Nevada overcomes miscues to prevail over Butler, 22-10

C.A. MOORE/BUTLER XCHANGER Nevada running back Jacob Cherry gains big yardage on a play in the first quarter of Friday night's game at Butler, Mo. Cherry and the Tigers improved to 2-1 on the season with a 22-10 victory over the Bears. [Click to enlarge]

BUTLER, Mo. -- Despite substantial ball-control issues throughout the game, Nevada High School managed to fight its way to a 22-10 victory over Butler in a non-conference football game at Deaton Thomas Field here Friday night.

Nevada's defense showed extreme prowess from the early going by holding the Bears to a short field goal after an impressive goal line stand on the game's opening drive.

"We will put an emphasis on ball control and special teams play," Nevada head coach Shannon Jolley said of the team's offensive troubles.

After an early 3-0 deficit, Nevada charged downfield only to come up short with a missed field goal. But the Tigers' defensive domination continued, forcing a Butler punt on the Bears' second possession of the game.

Nevada's offense mounted another drive, this time resulting in a 45-yard touchdown catch by Colby Shepherd, giving the Tigers a 7-3 lead.

Nevada opened the second quarter by forcing a Butler punt and making another impressive defensive stand on its first two drives. The Tigers took over on downs after the second stand and drove down field 89 yards for another score, with Logan Harris' eight-yard pass from Ronnie Herda making their lead 14-3.

Butler attempted to answer with a hard offensive charge, only to be shut down when Nevada blocked a field goal attempt from the 20-yard line. On the subsequent drive, the Tigers mounted a hard charge of their own, but the clock was not on their side as the half ended before they could put up another score.

The second half brought notable offensive woes for both sides, with fumbles by both teams on their first possession. Nevada would also fumble on their second and third possessions, but the defense stayed strong and held Butler scoreless. The Bears had to punt on their second possession and turned the ball over on downs on the third.

The Tigers' offensive difficulties continued at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Nevada fumbled on its opening possession of the period but the Tiger defense would yet again step up to force another turnover on downs.

Herda's two-yard touchdown run and Nevada's subsequent two-point conversion gave Nevada a 22-3 lead late in the game. Although the game was seemingly in hand, the Tiger defense continued its intensity on Butler's next drive, forcing yet another punt.

Nevada's offensive issues would return on its last drive of the game, which ended in yet another lost fumble -- its fifth of the game.

Butler's offense came to life on its last drive of the game with a 56-yard touchdown through the air, hauled in by Derek Varnes, leading to the final score of 22-10.

"I thought our kids stayed on pace with what we were trying to do," Jolley said after the game, obviously happy with the win and the overall performance of the team.

Nevada improved to 2-1 on the season while Butler fell to 0-3. The Tigers tackle their first Southwest Conference opponent of the season when they travel to Carthage Friday night.

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