GAME PREVIEW: 10th ranked Butler Football hosts top ranked Hutchinson

EL DORADO, Kan. – The 10th ranked Butler Grizzlies are set to host the top ranked Hutchinson Blue Dragons on Saturday evening in what is shaping up to be a huge night at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex.

Butler will induct former assistant coach of 42 years, Steve Braet, into the Butler Athletics Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony. At halftime, the 2003 national championship winning 2003 team will be honored as it is their 20-year anniversary. Sandwiched in between those events is a huge game for the 10th-ranked Grizzlies who, with a win, would have taken down the No. 1 team in the nation as well as having a clear path to the KJCCC championship.

HOW TO WATCH AND LISTEN

The game will be streamed at ButlerGrizzlies.com/WatchLive as well as on the BCTV+ app with Matt Jacobs providing play-by-play. The Butler radio broadcast will air on 98.7 FM and 1330 AM KNSS (audacy.com/knss) with Dennis Higgins and Fayne Henson on the call. The pregame show begins at 6:30pm.

THE MATCHUP

Saturday marks the 100th all time meeting between Butler and Hutchinson. Hutchinson leads the all-time series 50-48-1. Hutchinson has won five straight over Butler. This game marks the 16th time in the last 20 games that Hutch and Butler meet as nationally ranked opponents. Between 2000 and 2013, the Grizzlies and head coach Troy Morrell won 19 consecutive meetings against the Blue Dragons including five Region VI championship games and a 19-16 six-OT game in 2013. Butler is 29-25 at home all-time vs. Hutchinson and 18-25-1 in Hutchinson.

THE GOAT TO THE HOF

Six NJCAA national championships won, 33 All-Americans and 11 NFL players coached, all in 42 seasons of coaching football and mentoring young men.

That is the resume of a hall of fame coach, and for the second time in his storied career, Steve Braet will be inducted into a hall of fame. This time though, Braet will enter the hall of fame of the school he spent 42 seasons coaching.

The long time Butler defensive line coach was inducted into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 and will now have his legacy cemented in purple and gold forever among the halls of the Butler athletic department.

Braet will be inducted into the Butler Athletic Hall of Fame in a 6:30 p.m. ceremony prior to the No. 10 Grizzlies bout with No. 1 Hutchinson at BG Products Veteran Sports Complex at 7 p.m.

Braet's coaching career began in 1979 as an unpaid volunteer assistant and officially ended on February 1, 2022, as the associate head coach/defensive line coach for Butler. Braet has been the common link to all six NJCAA National Championships for the Butler Football program - 1981, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2008.

He helped the Grizzlies to 22 KJCCC conference titles and the Grizzlies amassed a record of 337-118-2 with Braet roaming the sidelines.

Braet was widely recognized as one of the top defensive line coaches in the country. In 2001 he was named the AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year.

When Grizzly coaching legend Troy Morrell was asked about what Braet (who he coached with and played for) brought to the table, it was an easy answer for him.

"Intensity," said Morrell. "That intensity always came from a place of care and love. I think that's what any player or coach will tell you. He brought this radical candor. He would challenge you directly - and sometimes in front of everyone - but it came from a deep love and a passion for wanting people to improve. That's what made him so special."

Spending 42 years at one place like Coach Braet did is in-credibly rare and shows an intense amount of dedication. When asked about this Morrell found it easy to describe that side of Braet.

"Loyalty," said Morrell. "Community college coaching is different than any other level. You do not have the support staff that other levels have. Coach Braet was not afraid to wear any hat that he needed to. From the fields to the laundry to the recruiting, he would do it. He showed true compassion and love.

PREVIEW

When you think of Butler and Hutchinson, Saturday's matchup is exactly what should come to mind. A top ranked showdown between two KJCCC power programs in a rivalry game that means so much to everyone involved.

It's fitting that on the 100th meeting in the history of the two programs, Butler (3-1) and Hutchinson (4-0) meet in a game that sees the 10th-ranked Grizzlies and the top-ranked Blue Dragons vying for an easier path to the conference crown.

Hutchinson is a big obstacle for the Grizzlies, who have lost four straight games to the Blue Dragons. Although last season's contest was close, the Grizzlies don't care about close. They want a win.

