BUTLER TWP — Willy Bortmas knows how to end a football game.

Playing safety for Center Township last year, his fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown lifted the Rams over Penn Street in the Butler Area Midget Football League championship game.

Center Township looked for its fifth straight league title Saturday night at Art Bernardi Stadium. Bortmas struck again — this time as a defensive end — forcing East Side's Byron Minous to fumble on third-and-5 from the CT 11-yard line with 34 seconds remaining.

CT's Kyle Campbell recovered the loose ball and the Rams preserved a 19-14 victory.

"Willy's just a tremendous defensive player," CT coach Bob Vernick said. "He gets to the football and makes things happen.

"Our kids played together and for each other tonight. We knew it'd be the only way we could win this game."

Both teams were 5-1 in the regular season. Center Township defeated East Side 24-18 in the first meeting, the Mustangs claiming a 46-12 triumph in the rematch.

East Side averaged 38 points per game during the regular season, but lost four fumbles Saturday. Campbell had two of the recoveries.

"We had six turnovers when we played Center Township the first time," East Side coach Andy Fair said. "Coming into this game, we knew we couldn't afford to put the ball on the ground."

East Side lost fumbles on its first two offensive plays. Center Township responded with a pair of touchdown drives, Ryan Hannon scoring on runs of 4 and 21 yards.

Hannon had 20 carries for 92 yards and three touchdowns on the night. He scored on a 1-yard run with 30 seconds left in the first half, Jamison Smith's PAT toss to Campbell giving the Rams a 19-7 lead.

Matt Christy contributed 15 carries for 113 yards for the Rams, who became the first team to win five consecutive BAMFL titles.

"Those two have been a solid one-two punch," Vernick said of Hannon and Christy. "They run hard and can break tackles."

The late George "Red" Slater coached CT to the first four championships in the Rams' current run. He died during the off-season.

"Red Slater was a mentor to me. He gave me the chance to coach," Vernick said. "He's smiling down on us now. I know he's happy tonight."

East Side was bidding for its first league title since 2001. Tyler Widenhofer's 10-yard run capped a 55-yard drive midway through the second quarter. Widenhofer added a conversion run.

With 6:44 left in the game, Darrien Pickett blocked a punt at the CT 37-yard line. Barry Murray scored on a 21-yard run with 5:19 to play, his conversion run cutting the gap to 19-14.

The Mustangs regained possession at the CT 43 with 2:37 remaining. Murray ran for 15 yards and Widenhofer for 10 more. But on third down from the 11, the rally was cut short.

Minous ran toward the left sideline, was bottled up, tried reversing his field and lost the football.

"Byron was just trying to make a play," Fair said. "He scored a boatload of touchdowns for us this year. He had a great season for us and he'll go on to have a great high school career."

Minous hooked up with Widenhofer on a 54-yard pass play that moved the ball to the CT 8-yard line late in the third quarter. Bortmas tackled Widenhofer short of the goal line on fourth down to thwart that opportunity.

Murray had 12 carries for 83 yards in the game, Widenhofer 14 for 77 for East Side.

Center Township won the BAMFL junior varsity title as well, defeating Penn Street, 8-6. Caleb Baxter's 28-yard run set up Connor Frost's 6-yard TD run with 5:31 left in the third quarter. Dane Milich added the two-point conversion kick.

Brandon Hilderbrand scored on a 51-yard run for Penn Street with 5:33 left in the game, but the conversion kick failed.

Center Township 19, East Side 14

East Side 0 7 0 7 — 14Center Township 12 7 0 0 — 19ES CT13 First Downs 1438-192 Rushes-Yards 38-23259 Passing Yards -72-4-0 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 1-3-0251 Total Yards 2254-4 Fumbles-Lost 5-14-39 Penalties-Yards 7-38

First QuarterCT — Ryan Hannon 4 run (kick blocked), 4:28CT — Hannon 21 run (kick blocked), 3:19

Second QuarterES — Tyler Widenhofer 10 run (Widenhofer run), 4:23CT — Hannon 1 run (Kyle Campbell pass from Jamison Smith), :30

Fourth QuarterES — Barry Murray 21 run (Murray run), 5:19

Individual StatisticsPassing: East Side, Jordan Stevick 1-3-5-0, Byron Minous 1-1-54-0. Center Township, Jamison Smith 1-3-(-7)-0.

Rushing: East Side, Barry Murray 12-83, Team 1-(-3), Byron Minous 8-17, Tyler Widenhofer 14-77, Damien Pickett 3-18. Center Township, Matt Christy 15-113, Ryan Hannon 20-92, Kyle Campbell 3-27.

Receiving: East Side, Damien Pickett 1-5, Tyler Widenhofer 1-54. Center Township, Matt Christy 1-(-7).