By Donald Heath
Special for the Effingham Herald
SPRINGFIELD – Bryson Horton and A.J. Butts knew a little something about each other before pairing as Effingham County's interior linebackers.
Four football seasons ago, they met across the line of scrimmage in middle school when their teams played for a private school championship. Butts was an eighth grader at Calvary Day. Horton was a year younger at Savannah Christian.
Who won?
"Us, by a lot," Butts says, laughing.
"They won that year, but we won the next year after he left," Horton recalled, getting some equal footing.
The two former private-school kids are now Rebels side by side. Horton, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound junior, left Savannah Christian after eighth grade. Butts, a 5-11, 218-pound senior, transferred to ECHS this year when his parents moved to the area.
Both earned second-team all-region honors for their respective teams last season. Horton was second on the Rebels with 63 tackles. He was tied for first with five sacks.
Butts was a dual threat for Calvary, running for 667 yards and 15 touchdowns as a running back on offense and registering 58 tackles and four sacks at linebacker on defense while helping the Cavaliers compile an 11-1 record and advance to the Class 3A state quarterfinals.
The past two years, Calvary won its region and went three rounds in the state playoffs.
"I'm going to work to bring that here," said Butts about leaving a perennial state contender. "I can push my teammates harder and bring a winning culture here."
Winning is also the goal for Horton.
"I want to get to state and make a run," he said
ECHS coach John Ford said having Horton and Butts at inside linebacker in the teams' multiple defensive alignment makes the position an area of strength.
"Bryson is so downhill," Ford said. "He diagnoses things so quickly. And having someone next to him with such athleticism, they made it challenging for (our offense) in the spring. They're both strong, fast, hard-nosed kids.
"Bryson gives you the intensity, juice and toughness you want from the position. A.J. just shows up and works. He integrated perfectly into the culture. He's been a great teammate. It feels like he's been here a long time the way our kids take to him."
Horton and Butts both say they're learning to work together despite having only 10 spring practices and two weeks in the summer.
"Bryson is a funny guy so we have a good time," Butts said. "We're learning to communicate more. We have to talk on the field (about) line shifts, blocking patterns. We're working to be more on the same page."
"We have to read our keys and make sure we hit our gaps," Horton said. "You give running backs a tiny crease and they'll take it to the house. We're getting closer; we're getting better. We'll be strong on defense."
Butts also hopes to get reps at running back with 1,000-yard runner Jayden Evans as well.
Butts said he has seven college offers, including Stetson, Mercer, Wofford and Valdosta State.
Another productive season could put Horton on colleges' radar as well. He said he's hoping to increase his tackles to 100.
"Teams in our region like to run a lot and me and A.J. are going to be there to stop it," Horton said.
Camp Notes
Effingham County competed in a tournament-style 7-on-7 competition hosted by New Hampstead in Savannah on June 14 and won all three games before threatening weather canceled play in the afternoon. The Rebels will be playing in another 7-on-7 tournament today (June 21) hosted by Savannah State.
"You practice against each other all week, so it's nice to go against someone else and get another level of competition," Ford said. "You work timing with all your throws and you're put in that competitive situation. Adversity happens and you have to respond."