Hutchinson averages 44.5 points per game entering Saturday but will face a Grizzly defense that is tough at all three levels. Hutch likes to run the ball as they average 259.3 rushing yards per game and only 136.5 through the air. Freshman running back Tyrell Reed Jr. averages 8.8 yards per carry as he has 30 rushes for a team-high 264 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Quarter- back Samari Collier also uses his legs as he is second on the team with 203 rushing yards, 7.5 yards per carry.

Butler allowed just 102 rushing yards last week to NEO and just 49 to Indy in the win two weeks ago. Defensive lineman Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder and Marlin Dean have five and 5.5 tackles for loss, respectively and play the role of a stonewall up front. As a unit the Grizzlies have 33 tackles for loss this season and will look to swarm the Blue Dragon offense on Saturday.

Grizzly quarterback Tanner Murray will have to use his legs and arm against a fierce Hutchinson defense but he is getting better and better each week. On the season Murray has 726 passing yards in four games with six touchdowns. He has also rushed for two touchdowns. He will look to reigning KJCCC offensive player of the week, Jaisean McMillian, to help him in the ground game. McMillian rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns last week at NEO.

Both teams enter the game with winning streaks as Butler has won four straight and Hutchinson is undefeated this year, 4-0.

All in all, there will be a heavyweight showdown on Saturday in El Dorado. The Grizzlies plan on bringing their own swagger and emotion to the game as they honor the legend Steve Braet as well as having the 2003 national championship team watching them as they celebrate their 20-year reunion.

OFFENSIVELY

• Butler averages 29.5 points per game to go with 309 total yards per game. The 29.5 ppg is second in the KJCCC behind only Hutchinson.
• 17 different Grizzlies have caught a pass this season.
• Freshman Justin Stephens, a Maize native, paces the pass catchers with 12 receptions for 198 yards and a touchdown. His best game of the season was last week at NEO when he finished with a career-high five receptions for a career-high 74 yards.
• Wide receiver Jamarion McDougle enjoys catching touchdowns. 50% of his receptions have been touchdowns this season as he has three TDs on six catches. The Deerfield Beach, FL, native's best game this season came in the win vs. Independence when he had two receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown including a 61-yard TD from QB Tanner Murray.
• Speaking of Murray, the Houston, TX native and Grizzly QB was named the KJCCC Offensive Player of the Week after his performance in the 26-20 win over Indy when he threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns to go with a team-high 49 rushing yards.
• The Grizzlies have struggled running the ball this season, but last week at NEO may give opposing defenses a second thought on that. Sophomore Jaisean McMillian toted the ball 15 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns (all career-highs) on his way to being named the KJCCC Offensive Player of the Week. That game vaulted McMillian to being the top rusher on the team with 167 yards this season.
• Last week at NEO, Butler rushed for 242 total yards, only the second time they have eclipsed 100 rushing yards as a team this season with the other being week three in the win over Independence with 122 rushing yards. McMillian's 144 yards was the highest output on the ground by a Grizzly running back since the 2022 bowl game win over Kilgore when Azhuan Dingle had 165 yards on 30 carries.
• Butler is averaging just 13 points in the first half this season across four games. They'll need to get off to a quick start against the talented Hutchinson defense this week.
• Butler is just 18-48 (38%) on converting third downs this season. To keep drives alive and get the offense rolling, Butler will look to create more third and short opportunities.

