Butler Defense Sparks Win vs. Rival Kinnelon

BUTLER–All season long, the Butler football team has needed just one big play, a fantastic run or breakaway return to get the team rolling. On Friday, the defense put the Bulldogs on the winning track.

Junior lineman Billy White gathered up a fumble and ran for a 52-yard touchdown to spark Butler to a 32-17 triumph over NJAC-Independence division and neighboring rival Kinnelon. Senior back Mike Tenned rushed 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Brandon Hurtt rushed for another score to lift the Bulldogs to 6-1 on the season.

For a photo gallery from Friday night's game, head here.

Kinnelon fell to 5-3 despite scores from Chris Villante and quarterback Sean Robbins.

After last week’s 35-7 drubbing by Mountain Lakes, the Bulldogs struggled to get back in synch. Butler earned a 14-7 halftime edge but seemed to be lacking the fire and intensity it had in previous games.

“We weren’t moving the ball. Everybody was slipping,’’ Butler head coach Jim Matsakis said. “When Billy made the play it kind of ignited us and everything just kind of fell in. That’s really been our thing all year. We got quiet and then we explode for 21 (points).

“Last week we were hoping that would happen and it didn’t–we self-destructed.’’

White, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound lineman, helped changed that when he was able to pick up a Kinnelon fumble around midfield and ran it back for a score to give Butler a two-touchdown lead.

“My friend Brandon Hurtt hit the quarterback and I picked up the ball and ran,’’ White said. “It feels pretty good. I hope it helps us get into the playoffs. We picked it up in the second half and just did what we needed to do.’’

It was the second time this year that White would return a fumble for a score. Alberto Bresett kicked the extra point to make it a 21-7 game with 5:49 left in the third quarter.

“It was huge,’’ Tenned said. “Nothing was really going for both teams on offense or defense. That got momentum up. It got our line fired up. It was good.’’

The play was the game changer. Butler started playing with more confidence and forced Kinnelon out of its ball control strategies.

“All of a sudden we were down two scores instead of one,’’ Kinnelon coach Kevin White said. “That changes the whole complexion of the game. Now you are trying to play catch instead of trying to work the clock, work your running game, and be patient.’’

Defensively the White brothers–senior brother Greg White is 6-foot-4–caused problems for the Kinnelon offense all day. The 6-foot-5 athlete has long arms and batted down three Robbins passes.

“He’s a rangy kid and he gets his hands up,’’ Matsakis said. “His thing is he plays every play. He’s a dominant defensive lineman. He’s hard to block because of his range. He’s had three good weeks defensively. This is his second touchdown of over 50 yards. He’s shown that he can get up and go.’’

Several more times Robbins was forced to pull the ball down and run with it when he would’ve much rather thrown the ball to Sean Walsh or one of his other teammates.

“A lot of it was their defensive line,’’ White said. “They really controlled the game. Those guys were tremendous tonight and they gave us all that we could handle.’’

Another Bulldog that gave Butler a big second-half lift was running back Hurtt. He rushed for nearly 70 yards–his best offensive game of the season–including a 27-yard touchdown that would extend the Butler lead to 29-10 early in the fourth quarter.

“I’m proud of him,’’ Tenned said. “We always joke back and forth because we are the running backs. We have completely different styles of running. Brandon lowers his head, lowers the boom and drives five yards, five yards, five yards. He really showed off the speed today.’’

Hurtt’s running style is a perfect complement to Tenned slashing open field jaunts.

“Teams are trying to take away Mikey,’’ Matsakis said. “It opens it up for (Hurtt) and he runs hard. He’s played a lot all year. He’s a change-up back, more of a north-south power runner. Mikey is more east and west.’’

The teams matched scores in the first quarter. The Colts scored on their opening drive with a 26-yard TD run by Chris Villante. The Bulldogs matched it with a good return and an eight-play, 48-yard scoring drive which ended on Tenned’s two-yard TD plunge.

The teams' offenses were pretty much stalemated until Tenned ripped off two electrifying runs in the second quarter. A 49-yard jaunt took the ball to the Kinnelon 21. The very next play the Butler back took the ball into the end zone to make it a 14-7 game with 4:40 left in the half.

“We made a couple of adjustments on the sideline after the quarter,’’ Tenned said. “We figured a couple of things out and just broke a couple runs. They came in the game with a different defense than we expected so it took us about a quarter to get things rolling.’’

Kinnelon appeared to return the ensuing kickoff for a tying touchdown but the play was called back because of an illegal block on the run back. Later on, Butler’s Travis Canty picked off a Robbins pass at midfield but the Bulldogs drive would eventually be lost on downs. The half ended with Butler ahead and no hint at the drama to come.

Neither team can dwell on this contest since they have big games coming up. Kinnelon faces rival Mountain Lakes in what is always a fierce grudge match between neighbors. Despite its record, Butler needs a victory against Hopatcong desperately on Thursday in order to get into the state playoffs.

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Total

Kinnelon (5-3)

7

0

3

7

17

Butler (6-1)

7

7

7

11

32