Class 1A football championship: Wildcats win mission for mom

TACOMA — Amid all the chaos and celebration, surrounded by dancing teammates and crying coaches, enveloped in cheers threatening to blow out eardrums, Axel Wolff put football — and the state championship trophy — aside to seek out Jevon Butler.

"Go home," the Archbishop Murphy quarterback told the running back he hands the ball off to, "and tell your mom we did this for her."

Feneda Butler wasn't there to witness Archbishop Murphy's 35-14 thrashing of Royal in the Class 1A state championship game at the Tacoma Dome yesterday. She suffered a heart attack Monday and was released from the hospital yesterday morning. But Feneda was there in spirit as her sons, Jevon and J.T., played pivotal roles for the South Everett team that started playing football three years ago.

"We're all close with the Butler family," Wolff said. "When we heard their mom was in the hospital, it really brought the team together. People didn't talk about it as much. It was unsaid. But we could feel it. And it helped us win the game."

Archbishop Murphy won the state championship in only the third season in school history. Coach Terry Ennis garnered his second state-championship trophy. The Wildcats broke two Class 1A championship records — most rushing yards for a team and most rushing yards for an individual.

Broken, fittingly, by the youngest of the eight-sibling Butler clan. Jevon dashed for 227 yards on 26 carries, while scoring two touchdowns. He also had an interception.

"I'm just happy about how we performed today," Ennis said, emphasizing the last word. "There were some kids that played better today than they have all year. I went into this one saying, 'We don't want to be embarrassed.' Everyone. Everyone played well.

"That was a team effort."

"I can't think of anything else to say," J.T. Butler said, while holding the championship trophy like a baby in his arms, "except we want to dedicate this to my mom."

Others contributed to Archbishop Murphy's victory. Freshman Stan Smith ran for 140 yards. The stifling defense held Royal to 34 yards rushing and grabbed two interceptions. The offense ran and ran and ran some more, piling up 466 rushing yards, breaking Ridgefield's 411-yard record set in 1995. Wolff completed his only pass in the last two games — for a 25-yard touchdown.

The celebration was nearly overwhelming as parents and coaches and players hugged and hollered near the end zone. Three years after they started playing football, they are the newly crowned champions.

"Three years ago, I didn't think I'd be playing football to be honest with you," junior Ben Waiss said.

Jevon Butler broke the game open with touchdown runs of 17 and 84 yards. After the 84-yard run, he turned to his oldest brother, Eric, in the stands and mouthed, "Three yards a carry? Three yards a carry?"

After the game, an animated Jevon Butler held court near the same end zone.

"They said I'd get 3 yards a carry," said Jevon, his voice rising . "They said they'd take me out in the first half. I showed them how it's done. I showed them how it's done."

Minutes later, Jevon had calmed down and was talking to Feneda on a cellphone, a smile still etched onto his face. He nodded his head a few times, then said, "Sorry, mom, I have to go. We'll see you soon."

And then he gave this magical season the perfect ending.

"I love you mom," Jevon Butler said into the phone. "I love you."