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Butler Community College Athletics

Grizzlies Top No. 1 Hutchinson on the Road

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The No. 13 ranked Butler Grizzlies spoiled homecoming for the top ranked Hutchinson Blue Dragons with a 27-22 win on Saturday afternoon at Gowans Stadium.

Sophomore defensive back Craig Royal celebrates with teammates after the first of his two interceptions on the afternoon as No. 13 Butler defeated No. 1 Hutchinson at Gowans Stadium. Photo Courtesy: Chad Wittenberg
Sophomore defensive back Craig Royal celebrates with teammates after the first of his two interceptions on the afternoon as No. 13 Butler defeated No. 1 Hutchinson at Gowans Stadium. Photo Courtesy: Chad Wittenberg
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October 26, 2024

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The No. 13 ranked Butler Grizzlies spoiled homecoming for the top ranked Hutchinson Blue Dragons with a 27-22 win on Saturday afternoon at Gowans Stadium.

Butler (5-2, 4-0 KJCCC) sits atop the KJCCC standings with the win over the previously unbeaten Blue Dragons. The Grizzlies handed Hutchinson (7-1, 3-1) its first Jayhawk Conference loss since 2021. Butler is now 4-0 on the road this season.

The Grizzly defense forced six turnovers in a heroic effort on the road. Butler intercepted Hutchinson quarterback Christian Johnson five times including the game sealing pick from sophomore linebacker Landon Boss on Hutchinson's final drive. Sophomore defensive back Craig Royal intercepted two passes to go with 11 tackles while a pair of freshmen in defensive back Jalen Jones and linebacker Tae Bulock also added interceptions.

Butler was outgained 508-217 in total yards but the 21 points scored off takeaways coupled with an early lead being built helped the Grizzlies come away with the win.

The game headed to the fourth quarter with Butler leading 20-10 after a scoreless third.

On the second play of the fourth quarter, Jones intercepted Johnson off a tipped pass on the Grizzly 10-yard line and returned it 82 yards to the Blue Dragon eight-yard line. It set up a three-yard touchdown rush from freshman running back Markellus Bass that put Butler ahead 27-10.

Just three plays later Hutch answered with a 32-yard touchdown reception from Tre Brown. The extra point was no good making it 27-16 Grizzlies with 12:51 to play.

Butler went three and out on the ensuing possession and the Blue Dragons used the momentum to put together another scoring drive that ended in a four-yard touchdown rush from Johnson. They failed on the two-point conversion making it 27-22 Butler with just over eight minutes remaining

The final two Hutch possessions ended in interceptions with Royal and Boss making impressive plays on the ball. With 1:56 to play and the ball at the Hutch 25, Boss jumped a route over the middle to make his second career interception and returned it 22 yards. The Grizzlies took over with 1:41 on the clock and bled the clock out to secure the win.

Sophomore linebacker Gabe Welch led Butler with a career-high 14 total tackles to go with a sack, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry. Sophomore defensive back David Houston also finished with double-digit tackles, a career-high 11.

Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Seven Cloud was a force up front racking up nine tackles, 3.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss including a forced fumble.

Sophomore punter Chevy Edwards continually helped the Grizzlies pin Hutchinson deep in their own territory with four punts landing inside the 20 including two inside the five-yard line.

On the opening drive of the game, Bass ripped off a 59-yard rush on 3rd and 12, helping set up a one-yard touchdown rush from quarterback Mason McHugh to put the Grizzlies on top 6-0 after their first possession. Bass finished with 120 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

The Grizzlies were able to add two more touchdowns in the first half to take a 20-10 lead to halftime. Welch forced a fumble midway through the second quarter and defensive lineman Kanien White pounced on it at the Blue Dragon 25. Three plays later McHugh found receiver Cam Harris in the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown after Harris beat his man one-on-one to put Butler ahead 13-3 with 5:47 to play in the second quarter.

Hutchinson got the ball back after the Harris touchdown and Johnson threw his second interception of the game as Royal raced in front of a receiver and returned it 43 yards to the Hutch 25. McHugh tossed his second touchdown of the game just two plays later as he found Nolan Chambers in the front of the end zone and Chambers drug his foot to stay in, giving Butler a 20-3 lead.

McHugh finished 5-of-11 for 104 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Johnson was 18-33 for 286 yards, two total touchdowns and five interceptions for Hutch. Running back Waymond Jordan Jr. rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown on 20 totes. Tre Brown was the leading Blue Dragon receiver with three catches for 89 yards and a touchdown.

The Grizzlies are back on the road next, traveling to Council Bluffs for a game at No. 2 Iowa Western on Saturday, Nov. 2nd, at 1 p.m. The game can be heard on KNSS 98.7 FM/1330 AM with the 'Voice of the Grizzlies', Dennis Higgins, on the call.

NOTES:

  • The all-time series between the two now sits at 50-50-1.
  • The win for the Grizzlies snapped a six-game losing streak to the Blue Dragons.
  • Jalen Jones' 82-yard interception return is the eighth longest in Butler history.
  • Butler is now 4-0 on the road, 1-2 at home.
  • Cam Harris has a touchdown reception in back-to-back games
  • Markellus Bass has two straight games of 100 or more rushing yards.