With a large Homecoming crowd and a pair of seniors setting records on Friday, the stage was set for the Todd County Central Rebels to pick up their first district win of the season. However, after a 2nd-half comeback to tie Butler County, the Rebels couldn’t get it done in overtime in a 27-21 defeat.
The teams traded touchdowns to start the game, with Butler County scoring on a short run by Kyle Chambers and the Rebels answering with a 21-yard screen pass from Gavyn Nolan to Nate Reding.
On Todd Central’s next possession, seniors Nolan and Reding hooked up again for a 20-yard gain to set season yardage records for both players. Nolan entered the contest with 1,001 yards passing and needed only 36 yards to overtake his brother Bryce’s total from 2019.
Almost exactly half of those yards through the air have come on connections with Reding, etching his name in the Todd Central record book as well.
Butler County regained the lead on a 19-yard TD run by Colton Dunnells with 8:40 left in the half, and after the Bears blocked a Todd Central punt, they tacked on another touchdown on Brody Hunt’s 16-yard run.
After halftime, Todd Central started the comeback with a heavy dose of running back Jamarion Smith. A 31-yard run got the Rebels inside the 5-yard line, and Smith finished the drive with a plunge into the endzone.
The Rebels opened the 4th quarter in scoring position, and Reding scored on 3rd and goal from the two for a 21-19 score. Trying for the 2-point conversion to tie the game, Nolan lofted a pass to the back corner of the endzone and Reding jumped highest to come down with the catch.
Butler County had the last shot at ending the game in regulation, but with just over two minutes left, the Rebel defense twice turned away the Bears on the 1-yard line to take over on downs.
The Rebels won the toss and got the first crack at a touchdown in overtime, but after picking up five yards on 1st down, three straight passes fell incomplete to give the ball to Butler County.
Dunnells wasted no time for the Bears, picking up nine yards with a run on 1st down and punching in the winning score on the next snap.
Butler County improved to 6-2 and evened its District 2 record at 2-2.
Todd Central slipped to 0-3 in district play and 4-4 overall, with Hancock County coming to Elkton next week.
