Butte County running towards postseason

Photo Courtesy: Sharleece Lambson

The Butte County Pirates are off and ... ahem ... running towards the 1A Division 2 state playoffs again in 2017 thanks to a slew of talented ball carriers in the team's run-first scheme.

Through four games, the fifth-ranked Pirates (3-1) have attempted -- attempted -- 30 passes. It's not what they do. What head coach Sam Thorngren and his team does is run the football as well as just about anyone in the state of Idaho. The team has run the ball 133 times for 1,365 yards (10.2 yards per carry) already this season with 20 rushing touchdowns.

While Thorngren and his staff know they have weapons, they also know the team's bread is buttered up front with the offensive line, led by senior center Kalib Hawley. Kade McAffee, Dakota Anderson and Bryson Gunter rotate at the two guard spots on the three-man line. Gunter also takes snaps as the team's tight end, as does Dylan Beard. It is that group that keys the Butte County offensive attack.

"The big boys up front are the ones that make it all happen for us," Thorngren told Idaho8Man. "People like to see the long runs, pretty passes and spectacular catches by the skill-position players. Games, however, are won by the team that does the best job blocking the opposition."

The results for Butte County, so far, have been spectacular. Against a solid Rockland team two weeks ago, Keyan Cummins ran for 235 of the team's 488 rushing yards in the Pirates' 58-30 victory. Brady McAffee had 138 yards and a score against Division 1 Grace earlier this season, quarterback Brett Waymire has a pair of 79-yard games on the ground, and Ty Twitchell and Bridger Hansen have combined for 280 yards this season with six touchdown runs.

"If you can't block the other team, then it doesn't matter what offense you run, or what play you call," Thorngren continued. "It all comes down to knowing your assignment, getting off the ball, and sustaining contact."

The good news for fans in Arco is that the run (there's that word again) appears primed to continue. Along the Pirates' line, Hawley is the only senior. Anderson and Gunter are both sophomores. Cummins is a sophomore, Hansen is a sophomore, Twitchell is a junior, and one McAffee (Kade) is a junior while the other (Brady) is a sophomore.

In fact, 9 of the 21 players listed on Butte County's varsity roster are sophomores. There's also a freshman, Dante Bernal, who has forced his way onto the field at times this fall. Health is always a big key in the 8-man game because many teams don't have great numbers, but the Pirates have the look of a team that could be strong over the next few seasons.

Butte County a big game on Friday against Clark County/Watersprings. A victory puts the Pirates in position to have a good chance earn the conference championship and no. 1 seed out of District V/VI headed into the 1A Division 2 state playoffs, which could mean home games in the first round and, potentially, the quarterfinals.

#Idaho8Man