Thanks to Jason Chambers, the Butler did it! Bulldogs beat Catholic, win Southwestern 4A

Butler High School’s football team may want to pay for Jason Chambers’ lunch every day next week.

Chambers’ late fourth-quarter interception prevented Charlotte Catholic from scoring a potential game-winning touchdown or field goal. Instead, Chambers’ 30-yard return set up the game-winning points in Butler’s 28-21 win that delivered the Southwestern 4A championship.

Butler (6-2, 5-0) won its fifth straight game and won at least a share of the league title. The Bulldogs can win it outright in two weeks when they host archrival Independence. Charlotte Catholic (6-2, 4-1) had a four-game win streak snapped on Senior Night, when it honored 31 seniors.

But the Cougars very nearly rallied from a 21-7 deficit in the fourth quarter.

Down 14, Catholic abandoned its usual base offense. The Cougars gambled on fourth-and-4 near midfield, and also threw a halfback pass to quarterback Sean Boyle. With its defense playing well after giving up 21 first-half points, Catholic’s gambling style of offense was working.

The Cougars tied the score on a 16-yard pass from Sean Boyle to Robert McKernan.

After that, Catholic’s defense forced a stop — and a bad Butler snap led to a short punt.

With 5:37 to play, Catholic had it at Butler’s 42. But on that possession, Chambers changed the game with his interception.

He returned it 30 yards. And a few plays later, Butler QB Xavion Brower threw a 48-yard pass to Alex Judge to get to the Catholic 2. A few plays later, Brower scored with 26 seconds left.

Butler got off to a fast start, regularly getting 7 and 8 yards per rushing attempt on first down. The Bulldogs scored on their first two possessions to go up 14-0.

Catholic got rolling early in the second quarter, using a flea-flicker pass from QB Sean Boyle to tight end Robert McKernan to get into the red zone. Akil Williams scored on the next play. Catholic was back in it.

At least temporarily.

Butler came running — literally — right down the field, busting more of those big first-down plays. Brower mixed in a couple passes on the drive that ended with a 1-yard score. Tensley scored his second touchdown of the first half with just over three minutes left.

Butler’s defense got a stop and got a short punt, but instead of having a shot to take a commanding halftime lead, the Bulldogs fumbled the punt and Catholic got the ball at midfield. Colin Wolfinger recovered the fumble.

The Cougars lost yardage on their next possession, however, and had to punt again. At halftime, though, Butler was up two scores and looked in control.

Photos from the game

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Game stats

Butler 14 7 0 7 — 28

Charlotte Catholic 0 7 0 14 — 21

B: Trevon Tensley 5 run (Elijah Swett kick)

B: Alex Judge 5 pass from Xavion Brower (Swett kick)

C: Akil Williams 10 run (Jack Jones)

B: Tensley 1 run (Swett kick)

C: Robert McKernan 16 pass from Sean Boyle (Jones kick)

C: Evan Collins 2 run (Jones kick)

B: Brower 2 run (Swett kick)

#BIG5 Top Performers

Sebastian Brown, Mooresville: completed 12-of-23 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns in a 50-14 win over West Cabarrus. He also had a rushing touchdown.

Tony Gainey, Anson County: ran nine times for 80 yards, averaging nine yards per carry in a 39-27 win over Covenant Day. He caught two passes for 84 yards. He caught a touchdown pass and had a touchdown catch. Anson rallied from a 13-0 deficit to win.

Antonio Jackson, Concord: 26 carries for 207 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-14 win over Northwest Cabarrus. After an 0-2 start, the Spiders (5-2) have won five straight games.

Syndey McCorkle, Providence Day: after her team blocked Charlotte Christian’s PAT in overtime, McCorkle made one to lift the Chargers to a 48-47 win over the reigning state champions.

‘The answer to a trivia question.’ Girl, 15, breaks HS football gender barrier in NC

Jacob Newman, South Mecklenburg: ran for 243 yards on 34 carries and three touchdowns in a 31-29 come-from-behind win over Olympic. He had 141 yards in the second half.

Friday’s Scores

Queen City 3A-4A

Chambers 29, North Mecklenburg 0

Hough 31, Mallard Creek 7

West Mecklenburg 32, Hopewell 0

South Meck 4A

Ardrey Kell 49, Harding 6

South Mecklenburg 31, Olympic 29

Southwestern 4A

Butler 28,.Charlotte Catholic 21

Independence 51, East Meck 0

Providence 35, Rocky River 16

Big South 4A (NCISAA)

Christ School 45, Charlotte Country Day 0

Providence Day 48, Charlotte Christian 47 OT

Rabun Gap 38, Charlotte Latin 3

Greater Metro 4 4A

AL Brown 45, South Iredell 21

Lake Norman 15, Cox Mill 7

Mooresville 50, West Cabarrus 14

Southern Carolina 4A

Marvin Ridge 49, Piedmont 0

Porter Ridge 35, Cuthbertson 28

Weddington 52, Sun Valley 0

Northwestern 3A-4A

Freedom 54, Ashe County 28

South Caldwell 51, Alexander Central 27

Watauga 49, Hibriten 13

Big South 3A

Crest 30, Forestview 0

Kings Mountain 41, Stuart Cramer 28

North Gaston 20, Hunter Huss 19

South Piedmont 3A

Concord 48, Northwest Cabarrus 14

West Rowan 57, Central Cabarrus 13

Western Foothills 3A

East Lincoln 42, St. Stephens 6

Hickory 63, West Iredell 0

North Lincoln 35, Fred T. Foard 3

Statesville 44, North Iredell 0

Rocky River 2A-3A

Forest Hills 31, West Stanly 16

Monroe 39, Parkwood 6

Catawba Valley 2A

Lincolnton 25, East Burke 20

Maiden 62, Bunker Hill 13

Newton-Conover 40, Bandys 6

West Lincoln 35, West Caldwell 12

Mountain Foothills 2A

Brevard 41, Patton 20

Chase 31, Polk County 13

Piedmont Athletic (NCISAA)

Cabarrus Warriors (5-1, 1-0) at SouthLake Christian (0-5, 0-1), late

Metrolina Christian 31, High Point Christian 7

Western Football Conference (NCISAA)

Asheville School 55, Hickory Grove Christian 12

Catawba Shores 1A-2A

Christ The King 28, Winston-Salem Prep 24

Mountain Island Charter 47, Bishop McGuinness 0

Pine Lake Prep 30, Carver 6

Central Carolina 1A-2A

North Rowan 50, West Davidson 14

Salisbury 59, Lexington 0

South Piedmont 1A-2A

Burns 45, East Gaston 38 2 OT

Shelby 49, Bessemer City 0

Thomas Jefferson Academy 20, Cherryville 13

Western Highlands 1A-2A

Draughn 32, Rosman 2

Yadkin Valley 1A-2A

Mount Pleasant 42, Albemarle 0

North Stanly 46, South Stanly 6

Robinson 52, Union Academy 8

Mecklenburg nonconference

Anson County 39, Covenant Day 27

Community School of Davidson 52, Lake Norman Charter 14

West Charlotte 45, Berry 20

Other nonconference

A.C. Reynolds 52, R-S Central 21

Carolina Bearcats (2-4) at Highland Tech (0-7), late