them three times in a row. It’s a great goodbye (to high school) present.”
Myers Park and Butler came into Friday’s high school football showdown with each team averaging more than 40 points per game.
But the Mustangs’ win came down to defense — and those key plays from Jonas.
“We were sweating it a little bit,” Jonas said of the close win, “but the coaches called all the right plays and we did what was needed.”
The game was back and forth all of a warm Friday night:
▪ Up 7-6 in the second quarter, Myers Park was driving when the Mustangs tried a flea flicker. Bryce Dixon tipped Lucas Lenhoff’s pass. GW Clemmer caught the deflection and ran 42 yards for a touchdown. After a two-point conversion, Butler led 14-7.
▪ Myers Park tied the game after Parish Metzger’s pass was tipped and intercepted by Jonas. Jonas had a short return to the Butler 22. A few plays later, junior tailback Jacob Newman scored from 9 yards.
▪ Butler quickly answered with a long drive, which featured a lot of running behind the left side of its offensive line. The Bulldogs scored on Davion Nelson’s 3-yard run to take a 21-14 lead.
▪ It didn’t take Myers Park long to come right back. On their third play after Butler’s score, Lenhoff hit Cam Thornton with a pretty 76-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.
▪ On Butler’s next possession, Nelson fumbled while being tackled and Jonas recovered, getting his second turnover of the game. Win Byerley made a 26-yard field goal with 4:34 left to give the Mustangs a 24-21 lead.
Butler’s defense gave the team one last chance. And after a long pass, the Bulldogs had a 46-yard field goal attempt to tie the game with 1.4 seconds left.
It was blocked.
“We try to have the motto that our record every week is 0 and 0,” first-year Mustangs coach Mark Harman said. “For three weeks straight, we have not mentioned the name of the team we were playing. Our goal is to have our guys prepare as if every single team we play is the best team we’ll play. That being said, we all know the quality of program that Butler is. When the game was over, we spoke the truth. This was the first big one of the season, and we’re going to enjoy it.”
There were lots of Mustangs who played well, but it was Myers Park’s new linebacker who delivered some of the biggest plays all night.
“The thing about Henry Jonas is that young man got moved to a new position and he was like, ‘Coach, what do I need to do to help,’” Harman said. “He’s just been phenomenal in such a short period of time in helping our defense. He was everywhere we needed him to be.”
THREE WHO MATTERED
Jacob Newman, Myers Park: Junior running back ran 21 times for 93 tough yards against a stiff Butler front. He had a 9-yard touchdown run.
Lucas Lenhoff, Cam Thornton, Myers Park: Junior QB threw for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Thornton, a junior receiver, had two pretty touchdown catches.
Davion Nelson, Butler: ran 18 times for 95 yards and caught 4 passes for 45 yards. He scored one touchdown.
WHAT’S NEXT
Butler hosts rival Independence. Myers Park plays at Hickory Ridge.
THEY SAID IT
“It’s definitely been a learning curve, but I’ve got good coaches and teammates around me. It was a little hard at first, but I had a lot of time to prepare with COVID going on. I did a lot of lifting at my friend’s house and I watched a whole lot of film.’’ — Jonas on changing positions from defensive end to linebacker.
GAME SUMMARY
Myers Park 7 0 7 10 — 24
Butler 6 8 0 7 — 21
B: Jake Snapp 10 pass from Parish Metzger (kick failed, Max McGuire blocks kick)
MP: Cam Thorton 15 pass from Lucas Lenhoff (Win Byerley kick)
B: GW Clemmer 42 yard interception return (Isaiah Lawson run)
MP: Jacob Newman 9 run (Byerley kick)
B: Davion Nelson 3 run (Elijah Swett kick)
MP: Cam Thornton 76 pass from Lucas Lenhoff (Byerley kick)
MP: FG Byerley 26
Quick Links
Friday’s high school scores, how the Sweet 16 fared, next week’s schedule
Hough win has Lake Norman seeing red
WATCH: Myers Park-Butler replay
NCHSAA responds to NC lawmakers concerns over private status governing public schools
NCHSAA announces new conferences for area teams, new playoff qualification system
Friday’s #BIG5 Top Performers
Steven Bauer, Ardrey Kell: seven solo tackles, three assists and one tackle for a loss in 42-7 win over West Mecklenburg.
Blane Fulbright, East Burke: Ran 35 times for 291 yards and a score in Friday’s 37-6 win over Patton.
Christian Hamilton, Hickory Ridge: In a 41-20 win over Rocky River, the sophomore receiver caught five passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Junior tailback Randall Fisher (15 carries, 158 yards, 2 TDs) and QB Alex Bently (7-for-9, 159 yards, 3 TDs) also had big nights.
Colby Lane, Pine Lake Prep: Ran 12 times for 170 yards and four touchdowns in Friday’s 64-12 win over Christ The King. He averaged 14.2 yards per carry and had two 2-point conversion runs.
Elijah McWilliams, Hough: Ran 20 times for 146 yards and a touchdown in a 24-9 win over Lake Norman.
Around The Area
▪ In a 39-27 loss to Monroe, Cuthbertson linebacker Kurt Petroff had 11 tackles, including three for a loss. QB Evan Bernard threw for 234 yards and tailback Myles Teasley had 112 yards rushing and 67 receiving.
