Miami, OK - No. 7 Butler (KS) outlasted No. 13 Trinity Valley (TX) 33-23 in the Midwest Classic Bowl at Red Robertson Field in Miami, OK. The win marks the Grizzlies' second consecutive bowl victory and their first 10-win season since 2012.
Butler opened the game with an explosive offensive burst after posting three unanswered touchdowns within the first two quarters. The Grizzlies' second touchdown was a two-yard run from freshman running back Adarius Thomas. Thomas' game efforts included 180 rushing yards on 27 carries to earn Offensive Player of the Game honors. On the defensive side, Butler's Charlie Gray was named the Defensive Player of the Game. The sophomore linebacker posted four tackles and 1.5 sacks for -12 yards during the game.
Trinity Valley's kicker Eddie Godina's Midwest Classic Bowl performance placed his name in the NJCAA Football record books. Godina kicked a 56-yard field goal, his longest of the season, with 2:10 left in the second quarter, marking his 24th field goal of the season. The kick set a new NJCAA record for field goals in a season, a record previously set at 23 by Snow's (UT) Leonard Chitty in 1985. Godina added two more field goals in the game, a 25-yarder and a 35-yarder, bringing his season total to 26.
- With an offensive spark in the second quarter, the Cardinals narrowed the margin to 21-13 and entered the half with some momentum on their side.
- In the third quarter, the momentum swung back in favor of the Grizzlies. A Trinity Valley punt was blocked and recovered for a touchdown by Butler's Shareal Taylor to go up 28-13.
- Trinity Valley would quickly answer with a six-play, 96-yard drive that was completed with a two-yard touchdown run from Cordrick Dunn. A Godina field goal to close out the third quarter brought the Cardinals within five points, trailing 23-28.
- Butler's defense closed out the game with a safety with 4:33 left to play to increase the Grizzlies' lead by 10 points.
- The Grizzlies found success in the running game with 223 rushing yards compared to Trinity Valley's 95 yards on the ground. The Cardinals out-performed Butler in the air with 289 passing yards behind quarterback Jeremy Hunt's 247 passing yards and two touchdown performance.
- Butler finished the season with a 10-3 record. The Grizzlies win consecutive bowl games for the first time since 2007-2008, after topping Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in last year's Midwest Classic Bowl 34-30. Trinity Valley finished the season at to 7-4.
