SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk's Seth Butler may not be superstitious when it comes to seeing black cats or walking under a ladder, but overcoming two injuries became easier with the support of his brother.
Seth hyperextended his knee in a Wisconsin Dells basketball tournament in July that sidelined him one month. Then one week before football practice kicked off in August, he suffered a freak accident. Seth was using a sweep auger to clean a grain bin when it went out of control and sliced open his lower leg. He had to get 34 stitches and it was another setback that cost him about a week of practices at the start of the season.
Fast forward three months and, with the support of his younger brother Heath Butler, Seth and Black Hawk are gearing up to play in a WIAA Division 7 state championship game against defending champion Glenwood City at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
"We have each other's back no matter where we go," Seth said of his brother Heath. "He was there for me when I was injured. He would always ask me after practice how my leg was and say that they needed me to get back as soon as I could."
Seth understands he dodged a bullet with a farming accident that could have been much worse.
"I was lucky it didn't hit any tendons or I wouldn't have been able to play football," he said. "I favored my leg until I could get through it. I just needed time to heal. I just wanted to come back as fast as I could."
The Butler brothers are each two-way starters. Seth is a starting safety on defense and tight end on offense. Heath is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound quarterback and also starts at defensive back for a team that has three shutouts this year.
"It's always been my goal to play at state with my brother," Seth said.
Heath didn't have any doubts that Seth would do everything he could to return to the field.
"I just figured he would be back and ready to play," Heath said.
The communication between the Butlers on offense and defense is on display each game.
"He (Seth) has helped me line up on defense," Heath said. "I kind of tell him what to do on offense. I kind of know what he is thinking and he knows what I'm thinking."
Playing for a state title at Camp Randall could bring some nervous moments, but the Butler brothers are taking it all in stride. It's the team's first state appearance since 1998.
"It's a dream come true," Heath said of playing for a gold ball at Camp Randall. "Playing at Camp Randall is a huge motivation for us. It will be a big momentum boost. We are here for each other. It's an opportunity I will remember forever."
Seth wears a knee brace now to protect against another hyperextended knee injury.
"Sometimes I tweak it, but I can play through it," he said.
Seth hyperextended his knee in a Wisconsin Dells basketball tournament in July that sidelined him one month. Then one week before football practice kicked off in August, he suffered a freak accident. Seth was using a sweep auger to clean a grain bin when it went out of control and sliced open his lower leg. He had to get 34 stitches and it was another setback that cost him about a week of practices at the start of the season.
Fast forward three months and, with the support of his younger brother Heath Butler, Seth and Black Hawk are gearing up to play in a WIAA Division 7 state championship game against defending champion Glenwood City at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
"We have each other's back no matter where we go," Seth said of his brother Heath. "He was there for me when I was injured. He would always ask me after practice how my leg was and say that they needed me to get back as soon as I could."
Seth understands he dodged a bullet with a farming accident that could have been much worse.
"I was lucky it didn't hit any tendons or I wouldn't have been able to play football," he said. "I favored my leg until I could get through it. I just needed time to heal. I just wanted to come back as fast as I could."
The Butler brothers are each two-way starters. Seth is a starting safety on defense and tight end on offense. Heath is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound quarterback and also starts at defensive back for a team that has three shutouts this year.
"It's always been my goal to play at state with my brother," Seth said.
Heath didn't have any doubts that Seth would do everything he could to return to the field.
"I just figured he would be back and ready to play," Heath said.
The communication between the Butlers on offense and defense is on display each game.
"He (Seth) has helped me line up on defense," Heath said. "I kind of tell him what to do on offense. I kind of know what he is thinking and he knows what I'm thinking."
Playing for a state title at Camp Randall could bring some nervous moments, but the Butler brothers are taking it all in stride. It's the team's first state appearance since 1998.
"It's a dream come true," Heath said of playing for a gold ball at Camp Randall. "Playing at Camp Randall is a huge motivation for us. It will be a big momentum boost. We are here for each other. It's an opportunity I will remember forever."
Seth wears a knee brace now to protect against another hyperextended knee injury.
"Sometimes I tweak it, but I can play through it," he said.