▪ Providence’s defense allowed South Meck 38 yards rushing in Friday’s 27-6 win. In three games, the Panthers have allowed less than a total of 100 yards rushing and has allowed two scores. Panthers tailback Jamar Price had 25 carries for 112 yards and three touchdowns.
▪ Kings Mountain’s defense had three interceptions and a fumble recovery in Friday’s 35-0 win over Hunter Huss.
I-MECK 4A
No. 1 Vance 42, Mooresville 14 ... The Cougars (3-0, 3-0) led only 14-0 at the half but pulled away from the Blue Devils (0-2, 0-2). Chance Morrow caught three touchdown passes, and Daylan Smothers ran for a score.
SO MECK 7 4A
No. 15 Olympic 46, Berry Academy 24 ... Olympic led only 25-17 early but opened it up in the second half, improving to 3-0, 3-0. The Cardinals fell to 1-2, 0-2.
Providence 27, South Mecklenburg 6 ... Jamar Price ran for three touchdowns, and the Panthers (3-0, 3-0) remained tied with Olympic for the conference lead. The Sabres are 0-3, 0-3.
SOUTHWESTERN 4A
Porter Ridge 21, Independence 6 ... The Pirates (2-1, 2-1) won with youth, as sophomore Stephan Zayachkowsky ran 30 yards for a score, and junior Myles Carroll threw to sophomore Kyler Harris for another touchdown. The Patriots fell to 1-2, 1-2.
NORTHWESTERN 3A-4A
Alexander Central 53, Freedom 12 ... The Cougars (1-1, 1-1) got two touchdown runs each from Lance Justice and Ryheem Craig. Alexander Central totaled 452 yards rushing. The loss knocked Freedom (2-1, 2-1) out of the conference lead.
BIG SOUTH 3A
No. 7 Crest 48, Ashbrook 6 ... The Chargers (3-0, 3-0) bolted to a 35-0 halftime lead. Carter Green returned a fumble 84 yards for Crest’s first score. Ashbrook dropped to 0-2, 0-1.
No. 6 Kings Mountain 35, Hunter Huss 0 ... Jaylen Mims and Rashaard Brooks accounted for 160 yards of first-half offense, as the Mountaineers (2-0, 2-0) blanked the Huskies (1-1, 1-1).
NORTH PIEDMONT 3A
Statesville 27, South Iredell 10 ... The Greyhounds (2-1, 1-0) rallied from a 10-0 halftime deficit, as Samaritan Stevenson rushed for 127 yards, passed for 105, and scored twice. Jaylin Neal had more than 100 rushing yards for the Vikings (1-2, 0-1).
SOUTHERN CAROLINA 3A
Monroe 39, Cuthbertson 27 ... The Redhawks (2-1, 2-1) knocked the Cavaliers (2-1, 2-1) out of first place. Evan Bernard ran for a touchdown late in the third quarter, allowing Cuthbertson to cut Monroe’s lead to 33-27. But Monroe’s Ricardo Brown returned an interception 90 yards in the fourth quarter for the final score. Brown had five touchdowns.
Marvin Ridge 24, Parkwood 8 ... Ethan Robataille, Bryce Yoggi and Alex Meeks each scored for the Mavericks (2-1, 2-1). Robataille also picked off a Parkwood (1-2, 1-2) pass in the end zone.
No. 5 Charlotte Catholic 51, Sun Valley 7 ... The Cougars (2-1, 2-1) rebounded from last week’s loss to Weddington, as Paul Neel ran for three touchdowns. Sun Valley fell to 0-3, 0-3.
ROCKY RIVER 2A-3A
Mount Pleasant 49, Central Academy 0 ... The Tigers (3-0, 1-0) held Central Academy (0-2, 0-1) to three first downs.
West Stanly 21, Forest Hills 0 ... Jordan Manshack, Logan Little and Gavin Hudson scored for the Colts, who played for the first time this season. The Yellow Jackets are 1-2, 0-1.
CENTRAL CAROLINA 2A
Salisbury 51, Lexington 0 ... Stung by last week’s loss to Oak Grove, the Hornets (2-1, 1-1) piled up a 51-0 halftime lead over Lexington.
SOUTH FORK 2A
East Lincoln 40, North Lincoln 30 ... The Mustangs (3-0, 2-0) trailed 15-12 in the second quarter but scored 28 of the game’s next 36 points. North Lincoln is 2-1, 1-1.
SOUTHWESTERN 2A
Shelby 47, Chase 41 ... In one of the night’s wildest games, the Golden Lions (3-0, 3-0) had to rally against upstart Chase (1-2, 0-2). Shelby got its winning touchdown with 5:30 left. Chase led 34-21 in the third quarter.
SOUTHERN PIEDMONT 1A
Pine Lake Prep 64, Christ the King 12 ... The Pride (3-0, 3-0) raced to a 56-0 lead against the Crusaders (1-2, 1-2).
Thomas Jefferson Academy 25, Mountain Island Charter 21 ... The Gryphons (3-0, 2-0) scored their winning touchdown on a Bryce Jergenson run with 19 seconds left. The Raptor fell to 1-2, 1-1.
This story was originally published March 12, 2021 at 9:30 PM.
