Add another page to the rivalry

By Bruce Sayler - 08/29/2008

Some runs of dominance have occurred, but for the most part, the Butte Central-Anaconda high school football rivalry has been one of good matchups.

Tracking of the rivalry by Butte historian Pat Kearney shows that the Maroons lead the series 47-32-3. However, the last two games have been split. BC won last year 44-8 in Butte after Anaconda prevailed at home 31-21 in 2006.

Another episode of the rivarly will be written into the history books Friday when the teams meet again at 7 p.m. at Anaconda's Mitchell Stadium, which is an element of tradition unto itself as a grand, old facility.

The game will be the season-opener for both schools and will be a non-conference tilt.

"We look to improve and be a lot better football team than we were last season," Copperheads fourth-year head coach Tom Peterson said. "It was disappointing last year. We have a lot of juniors returning who got playing time as sophomores last year, and make a good mixture with the seniors who were juniors (seeing their first ample varsity play)."

Butte Central head coach Don Peoples Jr. is launching his 20th year at the Maroons' helm with the kickoff and is coming off yet another successful season that saw BC win the Central A Conference and advance to the state Class A semifinals.

Peterson was an Anaconda standout in high school and later served many years as an assistant coach at Butte Central, giving him much experience on both sides of the rivalry. He was BC's defensive coordinator just prior to being named head coach of the Copperheads program.

"I think we have to control the ball, win the turnover battle and play great defense," Peterson said. "Butte Central will be well-coached and will play hard. They have a great tradition. They've won a lot of football games over there."

Peterson said he expects the clash to be another great game between the rivals.

"We hope to win it in the end," he said.

Returnees to the Anaconda varsity include Central A All-Conference lineman Mike Lucier, a 6-foot-5, 295-pound junior. Matt King, a 5-9, 150-pound junior, gets the quarterback nod after sharing the role with Chris Zacher last season. Zacher, a 6-0, 185-pound senior will play running back on offense and end on defense.

Some other Copperheads veterans include 5-10, 190-pound Colten Scholler, 6-2, 195-pound senior Michael Dayton, 6-0, 177-pound senior Sam Ferguson and 5-10, 180-pound junior Shawn Funston.

Scholler plays guard on offense and linebacker on defense, King is a cornerback on defense, Ferguson is a wide receiver and free safety and Funston plays fullback and linebacker. Marcus Fisher, a 5-8, 155-pound junior is a returning starter in the secondary.

Peterson noted that King has grown quite a bit from his sophomore season.

"He looks bigger, looks like a different human being," the coach said. "He's matured, offensively and defensively on the football field."

One returnee that won't be back, at least not immediately, is all-conference lineman Tyler Verlanic, a senior who is sidelined indefinitely with a blood clot, Peterson said.

"We not concerned with him playing right now, but we're concerned about him as a human being," the coach said. "Of course, it's a huge loss for us right now on both sides of the ball, but we just need some young guys to step up and replace him."

Peoples said Butte Central needs a game and an Anaconda contest should fire up the prospects as so many Maroons will be introduced to hard-knocking varsity competition.

"After you practice so long a time comes when it doesn't help to just practice more," Peoples said. "Then it's time to play a game. The kids are excited. The rivaly makes it even more exciting."

Peoples said Anaconda's potential explosiveness in a concern of his staff and team.

"King looked good and quick in their scrimmage," the BC coach said. "They have good players. So, we need to control the line of scrimmage."

Butte Central has pretty good experience returning in its trenches this year, but not so much at the other positions. They lost record-setting quarterback Matt Ritter to graduation, but he is being succeeded by a younger brother, sophomore Andy Ritter, who checks in at 5-11 and 175 pounds.

Maroons returnees include All-State offensive lineman Eric DiGiovine, a 5-11, 200-pound senior; all-conference firs-team receiver Casey Norbeck, 5-11, 195-pound senior; second-team all-conference offensive guard Justin Dunbar, 6-0, 215-pound junior; first-team all-conference defensive tackle D.J. Lewis, 5-9, 210-pound senior; and second-team all-conference defensive end Sean Ferriter, a 6-0, 215-pound junior.

