Continuous News

Butte High Overcomes 16 Point Deficit, Knocks off CMR in OT En Route To Title Game

Posted: Nov 10, 2012 8:52 PM by Bobby Oler
Updated: Nov 11, 2012 1:48 AM

As Butte High left the field for halftime trailing 28-14, the crowd at Naranche Stadium was nervous. Their offensive juggernaut committed a turnover that led to a CMR touchdown, and their defense had yet to keep CMR out of the endzone on any possession.

The second half produced more familiar results.

The Bulldog defense held CMR off the board for the entire 24 minutes, and they were the ones who came up with the timely turnovers. The offense found the 16 points it needed to close the gap after allowing a safety in the third quarter which produced their largest deficit of 30-14.

With a minute to go in regulation, Butte quarterback Dallas Cook sprinted into the end zone. CMR 30, Butte 28. Butte lined up for the two-point conversion. Cook again ran it in himself and the game was tied at 30.

The Bulldog defense held the Rustlers off for the final few seconds until overtime.

On the very first play, Cook took the ball 10 yards for his fourth rushing touchdown of the afternoon. Butte kicked the extra point and was up 37-30.

CMR needed to answer the touchdown, and did. CMR quarterback Josh Horner flipped it to Hunter Thomsen, and all CMR needed to do was kick an extra point to force a second overtime.

But they decided to go for the win.

The Rustlers had success all afternoon by letting Horner carry the ball and gaining chunks of yards at a time. This time he just needed two, and the Rustlers would win.

But he only got one.

Butte High's defense, a bend-but-don't-break crew from Week 1, did its job.

Naranche Stadium emptied, but the crowd wasn't headed for the exits. They stormed the field, celebrating with their state finalist Butte High Bulldogs, who will host Bozeman in search of their first state championship since 1991.