GAME PREVIEW: The No. 10 Ranked Butler Grizzlies are on the Road at No. 8 Iowa Central in Regular Season Finale

FORT DODGE, Iowa. – Butler and Iowa Central face off in a top ten matchup to end the 2025 regular season.

The Teams: No. 10 Butler (6-3, 4-2) at No. 8 Iowa Central (7-3, 1-1)

Where: Fort Dodge, Iowa

Stadium: Dodger Stadium

Time: 12 p.m. CT

Streaming Platform: hhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5idGMvINuCM

Radio: 1330 AM with Dennis Higgins on the Call. 

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday will be 10th all-time meeting between the Grizzlies and the Tritons, with Butler holding the advantage seven games to two. The Grizzlies are 3-1 all-time in Fort Dodge, with their only loss coming in 2018 when Iowa Central defeated Butler 26-16. Butler and Iowa Central last met in Fort Dodge back in 2023, with the Grizzlies winning 45-10. 

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

NOVEMBER 16, 2024 – EL DORADO, Kan. – Butler 7, Iowa Central 3

The Grizzlies deafeated Iowa Central last season 7-3 in El Dorado. The win tied Butler's lowest scoring output of the season as they also scored seven in a 48-7 loss at Iowa Western. The seven points scored was the lowest for Butler in a home game since Nov. 11th, 2017 in a 7-0 loss to Iowa Central in the final game of the season. The 7-3 win was the lowest scoring win for Butler dating back to 2017 in a 6-2 win over Highland. It also marked the lowest scoring home win for Butler dating back to 1984 when they defeated Hutchinson 7-0 on Sept. 15th. Iowa Central had 238 total yards of offense to Butler's 235. The Grizzly defense forced Iowa Central to punt eight times and forced two Triton turnovers. The fourth quarter was the only time either side scored, with Iowa Central converting on a 40-yard field goal with one minute and 56 seconds to go to take a 3-0 lead over the Grizzlies. Butler then completed a nine play, 75 yard drive, capped off by former Grizzly quarterback Jayson Zardavets finding the end zone from two yards out with five seconds left to seal the Grizzly victory, 7-3. 

LAST TIME OUT FOR BUTLER

The Grizzlies are coming off of a dominant 30-10 win over the Dodge City Conquistadors. Sophomore running back Markellus Bass had his best performance of his career, finishing with 17 carries for 187 yards and three touchdowns, including an 81-yard run to the end zone. The Grizzly defense made things difficult all day for Dodge City, compiling seven sacks, a blocked kick, a blocked punt, and an interception. Butler linebacker Justyce Betts led the defense for the Grizzlies, as he had 11 total tackles, two and a half tackles for loss, and one sack. Both Betts and Bass earned the KJCCC Defensive Player of the Week and the Offensive Player of the Week awards, resepectivley, for their performances. 

LAST TIME OUT FOR IOWA CENTRAL

Iowa Central is fresh off of a thrilling overtime win at Garden City. Iowa Central led the Broncbusters 17-7 entering the fourth quarter. Garden City knocked in a 36-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to cut the Triton lead 17-10. Later, with 26 seconds left, the Broncbusters completed a 14-play, 61-yard drive capped off by a two-yard touchdown run to tie the game and send it into overtime. Garden City received the first possesion of overtime, but the Tritons forced the Broncbusters to settle for a 37-yard field goal attempt that was missed wide left. Iowa Central would prevail after scoring a five-yard touchdown run to knock off the Broncbusters on the road, 23-17. Iowa Central had 249 total yards of offense to Garden City's 245. The Tritons produced a balanced offensive attack, 132 yards through the air and 117 yards on the ground. 

SCOUTING THE TRITONS

Iowa Central is 7-3 on the season, sharing the same three losses as the Grizzlies (No. 1 Hutchinson, No. 2 Iowa Western, & No. 7 Coffeyville). 

• Iowa Central uses a two-quarterback system with Damarcus Creecy and Ty Purdy. Both quarterbacks have played all ten games, and both have similar numbers. 
• Creecy has 840 yards passing with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. 
• Purdy has 795 yards passing with nine touchdowns and four interceptions.
• Creecy is the second leading rusher on the team, 532 yards on the season along with eight rushing touchdowns. 
• Iowa Central is averaging 435.3 total yards of offense per game. 187.5 yards on the ground and 247.8 yards through the air. 
• Tritons average 40.1 points per game. 
• The Iowa Central defense allows 289.9 yards of offense per game. 123.4 yards rushing and 166.5 passing. 
• Allows 19.7 points per game. 
• Lost to No. 1 Hutchinson 35-17 in Fort Dodge. 
• Lost to No. 2 Iowa Western 48-17 on the road. 
• Lost to No. 7 Coffeyville 34-21 in Coffeyville. 

• SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES

• Butler averages 328.1 yards of offense per game and average 31.6 points per game. 
• 194.8 yards rushing, 133.3 yards passing. 
• Grizzlies allow 282.9 yards of offense per game and allow 19.1 points per game on average. 
• 119.4 yards rushing, 163.4 yards passing. 
• Running back Markellus Bass leads the country in rushing yards per game at 125.2. Bass needs 43 yards to hold onto the top spot in the country. 
• Linebacker Justyce Betts leads the Jayhawk Conference in total tackles at 83. He is averaging 9.2 tackles per contest.  
• Grizzlies are third in the conference in sacks with 28.