Posted: Oct 18, 2025
Butte Defeats American River in Double Overtime Thriller, 31-29
Butte
(6-1)
31
American River
(1-6)
29
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Butte (6-1) | 7 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 31 |
|
American River (1-6) | 0 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 29 |
The Butte College Roadrunners came away with one of their most dramatic wins in recent memory, outlasting American River College 31–29 in double overtime on Saturday. The Roadrunner defense sealed the victory when the defensive stuffed ARC running back Nathan Crawford on a two-point conversion attempt to end the game.
Butte's defense set the tone early when ARC quarterback Frank Arcuri tried to scramble but was stripped by Nowickas near midfield. The loose ball bounced backward before Quinten Beamon scooped it up and returned it 47 yards for a defensive touchdown, giving Butte an early 7–0 lead. The Roadrunners then forced an ARC punt, setting up a steady offensive drive capped by an Amare' Cooper touchdown pass to Elias Counihan, stretching the lead to 14–0.
American River responded quickly, finding the end zone to make it 14–7, then capitalized on a Butte fumble by Counihan to tie the game. Butte regained the lead when Lane Garner drilled a 37-yard field goal with 3:37 left in the half, but ARC's long field goal as time expired sent the teams into halftime knotted at 17–17.
The Beavers took their first lead of the day in the third quarter on a Richards field goal, making it 20–17. Butte's offense, though slowed for much of the half, came alive late. After a crucial pass interference penalty moved the ball into Beaver territory, Cooper connected with Calhoun for a 13-yard gain. A potential touchdown by Niall Raby was wiped away by a rare offensive encroachment penalty, but Garner's 29-yard kick with 1:32 left tied the score at 20 and sent the game to overtime.
In the first extra period, American River managed only a 39-yard field goal from Richards to go ahead 23–20. Butte answered with a steady series led by Raby's 15-yard run and another short gain that set up Garner's 21-yard field goal to force a second overtime.
Starting with possession in the second OT, Butte overcame an early holding call when Cooper found Ben Wheeler on a clutch throw down to the ARC 3-yard line. On the next play, Raby punched it in for the go-ahead score. With mandatory two-point attempts in effect after the first overtime, Cooper rolled right and hit Counihan for the successful conversion, giving Butte a 31–23 lead.
ARC answered with a touchdown of its own, but when the Beavers went to Crawford on a sweep for the potential game-tying conversion, the Roadrunner defense swarmed, stopping him short to end the contest in thrilling fashion.
The victory moves Butte to 2–0 in conference play, while American River's postseason hopes took a serious hit—they now need Butte to lose twice to stay alive in the race.
The Roadrunners return home for their next two games, hosting Shasta College on October 25 at 1 p.m., followed by a November 1 matchup against College of the Redwoods, which recently moved up to compete at the same level. They will finish out the regular season in Rocklin on November 8thwith hopefully the conference championship on the line.