GAME PREVIEW: 12th ranked Butler Football hosts Independence

EL DORADO, Kan. – The 12th ranked Butler Grizzlies will take on the Independence Pirates on Saturday at 7 p.m. from BG Products Veterans Sports Complex in El Dorado.

The Grizzlies (1-1, 1-1 KJCCC) are coming off a bye week which they used to get healthy and go over the mental aspects of the game. Last time out they defeated Highland 38-19 at home.

Independence (1-0, 1-0 KJCCC) enters Saturday's game the winners of two straight after dropping their season opener. Last week they took down Coffeyville 24-21 in Independence.

HOW TO WATCH AND LISTEN

The game will be streamed on ButlerGrizzlies.com/WatchLive. You can also download BCTV+, a new app where you can stream all of Butler's home events. The game can be heard on 98.7FM and 1330AM KNSS with Dennis Higgins on the call and Fayne Henson providing color.

TICKETS

Tickets can be purchased here (butlergrizzlies.com/tickets). Butler volleyball also hosts Garden City on Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets purchased for the volleyball match will gain fans entrance to the football game later in the evening.

GAME INFO

The game sponsor for Saturday's game is Kansas Secured Title, a proud sponsor of Butler football. Gates open at 5 p.m. and game programs with team rosters and other information will be sold for $3 at the game.      

PREVIEW

Butler will be looking to get its running game rolling in the right direction. The Grizzlies are averaging just 46.0 rushing yards per game in the two games they have played, and to get the offense moving in the right direction that will be a key factor. Sophomore Seth McGowan leads Butler with 20 rushes for 63 yards (3.1 yards per carry) and a touchdown. The talented back will look to open up the Indy defense on Saturday.

Sophomore Tanner Murray is Butler's starting quarterback and after a rough first outing for the entire offense at Garden City in the season opener, it looks like Murray is more comfortable following a week two win over Highland. In the win he finished 15-of-24 for 158 passing yards and two touchdowns. He took just two sacks compared to five at Garden City. His completion percentage jumped up from 43.8% vs. the Broncbusters to 62.5% vs. the Scotties.

Freshman Justin Stephens paces the Butler pass catchers with five receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown. 12 Grizzlies have caught a pass this season with eight different players having three or more receptions as Murray has spread the ball around.

The Grizzly defense has a challenge in store with Indy on Saturday as the Pirates quarterback Kai Kunz is coming off a 21-for-30, 212 passing yards and two touchdown performance in their 24-21 win over Coffeyville. Kunz is a true dual threat as he also leads Indy in rushing with 196 rushing yards on 47 attempts. Running back Kavion Martin is also a big play threat as he averages 6.9 yards per carry and he has 27 rushes for 187 yards and a touchdown this season.

Butler allowed -18 rushing yards in 27 attempts from the Scotties as sophomore Marlin Dean posted 3.0 tackles for loss. The Grizzly defense seems up to the test to put a stop to this Indy

THE MATCHUP

Saturday marks the 87th all time meeting between Butler and Indy. Butler leads the all-time series with Indy 55-28-3 with the first meeting coming in 1927. The Grizzlies snapped a three-game losing streak last season when they took down Indy on the road, 27-11. Since 2010, Butler is 9-4 vs. the Pirates, winning six straight from 2010-15.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

The Butler Grizzlies won their first game against Independence since 2018 and gained their first win at Emmmot Field since 2015, as they led wire to wire in a dominating 27-11 road victory against the Pirates in 2022. The Grizzly defense was stifling, holding the Pirates to only one offensive touchdown and just 185 yards of offense. Butler gave up just 38 yards on the ground and held the Pirates to 2.5 yards per play, also finishing with two interceptions and three sacks. Chris Rhodes and PJ Caldwell both ended up with picks on the victory. QB Jake Wolff played well, finishing 12-24 with 176 yards and a touchdown. AJ King finished with six catches, 61 yards with a touchdown. Azhaun Dingle carried the ball 12 times for 79-yards and a touchdown. Defensively, the Grizzlies were relentless. McPherson native Mason Thrash led the team in tackles from his linebacker position finishing with eight and one TFL. Malik Berry and Caleb Foster both had six tackles in the game. Berry had a sack, two tackles for loss and two pass breakups while Foster finished with 2.5 tackles for loss. Devaca Parks recovered a fumble.

LAST TIME OUT FOR BUTLER

The Grizzlies are fresh as they are coming off a bye week last week.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RANKINGS?

The Grizzlies (1-1, 1-1) stayed put as they were ranked 12th in the week three NJCAA D1 football poll. This ranking comes after Butler had an off week last week. The Grizzlies have been ranked in 18 straight polls with the last time they were unranked being the 2022 preseason poll. Butler is the second-highest ranked KJCCC team behind only top ranked Hutchinson (3-0, 0-0). Garden City (1-2, 1-0) slotted in at No. 14 while Dodge City (2-1, 2-0) was receiving votes.

Butler has two future non KJCCC opponents that were ranked as Iowa Western (3-0) is No. 2 and Iowa Central (2-1) sits at No. 6.

The Grizzlies will take on Independence (2-1, 1-0) on Saturday at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex at 7 p.m. CT.

KJCCC STANDINGS

NJCAA RANKINGS

Receiving Votes: Copiah-Lincoln, Dodge City, Monroe, Northeast Mississippi, Georgia Military