Butler wins in Vignery’s juco football coaching debut, takes down No. 7 Garden City

Brice Vignery began his tenure as head coach of the Butler Community College football team in style, taking down a top-10 team in his debut.

After 13 seasons in the program as an assistant coach, Vignery led the Grizzlies to a 35-28 win over No. 7-ranked Garden City in his first game as the man in charge at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex on Saturday night.

The former offensive coordinator, who was replacing Tim Schaffner, picked up right where he left off, as Butler’s offense racked up 457 total yards and 30 first downs against a Garden City program that played for the Jayhawk Conference playoff championship last season.

With the score tied at 28 entering the fourth quarter, Butler reeled off a 10-play, 89-yard drive, capped by the third rushing touchdown of the game by running back Azhuan Dingle from two yards out, to take a 35-28 lead with 7:17 remaining.

Garden City reached midfield on its ensuing drive, but sputtered after Wichita East graduate Norman Massey delivered a drive-killing sack on third down for the Butler defense.

After stopping a 4th-and-14 attempt, Butler drained the final five minutes of clock with its running game. The Grizzlies finished with 226 yards on the ground in a balanced attack that featured K.J. Shankle (86 yards), Jaisean McMillian (48 yards), Dingle (41 yards), Paris Brown (39 yards) and Antwone Parker (29 yards).

Butler quarterback Jake Wolff threw for 231 yards on 19 completions, while connecting with receiver Quavez Humphreys for two touchdowns.

Butler’s defense finished with 14 tackles for loss and five sacks, as McPherson graduate Mason Thrash led the way with six tackles, a sack and three tackles for loss.

Butler will prepare for its first road game of the season this coming week, as the Grizzlies (1-0) travel to Highland (0-1) for a 1 p.m. game next Saturday.

No. 3-ranked Hutchinson makes easy work of Texas opponent

Hutchinson looked every bit like the No. 3-ranked NJCAA team in its season-opening 42-0 victory over Navarro (Texas) on Saturday.

The Blue Dragons scored five touchdowns in the first half, capped by a dazzling 90-yard touchdown reception by Alabama receiving recruit Malik Benson, to improve to 1-0 this season at Gowans Stadium.

Hutchinson racked up more than 500 yards of total offense, as quarterback Dylan Laible threw for 278 yards and five touchdowns on just 13 completions. Benson finished with 112 receiving yards on a pair of catches, while Marcello Bussey (85 yards) and Micah Woods (68 yards) each caught a pair of touchdowns.

Hutchinson (1-0) will travel to Ellsworth (Iowa) for a 1 p.m. game next Saturday.

Friends wins first game on road in Terry Harrison era

Wichita native Terry Harrison is no stranger to turning around a program coming off a one-win season.

The head coach took Bethel from the bottom of the standings to the top in four short years, winning a share of back-to-back KCAC championships in 2020 and 2021 before accepting the challenge of turning around a Friends football program coming off a one-win season.

Harrison is off to a promising start, as the Falcons scored 31 unanswered points in a 31-14 road win over Panhandle State (Okla.) on Saturday evening. It was the first road win for the program since Sept. 19, 2020.

After falling behind 14-0, Friends surged to take a 17-14 halftime lead when Douglass native Zach Dressler scored from one yard out just before the break. Dressler added to the lead on the first play of the third quarter, running untouched for a 55-yard touchdown, followed by a touchdown pass from Overland Park native Jack Mullen to receiver Kevin Green.

Success continues to follow Harrison, who has built a reputation for winning behind his flexbone offense.

From 2012-16, Harrison led Wichita Heights High School to a 38-16 record, culminating with a City League championship in 2016.

In four years at Bethel, Harrison compiled a 29-14 record and led the program to its first NAIA national playoff berth in 14 years.

Kansas JUCO football scores

No. 2 Iowa Western 46, Dodge City 0

No. 3 Hutchinson 42, Navarro (Texas) 0

Butler 35, No. 7 Garden City 28

No. 11 Iowa Central 34, Independence 17

Coffeyville 37, Highland 0

Kansas NAIA football scores

No. 13 Baker 26, Culver-Stockton (Mo.) 14

No. 23 Bethel 51, Atlantis (Fla.) 0

Friends 31, Panhandle State (Okla.) 14

Tabor 17, Iowa Wesleyan 13

Midland (Neb.) 64, Saint Mary 10

Benedictine 34, William Penn (Iowa) 14