NEDERLAND - Ryan Butler's bad luck has blossomed into Tyler Thompson's much-appreciated good fortune as a pass catcher for the Nederland Bulldogs.

Just as it appeared that a Dustin Hood-to-Butler chemistry was developing in Nederland's delightfully refreshing early-season air, the marquee receiver was exiting before halftime of the West Orange-Stark game with a deep shin bruise.

Butler returned for one quarter against West Brook, but No. 1 has missed the the last 3 1/2 games with a deep calf bruise. When No. 1 stepped down for Nederland, No. 2 realized he had to step up.

"At first, I was sad," Thompson recalled ,as he pondered the loss of a Bulldogs team leader. More importantly to Tyler, Ryan was a good friend. "We've always been pretty close. We were on the same summer baseball team together. I was mad at first because I thought it was going to hurt the

team."

 

Thompson did not comprehend that Butler's injury opened a door for him to become Nederland's newest marquee receiver. That's how it has worked out in recent weeks against Friendswood and Beaumont Central.

"Without Butler in there, it's just given me more chances to make plays," Thompson said. "It's given me a chance to step up and help the team out."

Thompson has surpassed Butler by four receptions and four touchdowns, making his buddy want to come back and catch up with him. Sure enough, Butler plans a return for this Friday night when Nederland ventures to Lamar University for a key 20-4A duel at Beaumont Ozen.

Butler's return has agreed with Thompson, an unselfish, quiet fellow who gladly will share the stage with his friend.

"He's a great athlete," Thompson said. "If he gets the ball, and I don't get it as much, I'm fine with that, just as long as we come out on top. But I think both of us can make things happen."

When Thompson evaluates his recent rise to stardom, he tempers his accomplishments with the reality that he's not going to win any footraces with Butler. He knows Ryan runs a 40 in more of the 4.5-4.6 range, while he covers the same space in 4.7-4.8 time, if he's lucky.

How does that translate into football numbers? It enables Butler to have considerably more receiving yardage -- 11 catches for 280 yards, compared to Thompson's 15 for 215

"Hey, that's OK, it's fun to watch him play," Thompson said of Butler. "With him out there, they (opponents) can put their best defender on him and help me to get open... I don't have quite the speed to go like that. I'm not the fastest one."

Nederland head coach Larry Neumann understands the physical abilities of Thompson. That's all the more reason he appreciates Tyler's valuable recent contributions to the Bulldogs' program.

"Tyler's not blessed with exceptional athleticism," Neumann said. "But he's a hard worker and he makes plays... big plays in big games. I think his confidence has grown tremendously in the last few weeks."

More important to his success as a receiver has been the tremendous chemistry which appears to have developed with his quarterback in recent outings. The 17-year-old son of James and Paula Thompson has a quick first step, when he accelerates off the line. That can enable Thompson to get the

critical jump on a defender.

"The other night, we had press coverage (tight man) and Dustin (Hood) audibled to a slant," Neumann said. "Tyler made a great move, got inside the defender and Dustin hit him on the numbers."

Thompson explained that he achieved the inside leverage by making a cut to the outside. He believes his quarterback easily ranks as the best in District 20-4A, too. You think Tyler's partial? Of course he is and he should be.

"I didn't get as many passes from him at the beginning," Thompson said. "Once he started throwing to me some, he began to think he could get me more."

It's a chemistry that's benefitted Nederland's offense through the first half of the regular season. It could benefit the Bulldogs a whole lot more in the rest of the season. And it might never have developed this way without an unfortunate injury to Ryan Butler.

BULLDOG BITES

Ryan Butler has looked "close to 100 percent" in Tuesday's practice after favoring a deep calf bruise in the past two weeks. He is listed as probable for Friday's game with Ozen at Lamar University. Two more injured players, outside linebacker Steven Phillips (hamstring pull) and defensive tackle

Blake Amy (ankle sprain) returned to practice on Tuesday afternoon. Phillips did not play against Central. "We're probably as healthy as we've been since our first game," NHS coach Larry Neumann said.... The Port Arthur News Friday Night Experience will carry this week's Ozen/Nederland game on cable 7 Saturday, Monday and Tuesday nights at 7 p.m.... Top grades against Central belonged to QB Dustin Hood (93), WR Tyler Thompson (92), ILB Darin Smith (88), DE/LB Vincent Perricone and safety Tyler Thompson (86), TB Micah Mosley (85), C Brock Lemire and ILB Jordan Rash (84) . . . Two Nederland-PN-G games from the past will air Sunday night on Cable 7 as part of the Port Arthur News Friday Night Experience showing games from its archives. Scheduled for airing are the 1997 and 1998 games between the Bulldogs and Indians. The first game starts at 7 p.m.