Other BC players with starting-type time last year include senior running back/cornerback Gene Taylor, and sophomore receiver/linebacker Jonathan Richards. Taylor, 5-10 and 170, missed about half the 2007 season with a knee injury and Richards, 6-3 and 210, came on very strong as the season progressed.

"The kids are excited and anxious to play," Peoples said. "And we have so many friends on their coaching staff, which makes it fun, too."

Anaconda assistant coaches Rich O'Brien, Sean Johnson and R.J. Olson all played under and then coaches for Peoples and many of his current staff members at Butte Central.

Butte Central Starters

Offense

Center — Mike Joyce, 5-9, 200, junior. Guards — Justin Dunbar, 6-0, 215, junior, and D.J. Lewis, 5-9, 210, senior. Tackles — Eric DiGiovine, 5-11, 200, senior, and Sean Ferriter, 6-0, 215, junior. Receivers — Phil Antonioli, 6-2, 180, sophomore; Casey Norbeck, 5-11, 195, senior; Jonathan Richards, 6-3, 210, sophomore; and Orrin Fenwick, 6-3, 185, sophomore; or Aschen Richards 6-6, 200, sophomore. Running back — Gene Taylor, 5-10, 170, senior. Quarterback — Andy Ritter, 5-11, 175, sophomore. Kicker — Andy Ritter, 5-11, 175, sophomore.

Defense

Tackles — Justin Dunbar, 6-0, 215, junior, and D.J. Lewis, 5-9, 210, senior. Ends — Eric DiGiovine, 5-11, 200, senior, and Sean Ferriter, 6-0, 215, junior, or Aschen Richards, 6-6, 200, sophomore. Inside linebackers — Mike Joyce, 5-9, 200, junior, and Casey Norbeck, 5-11, 195, senior. Outside linebackers — Jonathan Richards, 6-3, 210, sophomore, and Kevin Cox, 5-10, 160, junior, or Tom Markovich, 5-10, 185, sophomore. Cornerbacks — Phil Antonioli, 6-2, 180, sophomore, and Gene Taylor, 5-10, 170, senior. Safety — Andy Ritter, 5-11, 175, sophomore. Punter — Sean Ferriter, 6-0, 215, junior.

Anaconda Starters

Offense

Center — Brock Wigert, 6-1, 180, junior. Guards — Colten Scholler, 5-10, 190, senior, and Mike Lucier, 6-5, 290, junior. Tackles — Mike Dayton, 6-2, 195, senior, and Taylor Scholler, 6-0, 220, sophomore. Tight end — Bennet Gallinger, 6-0, 180, junior. Wide receivers — Dalton Ueland, 5-7, 140, junior, and Sam Ferguson, 6-0, 175, senior. Fullback — Shawn Funston, 5-10, 180, junior. Running back — Brant Huber, 5-4, 155, senior, or Chris Zacher, 6-0, 185, senior. Quarterback — Matt King, 5-9, 150, junior. Kicker — Shawn Funston, 5-10, 180, junior.

Defense

Outside linebackers — Casey

Tackles — Mike Lucier, 6-5, 290, junior, and Brock Wigert, 6-1, 180, junior. Ends — Chris Zacher, 6-0, 185, senior, and Mike Dayton, 6-2, 195, senior. Linebackers — Colten Scholler, 5-10, 190, senior; Shawn Funston, 5-10, 180, junior; and Marcus Fisher, 5-8, 155, junior. Cornerbacks — Matt King, 5-9, 150, junior, and Kyle Moore, 5-11, 150, sophomore. Strong safety — Brant Huber, 5-4, 155, senior. Free safety — Sam Ferguson, 6-0, 175, senior. Punter — Shawn Funston, 5-10, 180, junior.