Don't Back Down

Remember, remember, the third of November, when the Patriots came back to make the Bulldogs surrender.

So read the banner under the grandstand on the Independence side of the bleachers at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night, and it seemed that the entire Independence crowd was drawing their inspiration from V for Vendetta, for they were out for blood this time around.

Almost exactly a month ago, the Butler Bulldogs had built a 21-0 halftime lead in what will surely go down as one of the classic football games of all time. In that game, the Independence Patriots came out of the locker room after halftime ready to play. They tied the game and went to overtime. Each team scored a field goal, and they went into a second overtime. The Big I recovered a fumble and won it in the second.

There would be no such drama this time around.

The Patriots started things off with a muffed kick return and looked to have their work cut out for them, but they were ready. Beginning at their own 2 yard line, they moved methodically down the field and scored for a 7-point lead. Two quick scores proved that the Bulldogs couldn't stop them, and it looked like things were reversed from the earlier game.

But then something happened. The Bulldogs suddenly came to life, and they scored first one touchdown, then another, and the 21-0 lead was amazingly just 21-14 and it seemed like a real game might happen in the second half. Unfortunately for Butler, the Patriots had some time left on the clock before halftime, and that was about all it took.

Independence quickly drove down the field (added by a very poor pass interference call) and scored to go up 28-14, and to Butler's credit they came back with less than 30 seconds left and at least put up a few points by kicking a field goal before time ran out in the first half, so they were only down 28-17.

When the teams came out of their locker rooms at halftime, the Bulldogs probably should have just packed up and went home. They may have done better. The Patriots played like the other team wasn't even there, moving up and down the field with ease. There was no challenge at all in the second half, and the final score reflected it.

Even though Butler forced the only Independence punt of the game in the second half, it was far too little, too late. The final score was 49-23. Independence moves on to the state championship next week and Butler heads home. It was a good game, but nothing like the one a month ago.