No. 2 Hereford's Pat Butt is known mostly as a running back. But in last night's 14-7 Class 2A state quarterfinal win at 10th-ranked Southern of Anne Arundel County, he also answered the call as a defensive back.

Butt had a game-high 125 yards - 98 in the first half - and clinched the game on an interception with 23 seconds to play as the defending state champion Bulls, bidding for their third state title, won their 24th straight game.

The Bulls (11-0) also earned a berth in their seventh straight state semifinal against the winner of today's quarterfinal between No. 5 Edmondson (10-0) and No. 13 City (7-3) at Poly.

Backfield mate Adam Goloboski ran for 62 yards and his 25th rushing touchdown, and set a school rushing record with 1,834 yards. The old record was 1,812 by Todd Leitzel.

"I don't usually play defense, but they kind of threw me out there," said Butt, who has 1,140 yards and 17 touchdowns. "It was tough running all night tonight. They're a great team, but we had to leave it all out on the field."

All of the scoring came in the first half.

Ryan Shupert's 11-yard touchdown run and John Dinkins' first of two extra-point kicks capped Hereford's 11-play, 77-yard drive for a 7-0 lead with 2:55 left in the first quarter.

But Southern (7-4) came back with Chris Lee's 14-yard run and Mike Turner's extra point, ending a six-play, 63-yard drive that included Joe Brown's 32-yard run. That made it 7-7 with 17 seconds left in the first half.

Hereford went ahead 14-7 after an eight-play, 61-yard drive ended with Goloboski's 1-yard run with 8:54 left before halftime.

Then the defenses took over.

Hereford defensive ends Billy Reuter (three sacks, one forced fumble) and Zach Armiger (one sack) contained option quarterback Justin Holland in Southern's wishbone offense. Ray Wittelberger intercepted his 10th pass, and Nate Wdowiak, Henry Julio and Jamie Estep clogged the middle.

Shupert made two stops to prevent touchdowns in the first half - each against Bobby Atwell. He dropped Atwell at Hereford's 26 with 19 seconds left in the first half, and again at Hereford's 5 after a 16-yard gain as the first half ended.

But the Bulldogs also did their damage on defense, led by Derrelle Taylor, Chris Knight, Holland and Ray Matula, limiting Butt to only 27 second-half yards.

Hereford was averaging 45.4 points entering the game.