BOONEVILLE, Miss. - Goldman Butler, VI's move out of the backfield gave the Northeast Mississippi Community College football team an extra weapon to utilize during its last non-division game of the year.
Butler had a pair of receiving touchdowns to guide the Tigers offensively. But Northeast fell in heartbreaking fashion to Hinds Community College by a score of 18-13 on Thursday, September 16 at Tiger Stadium.
The Biggersville High School graduate, who had nine total carries and one score from the running back position over the first two weeks of the season, recently fielded a request from offensive coordinator A.J. Erdely to switch things up a bit.
"When coach A.J. talked to me about playing some h-back, I was perfectly fine with it. We needed some more blockers," said Butler. "I used my versatility tonight. I ran through contact and got in the end zone."
Butler's initial score of the night was a 12-yard reception with 23 seconds remaining in the first quarter. It served as the inaugural passing touchdown of Carter Putt's collegiate career.
The tandem got together once more in the third period. This time Butler made a nice spin move around a would-be tackler and drug a defender across the goal line for a 14-yard touchdown that cut the Tigers' deficit to 15-13.
Northeast (0-3) had a chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter. The Tigers quickly marched 76 yards to set up a first-and-goal situation with less than 90 seconds to go in the contest.
Caleb Anderson and Dallas Payne had two first down catches each during the drive. However, Northeast fumbled inside the five-yard line to end its promising come-from-behind attempt.
"We had a chance to win the ball game," Tigers head coach Greg Davis said. "The final drive was good, but ultimately it shouldn't have ever come down to that. At the end of the day, the kids played hard till the end."
Hinds, which is receiving votes in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) rankings, was held to only one touchdown all night by Northeast's vaulted defense. It came just 10 plays after a safety that gave the Eagles an early advantage.
The Tigers held Hinds quarterback BeSean McCray to a season-low 114 yards through the air. Northeast had more first downs and outgained the visiting Eagles (2-1) by a final margin of 322-292.
Putt set new career-highs during his second start behind center with 20 completions in 30 attempts for 250 yards. Anderson and Payne were his top targets with six receptions apiece for a combined 134 yards.
Cayden Betts amassed 145 all-purpose yards between kickoff returns and rushing. Jamarcus Smith paced the Tigers' defensive efforts for the second consecutive week with a game-high nine tackles.
Keyshawn Cobb added a career-high eight takedowns while Willie Latham, III, was one stop shy of tying a personal high with seven. Cobb and Smith had three of Northeast's six tackles for loss.
The Tigers open the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) North Division portion of their 2021 schedule on Thursday, September 23 by travelling to Northwest Mississippi Community College. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. in Senatobia.