Grizzlies use strong ground game running past the Scotties 34-7 Saturday night

Butler (2-3, 2-3) had their best offensive outing of the season as they rushed their way to a 34-7 victory of the Highland Scotties Saturday night at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex.

With the win, Butler improves to 2-3 on the season and wins their eight straight over Highland and now lead the series 34-11-1.

The Grizzlies scored quick and, in a hurry, putting up 21 points in the first quarter all on rushing touchdowns; two from Tevin Petrie and one from Kevontae McDonald.

After a defensive three and out to start the game, Highland had a bad snap on the punt and Butler took over on downs at the five-yard line. They punched it in on their first play from scrimmage with Kevontae McDonald barreling through the line finding the endzone just over three minutes into the game. 

Another quick three and out gave the Grizzlies a little longer field starting on the Highland 44-yard line. It took seven plays, but the Grizzlies would march 44-yards finding the endzone for the second time on the night, this time with a Tevin Petrie seven-yard rush. 

Butler forced a turnover on downs on the ensuing Scottie possession and took over at their own 20-yard line. A 30-yard pass from Gavin Screws to Caden Cox started the drive, then, Butler would hand the ball off to Kevontae McDonald who got the Grizzlies to the Highland ten. Tevin Petrie scored for the second time in the quarter punching it in from 10-yards out giving Butler a 21-0 lead with :49 remaining in the first quarter. 

Shareal Taylor intercepted a Quinn Buessing pass inside Highland territory giving the ball back to the Grizzlies with 10:47 left in the half. Butler was threatening when William McCall picked off quarterback Gavin Screws in their own endzone returning it out the 11-yard line.

The Butler defense continued to hold strong not allowing the Scotties to get anything going on the offensive end. Butler got the ball back off a punt with 4:12 left in the half. They needed just two plays to go 42-yards for their fourth score of the game. McDonald started the drive with a seven-yard carry, then Nick Davenport through a 35-yard strike to Eddie Lewis on the near side for the touchdown. Butler now held a 28-0 lead; one they would carry into the half.

Highland came out of the locker room and started to air it out. They would finally find the endzone with 3:33 left in the third quarter off a 43-yard reception to Cam McKinney.

It was a slower half for the Butler offense, but fireworks came early in the fourth when Kevontae McDonald broke through the line of scrimmage and turned on the jets taking it 70-yards to the house to seal the win for the Grizzlies. Butler now led 34-7 with 9:15 left in the game and that would be the final score for either team.

Butler finished the night with 236 yards on the ground, 180 of those yards coming from freshman Kevontae McDonald who also scored two touchdowns on the night. Tevin Petrie finished with 43 yards rushing off six carries and two touchdowns. Butler passed for 144 yards; Nick Davenport 4-7 for 83 yards and a touchdown and Gavin Screws 2-10 for 61 yards and two interceptions. Caden Cox had two catches for 61 yards while Darius Lassiter totaled two catches for 40 yards on the night.

Highland quarterback Quinn Buessing let it fly Saturday night passing for 391 yards completing 38-56 passing attempts with one touchdown and three interceptions. The Highland run was stuffed all night long as the Scotties managed just 25 yards on the ground.

Three Grizzlies totaled nine tackles on the evening in Quae Drake, Malik Berry and Norman Massey. Drake had two tackles for loss and forced a fumble while Berry recorded a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Nickendre Stiger had six tackles, picked off two passes in the secondary and had a pass breakup. 

NEXT UP: Butler will play host to the Buffalos of Arkansas Baptist on Saturday, May 8 at 7:00pm at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex. 

NOTES: Butler wins their 33^rd consecutive game over Highland and now lead the series 34-11-1 all-time vs. the Scotties. Since 1979, the Grizzlies have won 26 of the last 28 games over Highland…236 yards rushing in the most this season…