COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Butler football team still enjoys a lofty national ranking despite a season-opening loss. The Grizzlies were ranked No. 3 in the NJCAA preseason poll after finishing as national runner-up a year ago and fell just one spot to No. 4 in this week's rankings.
In the first game of the year, Butler went on the road and lost an overtime contest, 23-16, to the nation's No. 1-ranked team, Navarro. Butler then returned home last Saturday and dismantled Fort Scott, 43-12.
National voters showed the Grizzlies respect for that close loss to the defending national champions, and only dropped Butler one spot in the latest poll. Two Texas schools, Navarro and Blinn, are the top two teams in this week's poll. Navarro, after its narrow home win, went on the road and defeated No. 10 Georgia Military 29-18.
Butler, 1-1 overall and 1-0 in Jayhawk Conference play, is on the road this week to face Highland. The game will kickoff at 1 p.m. It can be heard locally on KNSS Radio 1330 AM or online anywhere at www.knssradio.com