A dynasty in the making?

Center Township used two big plays and one long drive to post a 21-6 victory over South Butler in the Butler Area Midget Football League championship game Saturday night at Memorial Park.

The victory capped a third successive undefeated season and BAMFLtitle for the Rams, who are riding a 21-game winning streak.

The league had not seen a three-peat since Penn Street turned the trick nearly a decade ago.

"We started eight seventh-graders tonight,"Center Township coach George "Red"Slater said. "We may do it again next year."

They did a good part of it this year without Slater, who missed half the season while recovering from surgery. Assistant coaches Dick Albert, George Rader and John Lokhaiser ran the team in his absence.

"Those guys did a great job keeping things going,"Slater said.

South Butler (6-2) lost a fumble on the first offensive play of the game. Kolby Kriess rambled 44 yards for a touchdown on Center Township's first snap. Zack Rader completed the one-point conversion pass to Trevor Wideman.

The Wildcats answered with two critical fourth-down completions. On fourth-and-six from the CT35, Canan Roskovski found Cody West for a 21-yard completion.

On fourth-and-15 from the 19, Roskovski connected with Chris Cotton for a 19-yard score with 4:58 left in the half. The conversion kick failed.

"This is the third time we've played them and we've moved the ball against them each time,"South Butler coach Andy Cygan said. "We just couldn't finish off enough drives."

Roskovski threw for 113 yards. Rader intercepted him twice, however, once in the end zone to end a South Butler scoring chance.

Two plays after Cotton's touchdown cut the gap to 7-6, Wideman got loose on an end-around for a 69-yard touchdown run and Center Township had a 13-6 lead.

The Wildcats tried answering again, driving inside the CT25, but Roskovski was sacked by Mike Hepler to end the threat.

"There was a lot more passing in this game than a typical Midget League game,"Slater said. "It was fun to watch and it shows some of the talent that's out here."

Center Township ate up most of the third quarter with a nine-play, 70-yard drive. Zack Collins ended it with an 8-yard TDrun with 2:44 left in the period. Collins added the two-point conversion kick to end the scoring.

"I'm proud of my South Butler team. I love these kids,"Cygan said.

The BAMFLAll-Star Game will take place at 7 p.m. this Saturday at Memorial Park.

Center Township 21, South Butler 6

South Butler 0 6 0 0—6Center Township 7 6 8 0—21SB CT8 First Downs 1121-42 Rushes-Yards 30-220113 Passing Yards 426-20-2 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 3-7-0155 Total Yards 2622-1 Fumbles/Lost 0-02-10 Penalties-Yards 3-22

First QuarterCT— Kolby Kriess 44 run (Trevor Wideman pass from Zack Rader), 7:36

Second QuarterSB — Chris Cotton 19 pass from Canan Roskovski (kick failed), 4:58CT— Wideman 69 run (kick failed), 3:53

Third QuarterCT— Zack Collins 8 run (Collins kick), 2:44

Individual Statistics

Passing: South Butler, Canan Roskovski 6-19-113-2, Cody West 0-1-0-0. Center Township, Zack Rader 3-7-42-0.

Rushing: South Butler, Cody West 11-37, Chris Cotton 3-2, Canan Roskovski 6-0, Mick Fennell 1-3. Center Township, Kolby Kriess 3-42, Hunter Hoffman 12-66, Zack Collins 3-16, Zack Rader 8-16, Trevor Wideman 3-81.

Receiving: South Butler, Cody West 3-49, Chris Cotton 2-56, Mick Fennell 1-8. Center Township, Trevor Wideman 3-42.