Grizzlies Drop Final Home Game of the Season to No. 2 Iowa Western

EL DORADO, Kan. – The No. 11 ranked Butler Grizzlies fell to the No. 2 ranked Iowa Western Reivers 31-7 from BG Products Veterans Sports Complex. 

From the opening kick, Iowa Western took control of the game. Iowa Western took their opening possession and drove down the field, but the Grizzly defense forced Iowa Western to settle for a 27-yard field goal by Gus Bashore to take an early 3-0 lead. 

After the Grizzlies were held to a three-and-out, Iowa Western again charged down the field and capitalized off a D'Angelo Barkue four-yard rushing touchdown to extend their lead 10-0. 

The Grizzlies next possession got off to a great start after star running back Markellus Bass broke through the line for a 16-yard run to move the ball to the Butler 41-yard line. But the next three plays resulted in a total of one yard loss, and the Grizzlies were forced to punt the ball back to Iowa Western. 

Iowa Western got on the board again after Reiver quarterback Malachi Marshall found Jimmy Trilla for a 15-yard touchdown pass to help Iowa Western go up 17-0 over the Grizzlies with 11:48 to go in the half. 

The Grizzlies responded when Tate McNew completed a 22-yard strike to DeColdest Crawford to move the ball to the Iowa Western 13-yard line. One play later, the Grizzlies finally got on the board for their only score of the game as McNew found tight end Noah Bruce for a 13-yard touchdown to cut the Iowa Western lead 17-7. 

Iowa Western found the end zone once more before the half after a five-play 49-yard drive, capped off by Marshall's second touchdown pass of the half, this time finding Jaivyn Moore for an eight-yard touchdown pass to take a 24-7 lead over the Grizzlies heading into the break. 

Butler received the opening kickoff to start the second half. On the second play of the drive, McNew found Bruce again for a 30-yard catch over on the far sideline to put the Grizzlies at the Iowa Western 45-yard line. But the drive was stalled due to Iowa Western's aggressive defense, and the Grizzlies were forced to punt the ball back to the Reivers. 

With 10:21 to go in the game, Iowa Western running back Jamari Ford ran it in for a one-yard touchdown to put the Reivers up 31-7 for the final score of the game, shutting the Grizzlies out in the second half. 

The Grizzlies were held to only 221 yards of total offense compared to Iowa Western's 384. McNew finished his night 11-29 passing for 177 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Bass was kept in check with 16 carries for only 49-yards on the ground, ending his six-game streak with at least 100 yards or more. 

Iowa Western held the Grizzlies to only five of 14 on third down, while the Reivers converted nine of 17 on third down. 

Butler falls to 5-3 on the season, 3-2 in conference play. Iowa Western improves to 8-1 on the season with their lone loss to No. 1 Hutchinson 30-27 back on September 13^th.

Butler now trails the all-time series with Iowa Western 2-10, with their last win over the Reivers being in 2017. 

Next up: The Grizzlies will travel to Dodge City on Saturday November 15^th, to take on the Conquistadors at 1 p.m.