VICTORY FOR THE GRIZZLIES AFTER LONG BATTLE

also written by Lehener Arsenio

The Hutchison Blue Dragons hosted the Butler grizzlies. The Grizzlies came out victorious after a long battle, the score being 22-27.  

 The matchup between #13 Butler and #1 Hutchinson kicked off with Butler deferring, allowing the Blue Dragons to receive. Hutchinson started strong, but their opening drive stalled quickly, and they were forced to punt after gaining just eight yards. 

Butler’s offense struggled initially as well, but a 59-yard run by freshman running back Markellus Bass set them up at Hutchinson’s two-yard line. After an offside penalty by Hutchinson, Butler took advantage, and the redshirt freshman quarterback Mason McHugh ran it in for the game’s first touchdown. However, the extra point was blocked, leaving Butler with a 6-0 lead. 

Hutchinson responded but faced tough pressure from Butler’s defense. They moved the ball well but couldn’t finish their drive, missing a 49-yard field goal attempt. Butler’s defense made plays, including a sack by redshirt freshman D-tackle Seven Cloud that stifled the Blue Dragons' momentum. 

In the second quarter, Hutchinson finally put points on the board with a 32-yard field goal by Burger, cutting Butler's lead to 6-3. But Butler came right back with a quick 25-yard touchdown pass from McHugh to sophomore wide receiver Cam Harris, extending their lead to 13-3. 

Another Hutchinson drive was cut short by an interception, Butler took advantage of the good field position. McHugh found redshirt freshman wide receiver Nolan Chambers for a 19-yard touchdown pass, pushing Butler further ahead at 20-3. 

Just before halftime, Hutchinson managed to fight back. The Blue Dragons’ quarterback led a strong drive, connecting with Salley Jr. for a big gain, and then Jordan Jr. powered in a 1-yard touchdown run, making it 20-10. Hutchinson’s defense held Butler to a short, uneventful drive to close out the half. 

At halftime, the Grizzlies lead 20-10, thanks to a solid performance by their offense and timely plays by their defense, while Hutchinson showed signs of life late in the half. 

The third quarter began with a promising Butler drive, starting from their 25-yard line after a fair catch. The Grizzlies made progress, with a 29-yard pass from McHugh to Brown, putting them into Hutchinson territory. However, after a series of setbacks, including a sack and a loss on a rushing play, Butler was forced to punt, pinning Hutchinson deep at their own 1-yard line. 

Hutchinson responded but couldn’t gain momentum because of Butler’s defensive efforts, including a crucial stop by Royal. Hutchinson eventually punted, allowing Butler to start a fresh drive at the Hutchinson 21-yard line. However, Butler's drive was short-lived, ending in an interception by Hutchinson's Rice, who returned it to the Hutchinson 11-yard line. 

The rest of the third quarter saw a defensive showdown with both teams preventing each other from scoring. A brief highlight for Hutchinson came as Jordan Jr. managed a few yards, but the Butler defense kept up the pressure, leading to another punt. 

Butler Grizzlies held off #1 Hutchinson with a final score of 27-22. In the fourth quarter, Jones’ interception and an 82-yard return set up a Butler touchdown, boosting their lead. Hutchinson responded with two touchdowns but missed key extra points. A final interception by Boss secured the Grizzlies’ victory, solidifying their strong defensive finish.