GAME PREVIEW: Butler Football on the Road in Ranked Battle with Garden City

The Teams: No. 13 Butler (4-1, 2-1) at No. 6 Garden City (5-1, 2-1)

Where: Garden City, KS

Stadium: Broncbuster Stadium

Time: 7 p.m. CT

Streaming Platform: gobroncbusters.com

Radio: 97.5 (kfhradio.com) & 1240 KFH with Dennis Higgins on the call. 

The 13th-ranked Butler Grizzlies will be on the road on Saturday to take on the 6th-ranked Garden City Broncbusters from Broncbuster Field in Garden City, Kan.

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday will be 90th all-time meeting between the Grizzlies and Broncbusters. The series is dead even at 43-43-3. The Grizzlies are 3-7 in the last 10 vs. Garden City dating back to 2015, the first year following Grizzly Hall of Fame head coach Troy Morrell's retirement. Under Morrell, Butler won 19 straight games over Garden City from 2001-2014. The Grizzlies were 19-3 vs. Garden City with Morrell roaming the sidelines as head coach with two of the losses both coming in 2000, Morrell's first season as head coach. Those two losses were Butler's only losses of the season, finishing 10-2.

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

OCTOBER 19, 2024 – EL DORADO, Kan. – Garden City 21, Butler 10 (Garden City had to forfeit the win due to using an inelgible player)

Though Garden City defeated the Grizzlies 21-10 last season in El Dorado, the Broncbusters had used an inelgible player during their first season games of the season and had to forfeit all of their wins. In the official record books, it goes down as a win for Butler, 1-0. 

In last years "win" for the Grizzlies, Butler was shut out in the second half, and the Grizzlies struggled to move the ball offensivley, tallying only 217 total yards of offense. Garden City managed to gather 246 yards and another 149 through the air, and was on offense for nearly ten more minutes than Butler. After a scoreless first quarter, both teams managed to get on the board in the 2nd quarter. Garden City took a 14-10 lead heading into the break. Garden City scored the only score of the second half early in the fourth quarter to ultimately end the game 21-10. 

LAST TIME OUT FOR BUTLER

Butler is coming off of a 38-3 victory over the winless Highland Scotties. The Grizzlies had 387 total yards of offense, with 285 of them coming on the ground. Running back Markellus Bass had another monster performance, 20 carries for 153 yards and a touchdown. Semaj Scott added 10 carries for 106 yards. Freshman quarterback Tate McNew was 9-12 passing for 92 yards and three touchdowns. McNew also had one rushing touchdown for four total touchdowns on the day. The Grizzlies held Highland to only 147 total yards of offense and forced nine punts. The Scotties continued to beat themselves, committing 20 penalties for 162 yards. 

LAST TIME OUT FOR GARDEN CITY

The Broncbusters are coming fresh off of a bye week, but their last outing was a 35-7 thrashing over the Independence Pirates on October, 11th. Garden City tallied 373 total yards of offense, 202 yards on the ground and 171 through the air. Quarterback Jaydyn Sisk was 12-20 passing for 171 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Running back Tylik Burton had nine carries for a whopping 131 yards and two touchdowns. Garden City's defense was stiff, forcing six sacks and forced four turnovers, three interceptions and a fumble. 

SCOUTING THE BUSTERS

Garden City and Butler each have one loss on the season, both at the hands of the Coffeyville Red Ravens. Garden City lost to Coffeyville back on September 20th 26-24. Coffeyville drilled a 19-yard field goal as time expired to give the Broncbusters their lone loss on the season. 

• Garden City averages 421.7 yards of offense per game and average 46.7 points per game. 
• 244.3 yards rushing, 177.3 yards passing. 
• Broncbusters allow 306.7 yards of offense per game and allow 14.7 points per game on average. 
• 81.5 yards rushing, 225.2 yards passing. 
• Dual-threat quaterback Jaydyn Sisk leads the team in passing and rushing, as he has 348 yards on the ground at 58 yards per game, and seven rushing touchdowns. He rounds out the air attack with 721 yards through the air with 11 passing touchdowns. 

SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES

• Butler averages 372.8 yards of offense per game and average 41.8 points per game. 
• 238.4 yards rushing, 134.4 yards passing. 
• Grizzlies allow 254.0 yards of offense per game and allow 16.2 points per game on average. 
• 73.8 yards rushing, 180.2 yards passing. 
• Tate Mcnew has been a spark on offense since being thrown in under center during the Grizzlies overtime win over Independence, throwing for eight touchdowns in three games. 
• Running back Markellus Bass leads the ground attack, having 641 yards rushing, 128.2 per game. Bass also has three touchdowns on the ground on the season. 
• Receiver DeColdest Crawford has come on as of late, grabbing four touchdown catches in the last two games. 

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