GAME PREVIEW: Conference Play Begins in Independence for Butler Football

The Teams: Butler Grizzlies (1-1) at Independence Pirates (1-1)

Where: Independence, KS

When: Saturday, Sept. 14th at 1 p.m. CT

Stadium: Emmot Field (3,500)

Time: 1 p.m. CT

Streaming: KJCCCSports.net

Radio: KNSS 98.7 FM/1330 AM (knssradio.com) 1 p.m. 'Voice of the Grizzlies' Dennis Higgins on the call

The Butler football squad opens conference play on Saturday as they travel to Independence to take on the Indy Pirates at Emmot Field. The game pits two 1-1 squads against each other with both searching for a win to propel them into the rest of the conference slate.

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday will be the 88th all-time meeting for the Grizzlies and Pirates. Butler leads the series 56-28-3 and have won two straight games in the series. Under Brice Vignery the Grizzlies are 2-0 vs. the Pirates. They snapped a three-game losing streak (2019-21) in 2022. Since 2010, Butler is 10-4 vs. the Pirates, winning six straight from 2010-15.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

SEPTEMBER 16, 2023 – EL DORADO, Kan. – Butler 26, Indy 20

All three phases came to play for Butler as the 12th ranked Grizzlies took down the Independence Pirates, 26-20. The Grizzlies finished with 367 total yards of offense, blocked three kicks and finished with 11 tackles for loss, three from defensive lineman Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder. Quarterback Tanner Murray finished 12-of-25 for 245 yards, a career-high, and two touchdowns as well as an interception. He also led the Grizzlies with 49 rushing yards on seven carries. Wide receiver Jamarion McDougle led the Grizzly pass catchers with 82 yards on two receptions, one being a 61-yard touchdown in the second quarter to put Butler ahead 8-6. Ashton Levells and Kaden White blocked extra points while Jeremy Fowler blocked a field goal. Defensively Butler was led by Alcorn-Crowder's two sacks (three TFL) and forced fumble. Linebacker Udoka Ezeani led the way with eight tackles.

LOOKING AT INDY

The Pirates are 1-1 and are coming off a 22-7 win on the road at NEO, a team Butler lost 26-23 to in overtime in the Grizzlies' home opener. In Indy's season opener, they lost 37-30 in overtime to Trinity Valley CC in Athens, Texas. Pirate quarterback Isaiah Nathaniel has completed 48.6% of his passes (34-of-70) this season and is passing for 177.0 yards per game (second best in KJCCC) with one touchdown through the air. The Pirate ground game has been strong with two running backs sharing the bulk of the load. Breyahn Townsend has 170 yards on 26 carries (6.5 ypc) to go with two touchdowns in two games. Cortez Fisher has rushed for 157 yards on 27 carries (5.8 ypc) with two touchdowns.

Defensively, Indy leads the KJCCC with four interceptions and 13 sacks this season. Defensive lineman Ajahvea Robinson leads the conference with 5.5 sacks through two games.

LAST TIME OUT FOR BUTLER

Butler defeated Ellsworth 66-0 on the road in Iowa Falls for the Grizzlies first win of 2024. The 66-point margin of victory is the largest for Butler since 2013 when they downed Independence 79-0. The Grizzlies rolled up 549 total yards of offense and the defense shut the Panthers out for Butler's first shutout of an NJCAA team since 2018 when they defeated Coffeyville 22-0 in El Dorado. Redshirt freshman receiver Jaylin Williams hauled in three touchdowns on three receptions finishing with 68 yards. Receiver Daveon Walker led the Grizzlies with 132 receiving yards on five catches. Redshirt sophomore Vinny Smith rumbled for 157 rushing yards on 16 carries (9.8 YPC), including a 61-yard touchdown run. Freshman Markellus Bass rushed for 44 yards and two touchdowns. The Grizzlies used two quarterbacks in Mac Armstrong and Mason McHugh. Both tossed two touchdowns with Armstrong finishing 7-of-15 for 181 yards, adding a rushing touchdown as well. McHugh was 8-of-14 for 141 yards through the air. Da'Realyst Clark scored the first touchdown of the game for Butler on an 85-yard punt return on the first play of the second quarter. Clark's return prowess flashed for a second consecutive week, but this time he broke through for the touchdown after returning the opening kickoff 64 yards a week ago vs. NEO before being brought down on the NEO 23 yard line. The Grizzly defense forced 11 Ellsworth punts as well as two turnover on downs. They held the Panthers to 231 total yards as Jaylen Lawrence and Latori Williams each led the Grizzlies with six tackles. Williams added 1.5 tackles for loss. Butler forced two turnovers, a fumble forced by defensive tackle Jaden Roper and recovered by linebacker Landon Boss early in the third quarter and an interception from linebacker Gabe Welch on the next Panther possession. Kicker Aidan Battle was 8-8 on extra points, also adding a 42-yard field goal which was the first points of the game.

TWO QUARTERBACK SYSTEM

In both of Butler's games this season they have used two quarterbacks. Redshirt freshmen Mac Armstrong and Mason McHugh have split the duties and seen action in both games. Armstrong has started both games and is completing 51.9% of his passes (14-of-27) for 254 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. McHugh is completing 52.9% of his passes (9-of-17) for 146 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. In the win at Ellsworth, both quarterbacks threw for two touchdowns with Armstrong throwing for 181 yards and McHugh 141. Armstrong is a graduate of Bishop Miege in Kansas City and spent the 2023 season redshirting for the Grizzlies. McHugh, a native of Ferdinand, Idaho, spent the 2023 season redshirting at Appalachian State.

GRIZZLY DEFENSE

Defensive lineman Seven Cloud leads the Grizzlies with 13.0 total tackles this season, also adding 1.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The only defensive lineman in the conference with more tackles than Cloud is Highland's Javen Augustus with 14.0. Linebacker Landon Boss leads the team with 3.0 tackles for loss, also sitting at 12 total tackles which is second best on the team.

The Butler defense is allowing 123.0 passing yards per game, second best in the conference. The 149.0 rushing yards per game is sixth worst in the league ahead of only Dodge City (186.0).

SPECIAL TEAMS IMPRESSING

Punt/kick returner Da'Realyst Clark scored the first touchdown of the game for Butler vs. Ellsworth on an 85-yard punt return on the first play of the second quarter. Clark's return prowess flashed for a second consecutive week, but this time he broke through for the touchdown after returning the opening kickoff 64 yards at home vs. NEO before being brought down on the NEO 23 yard line.

Sophomore kicker Aidan Battle is now 10-10 on extra points this season after going 8-8 at Ellsworth. He has knocked through 4-of-5 field goals with a long of 42-yards.

The Grizzlies team average for punt returns is 22.4 and 49.0 on kickoff returns.

LOCKING DOWN THE SUNFLOWER STATE

Of Butler's 77 student-athletes on roster, 27 of them are from the state of Kansas which comes out to about 35% of the roster. That number leads the conference, you can see the rest below.

27 – Butler

25 – Hutchinson

22 – Highland

21 – Coffeyville

20 – Garden City

13 – Dodge City

 6  – Independence

 2024 NJCAA DI Football Poll | Week Three - 9-9-24

Receiving Votes: Itawamba, Holmes, Butler, Northwest Mississippi

KJCCC STANDINGS