Kevin White,
kevin.white@nonpareilonline.com
EL DORADO, Kansas – Iowa Western's national championship hopes took a severe hit on Saturday night.
A fired-up Butler team ended the fourth-rated Reivers' dreams of a perfect season, scoring a 21-19 junior college football victory at BG Products Veterans Stadium.
Iowa Western turned it over four times and was flagged 12 times for 139 yards, including several unsportsmanlike-conduct and personal-foul violations.
The Reivers dropped to 3-1 while unrated Butler, a six-time national champion, improved to 2-1. Last year, the Grizzlies entered at No. 2 in the country but lost 49-7 in Council Bluffs, their worst setback in 21 years.
With Iowa Western trailing 21-13, Romantay Hill's blocked punt sent the momentum in the Reivers' direction with less than seven minutes remaining. The Reivers took over on the 20, and Mekhi Sargent's 10-yard touchdown run, his third score of the game, pulled the visitors within 21-19 with 5:50 remaining.
Kai Locksley's two-point pass to Mike Hill appeared to tie the game, but a holding penalty nullified it. Locksley's two-point pass attempt from the 12 was batted down, leaving the Grizzlies in front.
Iowa Western regained possession with 1:57 remaining on its own 14. Locksley scrambled on the first play and fired one
down the right sideline. Linebacker Troy Dipre intercepted the pass and got one foot down. On fourth and 1 with seven seconds remaining, Kevon Abrams gained the first down, icing the victory.
Abrams carried 27 times for 159 yards for the winners.
"We could never get in rhythm,'' Strohmeier said. "Credit to them. They did a lot of things to us.''
Butler took a 21-13 lead on the fourth play of the second half when Abrams raced 54 yards up the middle. The Reivers were pinned in their end of the field for most of the third quarter, in part due to a nine-yard punt.
Special-teams mistakes plagued the Reivers throughout the night. Trailing 14-13 in the second quarter, they missed an extra-point kick, which led to them having to try for two late.
Iowa Western also missed a 43-yard field goal. Butler outgained the Reivers 318-315. Locksley completed 20 of 36 for 198 yards in relief of Kurt Walding, who threw two early interceptions.
Strohmeier didn't expect his players to consider the big picture minutes after the loss.
"They're down,'' he said. "They're disappointed, obviously. I told them the season's not over.''
Iowa Western (3-1) 0 13 0 6–19
Butler (2-1) 14 0 7 0–21
B: Kevon Abrams 17 pass from Chris Helbig (Luke Winter kick)
B: Kendall Stewart 57 pass from Helbig (Winter kick)
IW: Mekhi Sargent 1 run (Eddie Ogamba kick)
IW: Sargent 3 run (kick failed)
B: Abrams 54 run (Winter kick)
IW: Sargent 10 run (pass failed)
