Butlers playing for ailing mother

EVERETT — Tomorrow, Jevon and J.T. Butler will line up for Archbishop Murphy in the Class 1A state championship game. They'll be playing for pride. They'll be playing for the first state championship in the school's three-year football history.

But more important, they'll be playing for their mother, Feneda.

"Basically, as a team, we're going to win it for my mom," J.T. Butler said.

Feneda Butler suffered a heart attack Monday morning, two days after Archbishop Murphy's state semifinal victory at the Tacoma Dome.

Earlier that morning, she'd called Wildcats Coach Terry Ennis to tell him her sons were sick and wouldn't come to school that day. Two hours later, they heard banging on the bathroom wall. Then a thud. An ambulance came and rushed her to Stevens Hospital in Edmonds.

Feneda was in critical condition for two days, but Wednesday was upgraded to stable.

J.T. and Jevon, the youngest of eight Butler siblings, urged her to skip the trip to the Tacoma Dome tomorrow for the 10 a.m. game with Royal.

"She wants to go," J.T. said. "She wants to go real bad. She started crying when I told her she couldn't go. Then she said, 'Have a good game. My love is with you. And God's with you. I wish I could be there.' "

Both Butlers practiced every day this week and are expected to play pivotal roles in the game. Both will certainly have their minds on a special person in a hospital bed to the north.

"It's tough," Ennis said. "It's a lot to deal with. And it helps put football in perspective."

Feneda is scheduled to be released from the hospital tomorrow afternoon, perfect timing for two possible state champions to pick her up.

"We can win the game and pick her up right afterward," J.T. said. "Man, that would be something special."