GAME PREVIEW: Grizzlies and Broncbusters Set For Top-15 Matchup in El Dorado

The Teams: No. 11 Butler Grizzlies (3-2, 2-0) vs. No. 5 Garden City Broncbusters (5-1, 3-0)
Where: El Dorado, KS
Stadium: BG Products Veterans Sports Complex (6,000)
Time: 7 p.m. CT

Tickets: ButlerGrizzlies.com/Tickets or at the gate.
Streaming Platform: ButlerGrizzlies.com/WatchLive or the BCTV+ mobile app
Radio: KNSS 98.7 FM, 1330 AM (knssradio.com) 'Voice of the Grizzlies' Dennis Higgins on the call. Pregame at 6:30 p.m.

No. 11 Butler is back home for a Saturday night showdown with No. 5 Garden City at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex. The game will serve as Butler football's alumni game as well as Butler Community College's Family Weekend with tailgates for football alumni and students prior to the game with food and drink available.

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday will be the 90th all-time meeting between the Grizzlies and Broncbusters. The Busters lead the all-time series 44-42-3. Garden City is 8-2 in the last 10 vs. the Grizzlies dating back to 2015, the first year following Grizzly Hall of Fame head coach Troy Morrell's retirement. Under Morrell, Butler won 19 straight games over Garden City from 2001-2014. The Grizzlies were 19-3 vs. Garden City with Morrell roaming the sidelines as head coach with two of the losses both coming in 2000, Morrell's first season as head coach. Those two losses were Butler's only losses of the season, finishing 10-2.

Garden City won 10 straight from 1970-79. Butler won 8 straight from 1981-87. Butler is 11-3 all-time vs. Garden City in playoff games.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

AUGUST 24, 2023 – GARDEN CITY, Kan. – Garden City 27, Butler 22

No. 12 ranked Butler football nearly completed a comeback on the road at No. 9 Garden City, but came up just short as they dropped the season opener 27-22 at Broncbuster Stadium. With less than two minutes remaining in the game and the Grizzlies having only two timeouts trailing 27-22, there was only one option, and that was to try an onside kick. Freshman punter Isaac Saye proceeded to kick a dribbler that bounced off a Broncbuster and Butler freshman defensive lineman Seth LeClair jumped on it. Just like that the Grizzlies had new life on their own 46-yard line. Ultimately Garden City picked off a Tanner Murray pass on fourth and nine at the Garden City 26-yard line that ended the game as GCCC took over with 21 seconds left. Sophomore linebacker Eunique Valentine led Butler with 15 combined tackles as well as 1.5 tackles for loss. Murray was 14-of-32 for 195 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Seth McGowan led the rushing efforts with 10 carries for 45 yards and a touchdown while freshman receiver Justin Stephens led the Grizzly wide outs with three receptions for 54 yards.

LAST TIME OUT FOR BUTLER

The No. 13 ranked Butler football team earned a 16-10 conference road win over the No. 15 ranked Highland Scotties at Porter Family Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Butler (3-2, 2-0 KJCCC) remains unbeaten in conference play and on the road where they have picked up all three of their wins. Highland moves to 4-3 and 1-3 in KJCCC action.

The Grizzly defense held Highland to -2 yards rushing, forced four turnovers and tallied seven tackles for loss. Sophomore linebacker Landon Boss led the way with nine tackles including three tackles for loss. Butler also ended the game with nine pass breakups, all nine coming from different players. True freshman quarterback Jayson Zardavets took over for Mason McHugh and played the rest of the game from the second quarter on. It was the first action of his collegiate career, and he finished 10-of-22 for 120 yards and a touchdown, also rushing eight times for 34 yards. Zardavets tossed a 42-yard touchdown to Nick Brown down the seam at the end of the third quarter that saw Butler regain the lead, 13-10. It was Butler's only touchdown of the game. Grizzly freshman tailback Markellus Bass rushed 21 times for 84 yards in the game, serving as Butler's lead back. Both the carries and yardage were career-highs. Cam Harris finished as Butler's lead receiver with five catches for 46 yards. 

