It was Homecoming Night and his team had just blown an 18-point second half lead.
Butler High School (Matthews, N.C.) fans may have thought the game was over when an interception from junior quarterback Riley Ferguson was returned 49 yards for a touchdown, giving Ardrey Kell High School the lead with two minutes remaining.
But not Ferguson.
Ferguson quickly engineered a two-minute drill that was capped when he faked a spike in the final seconds, instead lofting a 12-yard touchdown pass to his older brother, Zach, giving the Bulldogs a 43-40 victory. Ferguson finished with 325 passing yards and four touchdowns.
Ferguson’s gunslinger mentality has led him to offers from Clemson, Louisville, LSU, Michigan, Maryland, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. It’s also something Butler head coach Brian Hales loves, which is why he had no issue with Ferguson trying to make a fourth-quarter pass while being dragged down by an opposing defensive lineman.
“It’s something I’m not interested in taking away from him,” said Hales. “The play that he threw the pick-six, there would be coaches out there who would have taken him out of the game.
“If I take away him trying to make that play, there’s no way he’s able to come out the next series. He thrives off that.”
So do Ferguson’s teammates, although they also feed off the success of a program that notched back-to-back state titles before being eliminated in the sectionals this past season.
Ferguson is just the latest Butler quarterback to enjoy success. He follows Christian LeMay, one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2011 class before signing with Georgia, and Jacob Charest, who signed with Illinois in 2008. Butler is also the alma mater of former Notre Dame cornerback Robert Blanton.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Ferguson recently learned of the Irish offer.
“He said he was told he’ll have a written offer when he’s allowed to get them in September,” said Hales, who isn’t surprised by the attention the 2013 prospect has received thus far.
“His production has been through the roof,” the coach added. “In two years, he’s thrown 76 touchdown passes versus about 16 interceptions. He’s extremely accurate. I think this year he completed about 71 percent of his passes. He’s just as accurate on the move as he is in the pocket. Anything that you’re looking for is a trait that he possesses.”
Butler is truly multiple with its offense.
“It wouldn’t be uncommon to see an eight-play drive where you’ll see a wing-t play, a play where we’re in empty, a play in the I and a play in two tight ends,” said Hales. “We’ll do some no-huddle stuff and we’ll go at a couple of different speeds.”
The variety of styles helps all of Butler’s players as they head to the next level, but could be particularly beneficial for Ferguson. Still, Hales believes his quarterback would be best served in a passing offense.
“Somewhere he’s going to be able to throw the ball,” the coach said. “He’s athletic enough where if he’s got to pull the ball down and run, he’s going to do that and pick up some good yards. But I think he’s more of a guy you want to drop back and let him throw it.”
According to Hales, Ferguson possesses the ability to keep plays alive in the pocket, a key attribute the Irish staff looks for when evaluating quarterbacks.
“I think there were three or four plays on his highlight tape where he was on his way to the ground when he threw a touchdown pass,” the coach said.
Notre Dame assistant Mike Elston was by the school last month to check on Ferguson along with 2013 wide receiver Uriah LeMay, Christian’s brother who also has an Irish offer, and junior linebacker Peter Kalambayi. Former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Charley Molnar also made stops by last year.
“Coach Molnar was in in the spring,” said Hales. “Coach Molnar and I go way, way back. He was one of my coaches in college.”
