Sophomore linebacker Will Honas sacks the Coffeyville quarterback. Honas had 13 tackles in the game. The Grizzlies were edged out in a 35-32 loss to Coffeyville on Saturday, Sept. 9. Matthew Will
Jordan Griffit
Student Sports Media
The Grizzlies came into the game against Coffeyville ranked No. 18 in the nation after a impressive win over conference rival Fort Scott. They were hoping to carry that momentum into this game but there were not many signs of life on the offensive end. Butler fell to the Red Ravens 35-32 on the road on Saturday, Sept. 9.
Coffeyville had a change at head coach as Jeff Leiker stepped in for Aaron Flores as Flores had a double lung transplant. Flores is now the director of operations at Coffeyville.
Turnovers were the story of the game for the Grizzlies as they turned the ball over four times to the Red Ravens. Coffeyville was able to break through the offensive line early and often to get to sophomore quarterback, Chris Helbig.
“Offensively, we played well enough to win,” Head Coach Tim Schaffner said. “We had 500-yards of offense and 32 points. That should be enough to win, but when it comes 21 points off turnovers, so you point that out to them and obviously everybody understands the mistakes.”
That forced a fumble on a sack and returned it for a touchdown.Butler got off to a good start on offense in the first quarter with Helbig launching a laser over the middle of the field to C.J Sims for a 54-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 7-7 in the first quarter.
“With our defense, we knew we had to go in there and be powerful,” freshman Charles Cole said. “We take pride in not giving up a lot of yards.”
Surprise starting quarterback for Coffeyville, freshman Jack Diamond, went deep multiple times in the contest and winded up launching a 26 yard fade in the corner of the endzone for six. All of a sudden, Coffeyville looked potent on offense and challenged the Butler defense for the first time in the game.
The special teams unit was almost able to respond with a quick touchdown, but were ruled out at the five yard line in Coffeyville territory. It was a classic pitch play on the kickoff return by sophomore Myron Mitchell to take it 90 yards. Helbig was then able to finish what the special teams started with a touchdown pass to sophomore Gerrit Prince.
A Red Raven pick six later and a Butler quarterback change with Florida Atlantic University transfer sophomore Steven Frank for two possessions and Butler looked completely lost on offense. Helbig eventually found his way back into the game and was tasked with making the last drive of the game, down 35-32. Butler was unable to drive the ball down the field as they had a turnover on downs on a very controversial no-call by the referee for defensive pass interference.
Coffeyville then took a few knees and won their first game of the season. The interest does not end there. An altercation between the two teams ensued after the game after a Coffeyville player shoved a Butler player in the chest. The skirmish had all of the players of both teams in the middle of it. After the scrum, those in attendance saw that a security guard had been injured and was being attended to. Two police cars arrived to the scene as well as an ambulance to escort the guard to the hospital.
Butler hosted Iowa Western on Saturday, Sept. 16 and will play at Dodge City at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23.
