The Todd County Central Rebels had been so close for most of the 2021 football season since their season-opening win over Trigg County. The Rebels had been right in the thick of things in losses to Russellville, McLean County, Hopkins Central, and Monroe County. Friday night, the Rebels finally got one of those close games to go their way.
The Rebels took advantage of four Butler County turnovers and kept themselves in the race for a playoff berth with an 18-12 win over the Bears in Morgantown. Todd Central came up with three fumble recoveries and then a game-sealing interception in the waning moments of the contest.
The first quarter played out quickly as both teams went on “clock eating” drives their first possessions. Neither team, however, was able to turn those drives into points. The Rebels did get the game’s first break when Butler County’s first drive ended with a fumble on their own 47-yard line.
After the fumble, over the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second, Todd Central went on a ten-play drive that was capped off with a one-yard scoring run from Omarion Riddick to give the Rebels a 6-0 lead with 9:56 to go in the opening half.
Butler County would even things up on their final possession of the half. The Bears drove the ball 75 yards, aided by a big pass interference call on the Rebels, and score with just five seconds to go in the half. The touchdown came on a 30-yard pass from Jagger Henderson to Keagan Grubb. The Bears failed on the conversion and the teams went to the break knotted up at 6-6.
Midway through the third quarter, the Rebels came up with another turnover. This time they recovered a Bear fumble at the Butler County 27. Once again, the Rebels made the Bears pay for their mistake. It took the Rebels only four plays to find the end zone as Chase Wells scored from four yards out to put Todd Central back in front 12-6 with 3:01 to go in the third.
After forcing Butler County to punt on their next possession, the Rebels struck paydirt again. Todd Central capped off a nine-play, 60-yard drive when Preston Moore ran up the middle from five yards out to push the lead to 18-12 with 8:57 to go in the game.
The Bears were not quite ready to hibernate just yet, however. Late in the fourth, Butler County went on a 14 play, 82-yard drive to cut the deficit to 18-12. The Bears found the end zone on a one-yard run by bruising running back Colton Dunnells with 1:32 left in the game.
The Rebels recovered the ensuing on-side kick attempt and tried to run out the clock. The Bears were able to get the ball back with 32.3 seconds to go in the game. Mikey Everett came up with an interception with just 2.2 seconds left the game to seal the Rebel win.
Omarion Riddick had a big night for the Rebels, finishing the game with 156 yards rushing and one touchdown.
The win improves the Rebels to 1-2 in district play, while Butler County finishes district play at 1-3.
