Football Preview: The 97th edition of Butler vs Coffeyville

The 97th edition of one of oldest rivalries in the Jayhawk Conference takes place on Saturday at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex as the Butler Grizzlies take on the Coffeyville Red Ravens in the 2022 edition of the rivalry.

The Grizzlies and the Red Ravens have locked horns 96 times, with the first meeting in 1929, two years after the program was founded. Coffeyville has a narrow lead in the series, leading the overall series 49-45-2. It was the Ravens who won in the last meeting between the two teams, notching a 35-21 victory over the Grizzlies in El Dorado last year. The Ravens put up 515 yards of offense in last year's contest.

Coffeyville comes into this week's contest with a 5-2 record, and they're currently on a three game winning streak. The Ravens come in fresh off a 59-0 stomping of Georgia Christian Community College and are ranked ninth in the nation. 

The Grizzlies come in ranked just behind Coffeyville at tenth, and it will be the third straight game between two top ten teams for the Grizzlies. Butler comes in at 5-3 on the season and 3-1 in conference play, and will hope to bounce back from a disappointing day that saw them lose 33-14 to second ranked Iowa Western. 

Coffeyville comes into this one averaging 32.3 points per game, which is 14th in the nation. The Red Ravens are led by quarterback Isaiah Velez and running back Romal Webb. Although the Red Ravens are ranked 9th in the contry, scoring has been a struggle at times for Coffeyville as they were held to single digits in their two losses, as Independence held them to five points while Hutch allowed only nine. 

Defensively, the Ravens come into the game allowing just 11.3 points per game, and they've held opponents rushing games to 78.6 yards per contest. The Ravens have two shutouts this season, holding Highland and Georgia Christian scoreless.  

LAST MEETING: November 7, 2021- Coffeyville, KS

The Butler Grizzlies football team, went on the road to the home of the Coffeyville Red Ravens, their historic rival and the top seed in the Jayhawk Conference playoffs and avenged an early season loss to the Ravens, winning in a rout, 48-7, at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Sunday. It's the first ever time an 8 seed has knocked off the 1 seed in the KJCCC playoffs. Butler's offensive dominance was powered by quarterback Gavin Screws, who had his best game of the season when the Grizzlies needed it most. Screws finished the day with 274 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions. He would lead the Grizzlies to 48 unanswered points after Coffeyville scored their first, and only, touchdown of the contest in the first quarter.

SERIES HISTORY:

It is one of, if not the biggest, rivalry in junior college football between the Red Ravens and the Butler Grizzlies... Grizzlies and Red Ravens have combined for 9 national championships... The Butler vs. Coffeyville rivalry started in 1929 with Butler winning the first ever meeting 14-13... Coffeyville leads the all-time series 49-45-2... From 1998 through 2013 the Grizzlies won 23 consecutive games versus the Red Ravens... In 2003 the Grizzlies overcame half time deficits of 28-3 and 31-3 to beat the Red Ravens on their way to winning the 2003 national championshi.. Grizzlies Hall of Fame coach Troy Morrell was 21-1 verses Coffeyville...

BOUNCING BACK:

The Grizzlies will look to bounce back after last week's loss. Butler's offense will look for a better performance after being held to just 155 yards of offense, their lowest of the season. Butler will be boostered by playing at home, as they hope to take advantage of their home field advantage once again. The Grizzlies are 3-1 at BG Stadium this season and they're undefeated under the lights in night games at home, with two top ten wins against Iowa Central and Garden City. Butler won 41-24 against the Tritons two weeks ago in El Dorado. It will be the penultimate home game for Brice Vignery's squad, with sophomore night coming against the Dodge City Conquistadors next week.

It's a crucial game in conference standings as the Grizzlies currently hold a one game lead over Coffeyville and Garden City in the race behind Hutchinson for second place. The Grizzlies are 3-1 in conference play while the Red Ravens come in at 2-2.