BUTTE — It didn’t take Brady Walsh long to make his presence felt Friday night.
In fact, it took just 13 seconds.
The Butte High senior turned in one of the most explosive performances of the Bulldogs’ season Friday night at Naranche Stadium, earning him this week’s Butte Sports Athlete of the Week honor.
With Butte High celebrating Homecoming and Silver B’s Night against undefeated Missoula Big Sky, Walsh took the opening kickoff and exploded for a 94-yard touchdown, sending Naranche Stadium into a frenzy before the Bulldog offense had even taken the field.
And he wasn’t finished.
With Butte trailing 15-14 in the third quarter, quarterback Raeder Grey connected with Walsh, who broke loose for a 78-yard touchdown reception. The score put the Bulldogs back in front 21-15 and gave Walsh his second touchdown of the night.
Walsh finished the game with 196 all-purpose yards, catching the 78-yard touchdown and returning three kickoffs for 118 yards.
More importantly, nearly every time Walsh touched the football, he gave Butte a chance to change the game.
His two touchdowns accounted for 12 of Butte High’s 21 points in a game that ultimately came down to the final seconds. The Bulldogs drove into field-goal range on their final possession before a potential game-winning kick sailed just right, allowing Big Sky to escape Naranche with a 22-21 victory.
The final score couldn’t take away from the night Walsh put together.
On a big stage, against an unbeaten conference opponent and with generations of Bulldogs looking on during Silver B’s Night, Walsh delivered two of the biggest plays of the season.
A 94-yard trip to the house to start the night.
A 78-yard touchdown to give Butte the lead in the second half.
172 yards. Two touches. Two touchdowns.
That’s about as explosive as it gets.
For his outstanding performance Friday night, Butte High senior Brady Walsh is the Butte Sports Athlete of the Week.
