Butler controls second half in 33-19 win over Air Force Prep

The Butler football team snapped a halftime tie with two second-half touchdowns on its way to a 33-19 win over Air Force Prep on Saturday at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex.

Butler's 14 points in the second half were the only points scored in the second half. The game-winning touchdown came early in the third quarter on an electrifying 30-yard run by C.J. Sims. Butler added another touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 51-yard pass from David Isreal to Josh Wilkes to cap the scoring.

Butler had led 14-0 in the first half. The opening touchdown came on a 2-yard run by Jake Seurer. Seurer, a starting linebacker, lined up in the wildcat formation and took the snap, plunging into the end zone to give Butler a 7-0 lead with 1:24 left in the first quarter.

Moments later, Tony Jones recovered an Air Force Prep fumble. Butler went to work again, capping a 6-play drive with a 2-yard run by Isaiah Truss, making it 14-0 with 14:25 left in the second quarter.

On its next possession, Air Force Prep drove into Butler territory and then lined up for a 54-yard field goal. Jared Porter drilled the kick, which is the longest in five-year history of BG Products Veterans Sports Complex.

The long kick seemed to energize Air Force Prep. After a short Butler punt, Prep got the ball back and drove 37 yards for a touchdown, getting the score on a 10-yard pass from Dan Morris to Luke Miller.

The extra point kick was blocked by Justin Nwachukwu and picked up by Fontez Davis, who returned the ball 90 yards to give Butler two points, making the score 16-9 with 8:32 left in the half.

Butler turned the ball over on its next drive and Air Force Prep was in business again. Dan Morris kept the ball and crashed into the end zone from a yard out. The extra point kick was good and the game was tied 16-16.

Air Force Prep would get its fourth score of the second quarter when Porter knocked in a 28-yard field goal with just 1:13 left in the half.

Trailing 19-16, Butler went with a hurry-up offense, getting into Air Force Prep territory. Luke Winter knocked in a 31-yard field as time expired, tying the game 19-19 at the half. 

Air Force Prep had the ball to start the second half, but Tony Jones forced a fumble and Will Honas recovered it. On the very next play, Sims started left, then broke right and outran the defense for the game-winning touchdown.  

The Butler defense then forced Air Force Prep to punt on five straight possessions before turning it over on downs on the final two possessions of the game.

Butler threw for 216 yards, but completed less than half its passes (11-of-23) with two quarterbacks. Isaiah Truss led Butler in rushing with 16 carries for 63 yards. Josh Wilkes was Butler's leading receiver with three receptions for 122 yards.

In addition to rushing for a touchdown, Jake Seurer led Butler with 11 tackles. Will Honas had nine tackles, including two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. The defense also finished with a season-high 12 tackles for a loss.

Butler is now 4-3 on the season with two straight wins. Butler gets back into conference play with a home game against Hutchinson (4-3) next Saturday at 7 p.m.

NOTES: Butler is now 23-2-0 overall against Air Force Prep and remains undefeated (14-0-0) against the Huskies in games played in El Dorado. The Grizzlies have now defeated the Huskies in 10 straight games... Wilkes was the second Butler receiver to have 100 receiving yards or more in a game this season. C.J. Sims had 112 yards against Coffeyville back on Sept. 10.