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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Butler Grizzlies laid their claim to their fifth NJCAA National Championship with a dominating 56-27 win over the Snow College Badgers in the Top of the Mountains Bowl in Rice-Eccles Stadium.

The win gave the Grizzlies their fifth national championship in school history. The Top of the Mountains Bowl matched the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the nation. Snow carried that No. 1 ranking, but the Badgers never led in the game, as Butler rolled up an astounding 529 yards of total offense.

The first half of the game was played under heavy snowfall. Tractors were brought on to clear the field, but they failed to keep up with the snow, which reached an accumulation of two inches on the field. Early on, the weather seemed to affect Snow College the most. The Badgers punted on their first possession, but managed a kick that went just six yards. The short kick gave Butler a short field, and Beau Johnson capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.

Snow answered with a controversial drive that led to a touchdown. Butler defensive back Shaunquez Powell came up with an interception, appeared to take a knee and threw the ball down in celebration. The officiating crew, however, ruled that Powell fumbled the ball, giving it back to Snow. The Badgers scored on a 2-yard run by Niu Takai to make the score 7-7.

Butler, as it did all day, cranked up its powerful offense once again. Mike Garrison completed a 35-yard pass to Andre Jones, setting up a 7-yard touchdown run by Randell Bell. Snow would score another touchdown, getting within a point, but could not tie the game when the extra-point kick was blocked by Butler’s Markus White. Butler extended the lead when Garrison threw a 31-yard scoring pass to Wayne Bonner to make it 21-13 at halftime.

Butler opened up the game in the second half. On the second play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Beau Johnson broke his longest touchdown run of the season, racing 80 yards to make the score 28-13. After forcing another Snow punt, Butler’s offense again put on a show, this time with a 64-yard touchdown pass to Wayne Bonner that gave Butler a 35-13 lead. The Grizzlies continued to roll, as Garrison threw his third touchdown – a 36-yard scoring pass to Sam Jacobsen, who made the catch despite defensive interference.

Beau Johnson, who was named the Offensive MVP for Butler, ran the ball 26 times for 223 yards. Butler’s Defensive MVP was Markus White, who had six tackles – including two tackles for a loss, a quarterback sack, a pass deflection and a blocked kick.