ST. GEORGE, Utah - The Butler football team followed its own script on its way to winning the 2003 National Championship.

The team that had come-from-behind to win five of its games during the regular season found itself trailing at halftime of the Dixie Rotary Bowl, as No. 2 Dixie (Utah) held a 10-6 lead.

True to the form that kept them undefeated all year, Butler rallied in the second half and claimed a 14-10 win over Dixie. The victory gave the Grizzlies a perfect 12-0 record and the national championship – Butler’s fourth title and third in the past six seasons.

"It’s fitting," said Butler quarterback Chad Wilmott. "It's a perfect ending to the story."

Butler's defense was stellar for the entire game, allowing Dixie only 138 yards of total offense and limiting the Rebels to just nine yards in the second half. 

The Rebels took the first lead of the contest on a field goal midway through the first quarter. Dixie's lead increased to 10-0 in the second quarter when Rebels defensive back Brandon Sanchez stripped the ball away from Butler running back Joe Harris and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown.

Butler would answer on the ensuing drive as Reggie Smith returned the Dixie kickoff to the Rebels 25-yard line. Grizzly running back Terry Petrie would punch the ball in from one yard out to get Butler on the board. However, the extra-point attempt was missed and Dixie led 10-6 going into halftime.

The Grizzlies opened the third quarter with a 14-play, 61-yard drive that ate up eight minutes off the clock. Butler quarterback Chad Wilmott scrambled 12 yards on a key third-down play, then completed a 16-yard pass to Jimmie Beard.

Facing third-and-goal from the 2-yard line, Wilmott rolled to his right looking to pass, then turned and outraced the Rebel defense to the left corner of the end zone to give Butler its first lead. Again, the Grizzlies missed the extra point, but had a 12-10 advantage over the Rebels.

Butler nearly padded the lead with another touchdown in the fourth quarter, but Harris fumbled the ball at the 1-yard line on a third-down carry.

The Grizzly defense added the final two points of the contest with just over six minutes remaining when defensive back David Irons tackled Rebel punter Jake Hendy in the end zone.

Late in the game, Butler's John Jordan and Troy Johnson made interceptions to seal the victory.

Grizzly All-American linebacker Lee Foliaki finished with 11 tackles, two quarterback sacks and two tackles for a loss of 19 yards, while defensive end Jeremy Mincey had six tackles, a sack and two tackles for losses.