Going outside wasn't working, so Center Township decided to stay inside.

Good choice.

The Rams ran inside for 143 yards in the second half and secured a 12-0 victory over East Butler in the Butler Area Midget Football League championship game Saturday night at Memorial Park.

The victory wrapped up the second consecutive undefeated season for the two-time BAMFLchampions. They had managed but 29 yards and a single first down during a scoreless first half.

"We were trying to run outside and they were shutting us down,"Center Township coach George "Red" Slater said. "In the second half, we decided to try our luck inside."

With the game still scoreless late in the third quarter, Center Township embarked upon a nine-play, 84-yard drive for the game's first points. Fullback John Barkus broke loose for runs of 11 and 34 yards to highlight the march.

Barkus wound up with 96 yards rushing on eight carries.

"That kid really ran hard tonight,"Slater said.

On first down from the 15-yard line, Cole Baxter took a handoff up the middle and bounced outside, beating the pursuit to the right corner of the end zone with 5:39 left in the game.

Baxter had 61 yards on 14 carries.

"They began hurting us with their counters,"East Butler coach Bob Coyle said. "Their line just wore us down."

Right after Center Township missed the PAT, the field lights went out at Memorial Park and play was delayed 15 minutes. Once the lights were repaired and play resumed, the lights were turned out on East Butler.

David Hohn's kickoff hit one of the up-backs on the receiving team, the ball bouncing back toward Center Township so the Rams could fall on it.

By the time East Butler (5-2) was able to stop the Rams' running attack, only 1:15 remained. The Bulldogs took possession on downs at their own 12-yard line.

A reverse to Alex Yonkers picked up 18 yards, but quarterback Cody Herald left the field with an injury on the next play. After a halfback option pass failed, back-up quarterback Colin Williamson was intercepted by Baxter, who returned the ball 37 yards for a TD with 47 seconds left.

Matt Bartley led East Butler with 19 carries for 79 yards and nearly scored three times. He rambled 24 yards with a pitch in the second quarter and was denied a clear path to the end zoe by Darius Hightower's diving tackle at the East Butler 44.

Bartley appeared to run 49 yards for a touchdown on a fake punt moments later, but was ruled to have stepped out of bounds at the Rams' 34.

On fourth-and-4 from the Rams' 14, Bartley was stopped for a 3-yard loss by Hohn with 2:55 left in the third quarter.

"Bartley is the show for them. We knew that coming in,"Slater said. "He's a very dangerous player."

"We had opportunities. We just couldn't finish any drives off,"Coyle said. "This was a good game, well-played by both teams."

East Butler's only other loss this year was a 7-0 decision to Center Township in its opener.

Center Township 12, East Butler 0

East Butler 0 0 0 0—0Center Township 0 0 0 12—12EB CT7 First Downs 827-88 Rushes-Yards 26-1676 Passing Yards 72-6-1 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 2-3-094 Total Yards 1742-1 Fumbles/Lost 1-02-10 Penalties-Yards 7-40

Fourth QuarterCT — Cole Baxter 15 run (kick failed), 5:39CT — Baxter 37 interception return (kick failed), :47

Individual Statistics

Passing: East Butler, Cody Herald 2-3-6-0, Colin Williamson 0-1-0-1, Matt Bartley 0-1-0-0. Center Township, Jordon Lumley 0-1-0-0, Cole Baxter 2-2-7-0.

Rushing: East Butler, Matt Bartley 19-79, Cody Eyth 2-7, Alex Yonkers 2-10, Austin Kepple 1-2, Cody Herald 2-(-2), Team 1-(-8). Center Township, Cole Baxter 14-61, John Barkus 8-96, Jordon Lumley 4-10.

Receiving: East Butler, Matt Bartley 1-1, Tanner Wahler 1-5. Center Township, John Barkus 2-7.