Hutchinson beats Butler for first time since 1997

Hutchinson coach Rion Rhoades had his heart broken too many times by these Grizzlies to feel certain about anything.

So he stalked the Hutchinson sideline Saturday night, trying to ignore the impending happiness surrounding him. He yelled at some players, who undoubtedly did not hear him. He snuck glances at the scoreboard, his heart racing as the clock neared zeroes.

And then, when all possible threats were extinguished, there was a release within Rhoades, his mind finally telling him it was over.

Hutchinson, ranked No. 6 in the country, had defeated No. 9 Butler 35-26 at BG Products Veteran Sports Complex, knocking off its rivals for the first time since 1997.

Sixteen years of failed attempts, totaling 23 straight losses, was over.

“It’s a little bit surreal, quite honestly,” Rhoades said. “Butler deserves all the credit they’ve gotten, but I’m proud that we’ve knocked them off that pedestal.”

On the field, on the banners and on the recruiting trail, Butler always had the advantage. Butler coach Troy Morrell has been a part apart of all 23 of those victories — first as an assistant and then as head coach — and took tremendous pride in the streak.

Claiming dominance over such a quality program in its own right in Hutchinson represented Butler’s reign of dominance in Kansas.

There was no denying Butler had lost more than a football game on Saturday night. “Dejection” and “frustration” was how Morrell categorized it.

“It was a great streak,” Morrell said. “It was a lot of fun. It was a lot of hard work and guys finding ways to win. I feel bad for our team, but I also feel bad for all those guys in the past that helped build that streak. It feels horrible to let those guys down.”

Hutchinson has built leads on Butler before, so even when it scored twice in a little over five minutes to take a 13-0 lead there was no sense of comfort.

And sure enough, strange things began to happen that Hutchinson could have seen as signs of being cursed.

Quarterback Dalton Demos was sacked and fumbled with Hutchinson looking to take a three-score lead. Butler was unable to score any points, but it didn’t squander a chance for redemption when Demos was stripped again the next drive.

Butler tacked on another touchdown in the second quarter, then took a 20-13 lead into halftime when cornerback Bakari Triggs broke on a pass to the far sideline and intercepted it for a 41-yard touchdown with 1:21 remaining in the half.

“Our guys battled back and fought,” Morrell said.

But so did Hutchinson, which climbed back in the game and took a 22-20 lead entering the fourth quarter.

The game swung on the first play in the fourth quarter by Hutchinson, as Demos recognized single coverage on the outside with wide receiver Juwan Dickey and dialed up a streak down the sideline.

The throw was on target and Dickey won the one-on-one battle with the defender falling down and the receiver racing 72 yards for a defining touchdown to give Hutchinson a 29-20 lead with 13:27 left.

“Once I saw the ball, it just kind of slowed down,” Dickey said. “I just went up for it and caught it and took off. That was the best feeling in the world.”

Butler did what was necessary to stay in the game, answering with a touchdown of its own 93 seconds later.

But the Grizzlies’ demise would ultimately be their inefficiency in the red zone, where they capitalized on just two of their six chances.

Credit that to the play of Hutchinson’s lines, on both sides, but especially defensive lineman Marquavius Lewis, who terrorized Butler quarterback Damarcus Smith into 22 incompletions and just seven yards rushing on five attempts.

Alabama transfer Alvin Kamara finished with 143 rushing yards for Hutchinson, while Dickey had eight catches for 144 yards.

“I feel like this team just made a bit of history,” said Lewis, who registered a game-high 11 tackles and six tackles for loss. “It’s just amazing. It’s a breath of fresh air to come in here and just take it from them.”

Finally, Rhoades could exhale.

“I think that status (of Butler) can be gone and now we can move forward,” Rhoades said. “I think this proves we’re not just one of the best in the state, but in the country.”

This story was originally published September 13, 2014 at 11:50 PM with the headline "Hutchinson beats Butler for first time since 1997."