Grizzlies Rout Ellsworth for 1st Win of 2024

IOWA FALLS, Iowa – Butler football put together a dominant performance Saturday afternoon, defeating the Ellsworth Panthers 66-0 at Cadet Football Field.

Butler (1-1) bounced back nicely after dropping an overtime decision to NEO at home in week one. Ellsworth moves to 0-2. 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.

Butler exited the first quarter leading just 3-0, seeing two of three drives in the quarter end in Chevy Edwards punts.

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 middle quarters saw Butler outscore Ellsworth 56-0 including 35 third quarter points. Those 35 third quarter points were the most in a quarter vs. an NJCAA team for the Grizzlies since 2011 when they also scored 35 points in the second quarter of a 66-7 win at Dodge City.

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.

Butler returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 14th, as they travel to Independence for a 1 p.m. game with the Independence Pirates.