'Mighty 15' come up short
JEFFERSON TWP — The “Mighty 15” had a mighty start.
But the Butler Mites' (ages 7-8) bid for the perfect ending to a dream season was short-circuited Saturday by a 21-6 loss to Pine-Richland in the United Youth Football League's Super Bowl Saturday morning at Knoch Stadium.
The loss ended Butler's season at 7-2. Both losses were to Pine-Richland, which had a 33-player roster compared to Butler's 15.
The Butler Mites had the league's smallest roster, by far.
“Butler had an unbelievable season,” Pine-Richland coach Rich Bowler said. “There are advantages and disadvantages to having a roster that small. Everybody plays all the time and you can develop a rhythm.
“But when the nervous energy and adrenalin wear off, ... We have depth at every position. I think that kinda wore them down.”
Undefeated Pine-Richland won the Mites' portion of the Super Bowl for the third straight year. Butler's Mites made the title game for the program's first time at that level.
Butler took a 6-0 lead on the game's first play from scrimmage. Quarterback Phoenix Walton rolled left, found a seam and raced down the sideline for an electrifying 64-yard touchdown run.
On the ensuing kickoff, Butler's Wyatt Ruby recovered a fumble to give his team possession at the Pine-Richland 44.
“We got off to a great start. We just couldn't sustain it,” Butler assistant coach Terry Walton said.
Butler drove inside the 25 and had an apparent first-down run from there. But Pine-Richland's Jackson Pickles jarred the ball loose, recovered it before it hit the ground and rambled 71 yards to the Butler 9-yard line.
Nolan Hays scored on a 3-yard run on fourth down and the game was even at six.
“Definitely a momentum changer,” Walton said of the fumble return.
The score was 6-6 at halftime before Pine-Richland put together two long scoring drives in the second half. Marco LeDonne scored on a 14-yard run to culminate a 10-play, 55-yard march and Hays scored on a 20-yard run to finish a 9-play, 51-yard drive with 27 seconds left.
“We were in this game until right near the end,” Butler coach Ron Ruby said. “These boys played their hearts out all season. We are so proud of them.
“We call them the Mighty 15 for a reason. They are a bunch of gritty ballplayers.”
Josh Luchkiw recovered a fumble in the game for Butler. Phoenix Walton had 14 carries for 71 yards, Wyatt Ruby six carries for 33.
Nolan Hays had 18 carries for 77 yards, Marco LeDonne 13 for 61.
“They beat us 33-27 in the regular season,” Walton said of Pine-Richland. “This was a much more defensive game. Our boys stood in there and went toe to toe with them all day.
“They didn't finish on top. But their effort all year was top of the line. This was an incredible season. My hat's off to those kids.”
Other members of the “Mighty 15” are Dewayne Brown, Logan Schandelmeier, Reed Cousins, Maddix Iman, Cayden Ball, Logan Smith, Caleb Gregory, Judd Prescott, Gary Petrigni, Cody Eggleton, Zander Caldwell and CJ Williams.