LAST TIME OUT FOR GARDEN CITY

Garden City had a bye week last week. Prior to that, they defeated Indy 57-7 on October 5th in Independence. Zahmari Palode-Gary and Dejuan Lacy combined for 243 rushing yards, Steve McCollom's defense held Independence to minus-51 yards on the ground. The Broncbusters (5-1, 3-0 KJCCC) put together one of the most dominating defensive performances in school history. They limited the Pirates to just 49 total yards including minus-1.6 yards per carry, finishing off a three-game demolition in which they outscored Ellsworth, Community Christian, and Independence, 189-10.

SCOUTING THE BUSTERS

Garden City lost their first game of the season, 34-20, to Navarro College at home and since then have ripped off five straight wins. They are 3-0 in conference play with wins over Dodge City, Coffeyville and Independence.

• Garden City averages 318.5 rushing yards per game which is the most in the NJCAA.
• Their 29 rushing touchdowns and 1911 rushing yards are both second most in the NJCAA, behind only Georgia Military.
• Running back Dejuan Lacy leads the Broncbuster rushing attack, averaging 102.3 yards per game and totaling 614 yards and eight touchdowns on the season. The 614 yards is fourth best in the nation. Lacy has rushed for over 100 yards in four consecutive games and has a rush of over 60 yards in the last two games.
• Garden City averages 46.0 points per game, having scored 50+ three times in wins over Ellsworth (69-3), Community Christian (63-0) and Independence (57-0). The 46.0 points per game ranks third best in the NJCAA.
• Garden City allows just 12.7 points per game to its opponents. That is good for third fewest in the NJCAA, falling in right behind Butler (12.6).
• Their 134.5 passing yards per game allowed is third fewest in the NJCAA.

SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES

Butler moved to 2-0 in conference play last week with a 16-10 road win over Highland. The Grizzlies are 3-2 with losses to NEO A&M and No. 3 Snow and wins over Ellsworth, Independence and Highland. All three of Butler's wins have been on the road.

• Butler has used three quarterbacks this season. Mason McHugh started last week at Highland before leaving with an injury, making way for true freshman Jayson Zardavets to make his first collegiate appearance.
• The Grizzlies are allowing just 98.6 rush yards per game, 14th fewest in the country. Garden City leads the nation with 318.5 rushing yards per game.
• In five games, Butler has had three different receivers lead them in receiving. Nolan Chambers, Daveon Walker and Cam Harris. Harris leads Butler with 12 receptions but Walker paces the Grizzlies with 186 receiving yards. Harris led Butler with five receptions for 46 yards at Highland.
• Butler sophomore linebacker Landon Boss has led the Grizzlies in tackles for the past three games and leads the team in total tackles on the season with 40. He also leads Butler with 8.5 tackles for loss on the year.
• Defensive back Craig Royal leads the Grizzlies with six pass breakups this season. The six breakups is tied for second best in the country as well as the KJCCC.
• The last Grizzly quarterback to throw for 200 or more yards in a game was Tanner Murray in week six of the 2023 season when he threw for 251 yards in a win over Iowa Central.
• Butler has outscored opponents 30-0 in the first quarter this season.
• When the Butler offense reaches the red zone, it usually scores. The Grizzlies are 20-21 this season scoring in the red zone, with 12 of those 20 being touchdowns.
• The Grizzly offense has spread the wealth evenly, picking up 36 first downs via rush and 35 via pass.
• The Grizzlies six interceptions is tied for second in the KJCCC. Six different Grizzlies have interceptions.

KJCCC Standings

2024 NJCAA DI Football Poll | Week 8 - 10-14-24

Receiving Votes: Cisco, Dodge City, Copiah-Lincoln