No. 4 Butler rolls to 79-0 home win over Independence

EL DORADO, Kan. – The Butler Grizzlies had their second-most prolific first half in history and continued to add points in the second half on their way to a 79-0 win over Independence on Saturday at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex.

The No. 4-ranked Grizzlies put up 53 points in the first half. That is the most since Butler scored 58 in the first half in a game at Hutchinson in 2005. Butler had 23 points in the first quarter and added 30 more in the second. 

By the end of the night, the Grizzlies had their sixth-highest scoring output in program history and also had their widest margin of victory ever against Independence, surpassing the 77-point differential Butler had last year in an 84-7 win on the road.

Butler fumbled the ball away on its first possession of the night, but quickly got the ball back on an interception by John Knight. One play later, quarterback Hunter Vaughn threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Chris Floyd for the first score of the game.

Butler's next drive was just as quick. After an Independence punt, Vaughn threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Michael Glatczak to make it 14-0. Independence tried to punt on its next possession, but the snap was over the head of the punter and through the back of the end zone.

The Grizzlies then had their first extended drive of the game, going 54 yards in six plays capped by a 2-yard touchdown run by Ty Suggs to make the score 23-0. 

In the second quarter, Butler would get an 18-yard touchdown run by Chris Carson, a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown by Shedrick Williams and two more Hunter Vaughn touchdown passes – both to receiver Van Powell, one from 24 yards and the other from 40 yards.

Butler also got two points on another safety, this one coming when Jamone Boyd sacked the Independence quarterback in the end zone.

The Grizzlies added 10 more points in the third quarter with a 20-yard field goal by Robert Rawlings and a 3-yard touchdown run by Chris Carson.

Then in the fourth, Butler recorded another safety, its third of the night when another Independence punt snap was high and out of the back of the end zone. The Grizzlies got the ball back and scored on a 36-yard run by Dalton Buehler, his first collegiate touchdown run.

Butler finished the scoring with an 8-yard run by quarterback Zeke Palmer.

Vaughn would finish the game completing eight of 14 passes for 204 yards and four touchdowns, all in the first half. Michael Glatczak, Van Powell and Steve Williams, Jr. each had two catches apiece. Ty Suggs was Butler's leading rusher with 12 carries for 79 yards. Independence finished the game with no rushing yards on 48 carries.

Butler is now 4-0 on the season and 3-0 in Jayhawk Conference play. The Grizzlies will be at home again next Saturday for a 6 p.m. kickoff against Highland.