Dallas Hays capped the game’s first possession with a 52-yard touchdown run and East Butler cruised to a 46-24 victory over Center Township in the Butler Area Midget Football League season opener Saturday at Memorial Park.

Nathan Kibbie caught the conversion pass for an 8-0 lead.

That margin moved to 24-0 in the first quarter as Hays scored on a 55-yard run and Cole Bergbigler returned an interception 40 yards for a score. Rhett Wahler and Brandon Hilderbrand added conversions.

Center Township got on the board when Michael DiMartino scored on a 1-yard run and added a conversion run. East Butler answered with a Hays’ 54-yard TD run, Hilderbrand’s conversion hiking the lead to 32-8.

DiMartino threw a 7-yard TD pass to Adam Hohn with Caleb Baxter adding the conversion for Center Township. Jake Trinkley added a Bulldog touchdown on a 5-yard reception. Kibbie completed East Butler’s scoring with a 64-yard run.

DiMartino completed the game’s scoring with a 5-yard run, Baxter adding the conversion.

Meridian 16, Butler City 12 — Brandon Selfridge scored on a 6-yard run to give Butler City an early lead. Meridian answered when Kelly Kuharic returned the kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown. Cameron Kovach added the conversion run for an 8-6 lead.Kovach scored on a 9-yard run and Kuharic tacked on the conversion for a 16-6 advantage. Noah Ryder got Butler City close with a 68-yard touchdown run.From staff reports