Sat Oct 16, 2010 12:00 AM
Football: Butler laterals way to 42-41 PRP upset
By Bob White Special To The Courier-Journal
Email to a friendShare on Facebook
Butler used a slew of lateral tosses and a two-point conversion to pull off a miracle comeback in the final seconds Friday night, stunning Pleasure Ridge Park 42-41.
Trailing the host Panthers 41-34 with 1.8 seconds remaining, Butler's trick moves were reminiscent of the ending to the unforgettable California-Stanford battle in 1982.
Instead, the band didn't clutter the field like in that college classic.
"It was California-Stanford and Kentucky-LSU all over," a thrilled Butler coach Scott Carmony said. "It was just unbelievable. Lucky? We'll take all the luck we can get any day of the week."
PRP quarterback Spencer Sumpter had put his team ahead 41-34 on a one-yard sneak with 1.8 seconds left, capping a 12-play, 66-yard drive in the annual Class 6-A, District Three showdown.
On the ensuing kickoff, Butler's Brenton Caldwell -- who eventually scored on the return -- said he thinks teammate Shawn Johnson first fielded the ball around the 20. Johnson lateraled the ball, and his teammates played hot potato, following with several more laterals.
"We kept lateraling the ball, maybe five or six times," Caldwell said. "Several times, I thought our guys went down, but we kept on playing. We didn't hear a whistle."
Finally, Caldwell got the ball at the 50-yard line and broke into the open, crossing the goal with no time left.
After the officials huddled for a few minutes, the referee raised his arms and signaled touchdown.
Now down 41-40, Butler went for the two-point conversion. Quarterback J.D. Morgan rolled right, looking as if he was going to pass.
Morgan then decided to run and went into the end zone standing up for the two points and the win.
"I was (going to pass), but the cornerback was sitting right there so I ran in," Morgan said. "I can't believe it. Give credit to my offensive line and to God."
Click to expand...