Demarcus Butler got all the tough yards and none of the scores on Friday against the Florence Eagles.
The other Tiger backs broke some big runs for touchdowns, so Butler never got his shot at a short-yardage touchdown. He did get an easy two-point conversion and crossed the goal line standing up after the offensive line had opened a big hole for him.
Butler accomplished something no other McComb back had done this season: gain more than 100 yards rushing. For his 118 yards on 15 carries, Butler is the Enterprise-Journal Player of the Week.
Through the majority of the season, a McComb tailback was lucky to get eight carries in a game. The Tigers balanced things out between any number of six or seven players who touched the ball out of the backfield.
Butler finally got 15 carries in a game, and McComb needed him to.
“With us almost not going to the playoffs last week was big, big that we came back and won and that we’re going to playoffs,” Butler said.
By the second half, the Eagle defense was barely able to limit him to 5 yards per carry. To start the second half and on the game-winning drive Butler was able to tear through Florence’s defensive line.
Every carry he had in the fourth quarter went for eight yards or more, his six touches were for 16, 9, 11, 8, 9 and 9.
Butler’s pounding inside is a perfect compliment to the stable of speedsters the Tigers use in any number of ways. Justin Powell, Mario Smith and Anthony Daniels all broke big runs for touchdowns, while Butler chipped away inside.
He was never stopped for less than a 2-yard gain by the Eagles and put the McComb offense in plenty of second-and-short opportunities to try something, knowing third down would be manageable if it didn’t work.
A couple times Butler had to move the pile to pick up his yards, but they came just like if it had been a linebacker hitting him in the hole.
“If it’s clogged up on the line, I get what I can,” Butler said. “I stay low and keep moving and I get whatever they’ll let me.”
Whether there’s a hole or not Butler runs straight ahead. He doesn’t go around anything. He just knows where the hole is supposed to be and runs to it. Usually it opens, but not always.
“The inside hole is going to open quicker than on the outside because the offensive line is making the hole,” Butler said. “It depends on how the play is designed, but the holes are supposed to be there.”
Butler has spent some time as a linebacker this season and said he can notice blitzes before the snap and know who’s going to be where once the ball is snapped.
But he relishes his role as the inside back.
“I’m stronger and I’m getting hit all the time,” Butler said. “But I can handle it.”
Right now, he’s content with a playoff berth and the carries he gets, because wins are all that counts.
“I’m happy about all the ones I get to touch,” Butler said. “We all do a good job, and as long as we win, we don’t care.”
OTHER TOP PERFORMERS
Brice Armstreet, Parklane, 255 yards rushing and two touchdowns
Dane Hogan, Parklane, 72 yards receiving and two touchdowns
LaDerrick Turner, North Pike, 22 carries 91 yards and one touchdown
