DODGE CITY, Kan. – In what was a milestone Saturday for Butler football and Butler athletics on the broadcast side, the football side was anything but as the Grizzlies lost 31-10 to No. 9 Dodge City at Memorial Stadium for the first time since 1995.
The Grizzlies (4-5, 2-4 KJCCC) dropped to below .500 for the first time since the week one loss to Garden City with the loss to the Conquistadors (6-3, 4-1 KJCCC). The game was streamed on ESPN+, which students and staff from BCTV produced. It was the first ever Butler athletics event to air on 'the worldwide leader in sports' in any capacity.
Butler led 10-7 after the first quarter but was unable to score the rest of the game as Dodge City outscored the Grizzlies 24-0 over the final three quarters.
The game got off to a bad start for the Grizzlies as Dodge City wide receiver Edward Wilson returned the game opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown.
Butler came back with its only touchdown drive of the game, a six play, 45-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tanner Murray to wide receiver Nick Brown to tie the game at 7-7 with 6:37 to go in the first quarter.
Murray made his return to the starting lineup after missing the loss at Coffeyville a week ago with an injury. He was 16-of-38 passing for 194 yards and a touchdown. He also led the Grizzlies in rushing with seven rushes for 39 yards with a long rush of 37.
Dodge City had its starting quarterback Treyvon Jefferson and starting running back Jalen Smith both knocked out of the game with injuries. Backup quarterback Bryce Conover was 9-of-15 for 111 yards and a touchdown while backup running back Stone Wilson rushed 18 times for 77 yards and two touchdowns as they led the Conqs to victory.
As a team Butler was just 2-of-14 on third down, a 14% conversion rate. Team stats were close in most categories with the Grizzlies inability to sustain drives after the first quarter the back breaker. Dodge City outgained Butler 287-268 and the time of possession was 32:49 for the Conqs and 27:11 for Butler.
The Grizzlies return to action in their final game of the season on Nov. 11 as Ellsworth travels to El Dorado for a 1:30 p.m. CT kickoff.
