6A State Title Game: Lake Hamilton 42, El Dorado 28

LITTLE ROCK — Phillip Butterfield ran, passed and even played a little defense, in Lake Hamilton's 42-28 win title-game win Friday night against 6A-South foe El Dorado. The senior quarterback led the Wolves, rushing 15 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns and completing 8 of 16 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns. He also checked in as an extra defensive back and thwarted a late El Dorado drive with an interception to seal the win. "I just played my part, said Butterfield, who earned MVP honors. "My teammates are the ones that helped me out and put me in position. I couldn't have done it without them. Our coaches and our team mean everything to me." Butterfield, a Tulsa commit, celebrated after the game, sprinting around the field hugging friends, family and coach Jerry Clay. The scene was in stark contrast to last year's state title game in which Butterfield endured a vicious hit and left the game, a loss, with a concussion. "It's awesome," Butterfield said. "I wish I could have won it last year, but unfortunately I got a concussion. We were real prepared this year, and we came (to Little Rock) and achieved our goal." The title marks the Wolves' first since 1992 and Clay's second at the Garland County school. "That last one was so long ago I almost forgot it," Clay said. "It just feels good for (the players). They've worked so hard and been through some adversity. They never gave up. They never lost focus of the goal." The Wolves held a 28-14 halftime lead and lengthened it when junior running back DJ Bell scooted in from 10 yards to cap off Lake Hamilton's first second-half possession. The Wildcats didn't surrender, as senior quarterback Paul Anzalone, who passed for 301 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions, directed an 11-play, 71-yard scoring drive that climaxed with a 12-yard scoring strike to Ladarious Robinson, cutting the lead to 35-21 with 5:42 left in the game. The Wolves looked to answer but fumbled at the Wildcats 13-yard line. Another fumble later in El Dorado territory gave the Wildcats new life. James Ford recovered the loose ball on the Wolves' 19-yard line. Two plays later, Anzalone hit Marcus Parker on a 19-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-28 with 7:45 remaining in the game. "The two turnovers we had in the second half hurt us," Clay said. "But (El Dorado) is good. They moved the ball effectively." Lake Hamilton's Addison Wynn returned the ensuring kickoff 31 yards. A couple of plays later, Butterfield darted 35 yards for a touchdown with 6:19 to play. "He's great," Clay said. "He's just a winner. Nobody works harder than him. He has everything. He has it all. I wouldn't trade him for anybody with all the intangibles. There are a lot of good quarterbacks. Pulaski Academy has a good quarterback (Spencer Keith). Phillip Butterfield is an all-around player — leadership and everything." El Dorado drove the ball inside the 20-yard line as time wound down, but Buttefield intercepted Anzalone's pass giving Lake Hamilton its third victory in two years against the Wildcats (11-3). "We were still playing well, we just couldn't get even with them," El Dorado coach Scott Reed said. "They're a good football team." The hard-hitting game produced three major injuries. Lake Hamilton senior running back David Church (five rushes for 38 yards) injured his knee in the first half and didn't return. El Dorado senior running back Justin Billings (eight carries for 34 yards) injured his ankle in the third quarter. Wildcats sophomore receiver Taylor Reed (seven catches for 102 yards and an a touchdown) also injured his ankle. Lake Hamilton out gained El Dorado 443 to 418. Dexter Toney led the El Dorado rushing with 88 yards. Lake Hamilton receiver Josh Proffit, who missed three practices with illness, caught four passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns for the Wolves. Bell, who was injured most of the year, stepped up in Church's absence and ran 13 times for 90 yards and two scores.