DEFENSIVELY

• Butler allows just 84 rushing yards per game, 193.8 passing yards per game and 18.3 points per game in 2023.
• The Grizzlies have 12 sacks this season, tied for second most in the KJCCC.
• Defensive linemen Hiram Stready, Marlin Dean and Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder are all tied for a team-high three sacks through four games. Dean, a Georgia transfer, paces Butler with 5.5 tackles for loss.
• Alcorn Crowder has been on a tear recently. In the win over Indy, the Whitman, Mass., native, had two sacks, three TFL and a forced fumble. He had sacks on back-to-back drives in the fourth quarter that helped put the Pirates away. On another possession, he had a quarterback hit that forced Butler's first interception of the season as they picked off Indy's Kai Kunz. Last week at NEO he had a sack and two TFLs.
• Linebacker Udoka Ezeani has 22 tackles this year, a team-high. The Houston native and Missouri State transfer had a season-high eight tackles vs. Indy.
• Linebacker Eunique Valentine, a Tennessee transfer, had an impressive 15 tackles and 1.5 TFLs in Butler's season opening loss at Garden City but has dealt with injuries as well as a targeting penalty holding him out from action this season. The Grizzlies look forward to having Valentine out prowling the field soon.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Kicker Aiden Battle was money last week at NEO. The Leavenworth native was 3-3 on field goals and made all three extra points. He nailed a 44-yard field goal, his career-high up to this point.
• Butler blocked an extra point and returned it for a two-point conversion in each of the first three weeks of the season. They have blocked five total kicks this season. In the win over Indy the Grizzlies blocked an extra point and two field goals in the first half alone. Defensive back Ashton Levells leads the Grizzlies with three blocks this season. He blocked a field goal and extra point vs. Indy and was named KJCCC Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts.
• Punter Chevy Edwards is tied for the NJCAA lead with NW Miss. punter Guy Gillespie for the most punts inside the opponents 20-yard line with 10 this season. The Australia native has been a weapon for Butler as he has a long punt of 65-yards and is averaging 36.9 yards per punt.
• Wide receiver Dominick Foster has been impressive returning kicks this season as he averages 30.2 yards per return on five returns this season (five returns for 151 total return yards). He has a long of 46.
• Wide receiver Russell Wilkey was named the KJCCC Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a punt 40-yards for a touchdown as well as returning another 13-yard return for a 26.5-yard average in the win over Highland in week two.  
• The Grizzlies are 1-1 on recovering onside kicks this season as freshman defensive lineman Seth LeClaire recovered Isaac Saye's onside kick in week one at Garden City.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

OCTOBER 1, 2022 - HUTCHINSON, KS

The Butler Grizzlies could not overcome a late deficit as they fell to the No. 2-ranked Hutchinson Blue Dragons, 27-16, in a battle of the two top teams in the Jayhawk Conference at Gowans Stadium. The Grizzlies couldn't overcome a combination of 12 penalties and the Blue Dragon rushing attack, as Butler fell to 3-2 on the season and 3-1 in conference play. Hutchinson scored 20 points in the second quarter which was ultimately too much for Butler to overcome as the Grizzlies scored just three points in the second half. The Grizzlies accounted for 423 total yards of offense with 271 yards coming through the air. Quarterback Jake Wolff went 23-41 passing and Jeremiah Payton led the Grizzlies with five receptions for 92 yards. On the ground, it was Azhuan Dingle who led the way for the Grizzlies with 11 carries for 59 yards. Mason Thrash led the Grizzlies with 10 tackles defensively, and AJ Moss provided a clutch forced fumble in the second half. The Grizzlies had a nice night on special teams, as Carson Arndt accounted for 13 of the 16 Butler points, with field goal lengths of 40, 46, 32 and 22

LAST TIME OUT FOR BUTLER

Butler sophomore running back Jaisean McMillian rumbled for 144 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and the Grizzly defense held Northeastern Oklahoma A&M to 148 total yards in a 32-7 Grizzly win at Red Robertson Stadium last Saturday afternoon. McMillian (Mobile, Ala.) rushed for 144 yards on 15 carries, a 9.6 yards per carry average, to go with two touchdowns, all career-highs. Butler (3-1) rushed for 242 total yards on the day, only the second time they have eclipsed 100 rushing yards as a team this season with the other being week three in the win over Independence with 122 rushing yards. Defensively, four Grizzlies led the way with four tackles a piece. Sophomore defensive lineman Malcolm Alcorn Crowder (Whitman, Mass.) had two tackles for loss including a sack while sophomore linebacker Armahn Hale (Akron, OH) recovered a fumble that Stready forced. The Grizzly defense allowed just 46 passing yards and 102 rushing yards while holding NEO to 3-of-13 (23%) on third downs.

 WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RANKINGS?

The Grizzlies made their way into the top 10 for the first time this season as they are ranked 10th in the week five installment of the NJCAA D1 poll after defeating NEO 32-7 on the road. This comes as Butler has won three straight after dropping the season opener at Garden City. This week Butler plays host to the top ranked team in the nation, the Hutchinson Blue Dragons, on Saturday at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex at 7 p.m. CT for a top 10 matchup.

Butler plays No. 2 and No. 3 as well this season, taking on third ranked Iowa Central in Fort Dodge on Oct. 14 and hosting second ranked Iowa Western on Oct. 21. Dodge City found itself in the rankings this week at No. 15 for the first time since 2017.

NJCAA RANKINGS

Receiving Votes: Dodge City, Monroe, Lackawanna, Northeast Mississippi, New Mexico Military

KJCCC STANDINGS