Mathew Will & Tyler Krenzin
Lantern Columnists
Home Games= *
Bye Weeks take place on Week 2 and Week 8
Week 1. Aug. 25, 2018 – Butler @ Iowa Central
Matthew: After losing to Iowa Central 7-0 in late November in the worst loss in program history, Butler has a sour taste in their mouth. The loss ended an impressive season at 7-3, halting their potential bowl game dreams. The Grizzlies need a win on Saturday, Aug. 25 in order to not only keep their coach, but also their fans.
Butler: 24, Iowa Central: 7. Butler: (1-0).
Tyler: To lose this game again would be the death of this football program. Schaffner got a contract extension over the break, but if Butler loses again to the worst team in JUCO football that extension might be the last that he gets.
Butler: 51, Iowa Central: 14. Butler: (1-0).
Week 3. Sept. 8, 2018 – Butler @ Highland
Matthew: With a win behind them, a reformed Grizzlies team will look to continue their winning ways against Highland. Butler has won five of the last six against the Scotties, and that success will continue. Butler escapes in this one.
Butler: 21, Highland: 17. Butler (2-0).
Tyler: Talk about the Garbage Bowl. Butler traveled to Highland last year and only left with a 6-2 victory. 6 to freaking 2. If it wasn’t for the idea to take the safety at the end of the game to gain field position, we could’ve been looking at a 7-6 loss for the Grizzlies. In my mind, this is another must win for the Grizzlies if they want to prove they’re worth their salt.
Butler: 21, Highland: 20. Butler (2-0).
Week 4. Sept. 15, 2018 – Coffeyville @ Butler*
Matthew: After an unsportsmanlike performance during the handshake line of last year, this game will continue to have tons of emotion. In a big rivalry game, this game will determine the success of the whole year. Coffeyville makes it two straight against the Grizzlies.
Butler 7, Coffeyville: 24. Butler (2-1).
Tyler: This is the revenge game of the season. After a heated exchange at the end of the game last season, we should be rearing at the chance to punish our rivals. There is not a chance in the world we lose two seasons in a row to the Red Ravens.
Butler: 51, Coffeyville: 3. Butler (3-0).
Week 5. Sept. 22, 2018 – Butler @ Dodge City
Matthew: Butler traveled to Dodge City last season and did their job winning 24-10. The Grizzlies bounce back from the rough game against Coffeyville and win this one.
Butler: 14, Dodge City: 10. Butler (3-1).
Tyler: This is the trap game. If everything goes to my predictions: Butler will probably be a highly ranked team at this time. However, this is normally where a bye week would go, but because of the fact that we have two, our schedule is tumultuous, and I think we could feasibly drop this road game.
Butler: 24, Dodge City: 35.
Week 6. Sept. 29, 2018 – Hutchinson @ Butler*
Matthew: After a big 38-10 win in last season’s rivalry game between the Dragons and the Grizzlies, Butler, who has won seven of the last eight in the series, keeps the ball rolling and wins big time at home.
Butler: 35, Hutch: 7. Butler (4-1).
Tyler: Hutchinson was supposed to be a big game last season. It wasn’t. I don’t think the Blue Dragons can succeed in anything but basketball.
Butler: 38, Hutchinson 3. Butler (4-1).
Week 7. Oct. 6, 2018 – Independence @ Butler*
Matthew: Last Chance U was indeed Indy’s last chance against conference foe Butler. The stage-frightened Pirates will be begging to get back on the bus during this one. Butler shuts out Indy in a blowout victory.
Butler: 42, Indy: 0. Butler (5-1).
Tyler: “Oh, no it’s the Last Chance U team how will we ever stop them” That is all we heard last season. And if Last Chance U is back this season it’s all we will here again. But after playing five weeks in a row against the tougher teams in our conference, it’s feasible that the Grizzlies will drop a heartbreaker.
Butler: 35, Independence 38. Butler (4-2).
Week 9. Oct. 20, 2018 – Butler @ Fort Scott
Matthew: Butler comes out of the bye week feeling good. The Greyhounds will be searching for answers at this point in the season. After big wins against Hutch and Indy, Butler struggles with the Hounds. The Greyhounds save their season in a close win at home.
Butler: 7, Fort Scott 10. Butler (5-2).
Tyler: Coming off a bye week, Butler travels to play the Greyhounds. The loss to Independence will be cause for concern as dropping another game could take the Grizzlies out of bowl contention. Luckily, Ft. Scott won’t be any good.
Butler: 28, Fort Scott: 0. Butler (5-2).
Week 10. Oct. 27, 2018 – Ellsworth (IA) @ Butler*
Matthew: Butler enters the game heartbroken after a loss almost as bad as last season’s Iowa Central game. Luckily, the game will provide Butler with a bounce back opportunity at home. In a not-so-pretty, close game, Butler emerges victorious.
Butler: 20, Ellsworth: 17. (Butler 6-2).
Tyler: Iowa Western has been our biggest competition over the last couple of seasons something about that game being the next week makes me thing that Butler will be too busy looking ahead. Not giving credit to a team is how we lost to Iowa Central last season, and I’m afraid Butler can falter here.
Butler: 14, Ellsworth: 17. Butler (5-3).
Week 11. Nov. 3, 2018 – Iowa Western @ Butler*
Matthew: Iowa Western will be a top-five team at this point. Nevertheless, the Reivers came to town top-5 in 2017 as well, and Butler knocked them off. This season, the success continues. In another close game, Butler keeps their bowl game and conference championship hopes alive.
Butler: 24, Iowa Western 20. Butler (7-2).
Tyler: I agree with Matt here, Iowa Western could be the best team in JUCO football coming in to this part of the season. The Reivers choked their chance at a title here last season, and I think they’ll do it again.
Butler: 31, Iowa Western: 28. Butler (6-3).
Week 12. Nov. 10, 2018 – Butler @ Garden City
Matthew: In my eyes, this is the conference championship game next year. Garden City comes into this one winning three straight against Butler. Coach Shaffner’s message to the team is simple, “Iowa Central, 7-0.” Butler will do all they can to end the season on a better note, winning and taking the conference championship, their first since 2013.
Butler: 35, Garden City: 10. Butler: (8-2).
Tyler: This is the chance at redemption. Staring at the reality of making a bowl game, will the pressure get to the Grizzlies as it did last season? No, no it will not. Garden City’s reign over us will be taken back, as Butler will have its back to the wall. Misfortune will strike the Grizzlies as the loss to Independence will keep them from taking the Conference Championship.
Butler: 48, Garden City: 35. Butler (7-3).
