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Vandalia Butler rolls past MIamisburg to stay undefeated

Tyler Jones passes 1,000 yards in five games as Butler reaches 5-0.

Photos: Miamisburg vs. Butler

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By Doug Harris , Staff Writer Updated 4:41 PM Saturday, September 24, 2011

VANDALIA — Running back Tyler Jones may not always have appreciated being stuck in a reserve role last season, getting only about four carries per game. But spending time in the shadows has allowed the Vandalia Butler senior to enjoy being in the spotlight that much more.

“I can be thankful, in a way, how it happened last year. It made me work harder,” Jones said. “If it wouldn’t have happened that way, maybe it wouldn’t have turned out this year like it has.”

Jones has had a dream-like season so far. He had 137 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries while playing just three quarters in a 34-7 win over visiting Miamisburg on Friday, pushing him past 1,000 yards at 1,104 for the 5-0 Aviators.

“I’ve known him since he was a little tyke flopping around on a wrestling mat,” Butler coach Greg Bush said.

“He’s a special kid — always smiling, always working hard. He’s like a mosquito on the water — whoop!”

Jones normally runs behind a massive offensive line, led by Notre Dame recruit Taylor Decker (6-8, 315) and Ball State-bound Miles Eaton (6-4, 310). But Eaton left early in the first quarter with an apparent leg injury and didn’t return. Bush said he’ll be OK for next week’s game with Troy.

That didn’t slow the 5-foot-8, 185-pound Jones, who gained just 320 yards as a junior. On the first play against the Vikings (2-3), he zipped through a garage-sized hole on the left side and dashed 70 yards for a TD.

“One cut. That’s it,” Jones said. “Those guys opened it up. The line was great.”

The Aviators scored three TDs in the final 6:39 of the first half to blow the game apart.

Playing without do-it-all quarterback Cody Hamblin (high-ankle sprain) and back–up Lance Brockman, the Vikings were forced to go with freshman Chris Young. They had just six total yards while falling behind 26-0 in the first half.

According to coach Tim Lewis, Miamisburg was missing six other starters, including top running back and linebacker Troy Tanner.

“Not to take anything away from them. They’re well-coached, and Greg Bush does a great job. They’ve got a bright future. But it’s hard. We’re in a position right now where we’re filling holes with young people,” Lewis said.

The Aviators, who have joined Trotwood-Madison and Troy in the Greater Western Ohio Conference power structure, have already topped last year’s win total.

“Recently, when you talk of the teams going 5-0, Butler wasn’t mentioned in that group,” Bush said. “We’ve got a lot of things going well. The kids have bought in.”

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