Jim Mashek

KAYDEN YORK SHINES BEHIND SPARTANS’ HULKING OFFENSIVE LINE

HENDERSON, Kentucky — Nothing came easily for South Warren High School’s football team in Friday night’s non-district game at Henderson County.

There were four lead changes in the first half alone, and the Spartans were struggling in the kicking game. South Warren quarterback Bryce Button had a couple critical fumbles. The Colonels had enough speed on the flanks and enough strength up front to give themselves a chance to win.

Those chances went up in smoke in the third quarter.

Sure, there were some questionable penalties that went against the Spartans, late flags for unsportsmanlike conduct and the like, but they understood the task at hand.

Finish the game, win, get on the bus and get outta town.

Henderson County pulled to within three points of the visitors, 36-33, midway through the fourth quarter, but Button took the Spartans 80 yards in just five plays for the final score, Button’s dramatic 41-yard touchdown run on a simple quarterback draw with 3:05 left in the game.

South Warren 43, Henderson County 33.

South Warren improved to 2-0 on the season, heading into next Friday night’s home debut against Southwestern. Henderson County fell to 1-1, heading into a home game against Central Hardin.

“We did it to ourselves in the first half,” South Warren coach Brandon Smith said. “I could sense the vibe, in warmups … I knew it was coming. We weren’t very sharp.

“It wasn’t very pretty, but we didn’t lose our composure. We pulled together, and found a way to get the win.”

South’s Bryce Button, the senior Eastern Michigan University commit, was a latter-day “Cool Hand Luke” when it counted. Button guided a 99-yard touchdown drive in the formative moments of the second half, hitting South teammate Jake Carter for a 34-yard completion to get past midfield.

After receptions by underclassmen Isaiah Bridges and Drayson Moore got the Spartans to the red zone, Button rolled to his right and found Justin Capps, a sophomore, for the TD pass that put South Warren in front, 24-23, with 5:49 left in the third quarter. Button then again rolled right and hit senior tight end Colton Veltkamp for a critical 2-point conversion, extending the Spartans’ lead to a field goal.

The Spartans needed just five plays to drive 60 yards for their next touchdown, junior running back Kayden York’s 26-yard dash through the teeth of the Colonels’ defense. York, a 150-pound scatback, can be difficult to find behind his hulking offensive line, which dictated the tone for most of the second half.

“It was definitely a battle,” York said when it was over. “Coach Smith told us at the half, ‘Do your job, trust each other, find a way.'”

That’s what Button and Co. did, behind the aforementioned South offensive line.

From left, tackle Malik Butler, guard Kyler Lyons, center Ethan Patterson, guard Curtis McGhee and tackle Cameron Bell. Bell, who also sees significant playing time on defense, is a senior, along with Patterson and McGhee. Butler and Lyons are juniors.

“Our skill position guys are still young, still learning, but they’re coming along,” South coach Brandon Smith said.

Button fired a 47-yard completion to senior tight end Colton Veltkamp in the final moments of the third quarter, but the Spartans would have to settle for Alen Alic’s 28-yard field goal to push their lead back to 10 points. This was critical, perhaps mentally, because South Warren had some trouble with the kicking game in the early going.

“The first half definitely wasn’t pretty,” Button said. “Everybody pulled together, everybody did their job. We found a way.”

Veltkamp had a monster game on defense, pressuring Henderson County quarterback Trajdon Davis time and again from the edge. He knocked down a couple passes, and uses his range to make tackles from sideline to sideline. South’s Bryce Button also fired a 10-yard TD pass to Veltkamp with 9:08 left in the first half, giving the Spartans a 12-0 lead.

(The extra-point try was wide left).

“We had some defensive lapses,” Veltkamp said, “but when we had a chance to make a play, when we NEEDED to make a play, we usually did.

“We’re still working on some things, we know we’ve got to get better.”

Senior placekicker Carson Weiss gave the Colonels a boost, kicking field goals of 45 and 31 yards. The 45-yard kick was in the final seconds of the first half, boosting Henderson’s lead to 23-18. Senior running back Anthony Burruss also made some big plays for the Colonels, including a 29-yard touchdown run to put his team in front, 20-18, with 1:27 left in the half.

Ultimately, the Spartans needed Bryce Button to put the game away, and that’s what he did, the earlier fumbles notwithstanding.

“The bottom line is he’s our guy,” South coach Brandon Smith said. “When the game’s on the line, that’s who you want, handling the ball. Bryce took care of us tonight.”