Grizzlies Drop Season Finale to Coffeyville

EL DORADO, Kan. – The 10th ranked Butler Grizzlies came up short in the 2024 season finale Saturday afternoon, falling 15-14 to No. 8 Coffeyville at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex.

Grizzlies Drop Season Finale to Coffeyville
November 23, 2024

EL DORADO, Kan. – The 10th ranked Butler Grizzlies came up short in the 2024 season finale Saturday afternoon, falling 15-14 to No. 8 Coffeyville at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex.

Butler (7-4, 5-1 KJCCC) led for 58:15 minutes of regulation but Coffeyville (9-2, 5-1) scored its lone touchdown of the game with 1:45 to play to take the 15-14 lead that held.

The Red Ravens got the ball with 4:32 to play on their own 47-yard line following a Butler punt. Following a delay of game and a quarterback sack by Butler freshman defensive lineman Mark Debiak, Coffeyville was backed up to 3rd and 20 at their own 37. Red Raven quarterback Joseph Vick then scrambled for 24 yards on third down to pick the first down up. Five plays later Vick found Jalile Bost for a 33-yard touchdown pass over the middle to make it 15-14 with 1:45 to play.

The Grizzlies got as far as they Coffeyville 46-yard line on the final drive but were unable to get in field goal position.

Both of Butler's touchdowns in the game were scored by defensive players.

Sophomore linebacker Landon Boss got the game's scoring started as he picked off Vick early in the first quarter and ran it back 37-yards for a pick-six making it 7-0. It was Boss's third interception of the season, and he also tallied a game-high 14 tackles running his tally up to 90 on the season.

Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Seven Cloud was responsible for the other Grizzly touchdown. Cloud lined up at running back on fourth down and two from the Coffeyville 11 on Butler's first drive of the second half. He took the handoff to the left side and ran to the outside, shucking a defender off and making a dive toward the pylon to put Butler up 14-5.

Butler quarterback Jayson Zardavets was 12-of-24 through the air for 110 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions. Daveon Walker led Butler receiving for a second straight week, finishing with three catches for 54 yards.

The Grizzlies were outgained in total yards 347-191. Coffeyville ran 20 more plays (76-56) and won the time of possession battle (33:32 to 26:28).

Vick was 17-of-31 with 180 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Steven Robinson led the Ravens with 92 yards on 17 carries. Bost finished with three catches for 50 yards and the touchdown. Kicker Roan McCarthy was 2-4 for Coffeyville, missing from 44 and 29 yards out.

Butler's Aidan Battle had a 30-yard field goal blocked early in the second quarter.

Freshman safety Gerard Reed III added 11 tackles, a tackles for loss and a pass breakup for Butler.

Butler finishes 7-4 on the season and won a share of the KJCCC title.