Matthew Will
Student Sports Media
Survive and advance: This has been the way Butler has played thus far this season. After a heartbreaking 36-30 loss to Garden City last week, the Grizzlies hit the road to take on conference foe Highland. Butler defeated the Scotties 6-2, in quite unconventional fashion.
Butler controlled the first half, running the ball all but one time, the clock running almost nonstop. The Grizzlies had just over 100 rushing yards in the first half, along with one, negative three-yard pass.
Butler struck first on a two-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back, Isaiah Truss, late in the second quarter. The drive was helped with 38 penalty yards that drive alone. After the run, sophomore kicker Luke Winter’s extra point was blocked, resulting in only six points.
The Grizzlies ended the game with 89 rushing yards on 50 attempts and 14 passing yards off six attempts.
“Our [offensive] line did a great job,” sophomore quarterback Chris Helbig said. “And we were still able to pound it, so that was huge.”
Sophomore running back Kevon Abrams had 20 carries in the game for 66 yards, along with sophomore running backs Truss and Vinnie Shabazz both accounting for 23 yards.
“We knew the field was gonna be muddy coming in,” sophomore linebacker Will Honas said. “We kinda expected it to be a running game coming in.”
On the defensive side, Butler allowed just two first downs in the entire first half, and holding Highland to 0-of-5 on 3rd downs.
“As long as [they] don’t make mistakes, [they are] the best defense in the league,” Helbig said.
Butler’s defense held on in the second half, ending the game with 215 yards against them, 184 of them on the ground. The biggest stop of the day came on a 4th and goal at their own two, causing a Highland turnover on downs with under five minutes remaining.
After three rushing attempts, the Grizzlies could not get a first down and were forced to punt. After a timeout, they came out in punt formation yet performed an intentional safety. Because of this, Butler flipped field position and held Highland again to finish out the game.
“It [was] a mud bowl out here [today],” Honas said. “You gotta deal with it and keep your feet under you.”
After this win, the Grizzlies held on to the third-place position in the conference standings, behind Highland and Hutch.
In the newest national rankings, Butler rose to No. 16, with Highland at the No. 6 spot and Hutch at the No. 12 spot. Garden City took the last spot at No. 20.
The Grizzlies returned to action on Saturday, Oct. 14, when they hosted Air Force Prep at 7 p.m.
