Butte Valley >> The numbers on the Butte College football jerseys were hardly recognizable, being completely hidden under a layer of mud. But the smiles stretched across the players’ faces are evident this team likes its chances in its quest to a championship ring.
In fact, the Roadrunners not only kept their season alive with a 30-12 splash over College of San Mateo in a cold, rain-soaked NorCal Classic Bowl Saturday afternoon at Cowan Stadium, but also served sweet revenge on a team that dealt the Roadrunners their last loss.
“It feels really good,” Butte quarterback Clayton Welch said. “We had a big chance when we lost to them, but we finally converted on the plays. It was amazing.”
Welch was named MVP of the game with running back Alex Laurel picking up offensive player of the game honors. San Mateo’s Colt Doughty was awarded defensive player of the game.
Welch threw for 101 yards and completed 4 of 11 passes while Laurel led the day rushing for 101 yards on eight carries and had the first touchdown of the game, a 70-yard run, to put Butte ahead in the first quarter.
Now the No. 1 seeded Roadrunners (9-2) will host American River College, who beat Modesto Junior College 27-21 on Saturday in the North State Bowl.
The Northern California Football Conference Championship game will be held at noon on Nov. 26 at Cowan Stadium.
“We get another chance to do it. We’ll see what happens,” Butte head coach Jeff Jordan said. “We know American River very well and they know us. To be one of the final four teams, that’s quite a feat. We’re fortunate to have that opportunity.”
The Roadrunners returned the favor on a team that edged by 14-7 on Sept. 24 at home when Butte failed to convert on two untimed downs as the game ended. That was the last time the Roadrunners were in the loss column. Saturday afternoon, Butte never surrendered the lead.
Laurel broke through for a 70-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to put Butte ahead 7-0. In the second quarter, Welch picked up a 27-yard run that eventually resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 cushion heading into halftime.
The Bulldogs slowly started to gain momentum in the second half. San Mateo quarterback Bobby Calmeyn connected with Ramaiah Marshall for a 35-yard touchdown pass to trim Butte’s lead. But on the 2-point conversion attempt, Butte’s Ryan Lesch would intercept Jose Elizondo’s pass and return it for a 98-yard return, tacking on two more points for Butte and lead 16-6.
On Butte’s next drive, Welch completed a pass to Kavi Ram who raced down field for a 75-yard touchdown to go ahead 23-6 by the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs would get as close as 23-12 after Sione Finefeuiaki’s 4-yard touchdown run.
Two drives later, Butte would put the game away. The Bulldogs defense stopped Butte on third down and six with eight minutes left to play. But a costly roughing the passer penalty on San Mateo meant an automatic first down for Butte at the Bulldogs’ 37-yard line.
Laurel picked up two yards then on the next play Martin Fleming Jr. had a big gain of his own for a 35-yard touchdown run resulting in a comfortable 30-12 cushion.
To eliminate any chance of San Mateo making a comeback, on the ensuing kickoff, Jalil Crapps recovered a fumble for Butte to maintain possession before eventually taking a snap in victory formation to run the clock out.
Now the Roadrunners await their next opponent American River. Butte won in double overtime on the road over American River on Nov. 5.
“We’ll be practicing on Thanksgiving,” Jordan said. “I’ve gotta figure out how we’re going to feed all these kids, but we’ll practice and that’s a good thing to be practicing Thanksgiving day.”
Connect with Sports Writer Sharon Martin at 896-7778.
