Seven consecutive victories between them and plenty of postseason implications make Saturday’s NJCAA Division I matchup between the visiting No. 11 Dodge City Conquistadors (5–2) and No. 13 Butler Grizzlies (4–2) one of the weekend’s most intriguing junior college games.
The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference rivals meet in El Dorado, Kansas, with both teams riding winning streaks and looking to climb the national rankings.
Dodge City brings dangerous ground attack
The Conquistadors have won four straight, most recently dominating Ellsworth 37–8 behind a rushing attack that produced 299 yards.
Head coach Ryan Lusby’s offense averages 350.4 yards per game, including 197.7 on the ground, while scoring 27.4 points per contest.
Watch live. NJCAA: Dodge City Conquistadors @ Butler Grizzlies, Oct. 17, 20:00 CET (8 pm, 2 pm ET)
Quarterback Edwin Merriweather III threw for 196 yards and a touchdown in last season’s meeting, with Carson Spoonts catching three passes for 50 yards and a score.
Defensively, Dodge City allows just 270.4 yards per game and has recorded 13 sacks.
Australian defenders Xavier Fauonuku and Carsen Patu add an international dimension to the Conquistadors’ roster.
Butler knows how to win close games
The Grizzlies have won three straight, including a dramatic 29–28 victory over Coffeyville last weekend.
Head coach Kyle Woodall’s team scored the winning touchdown with 1:52 remaining, continuing a season in which three of its four victories have been decided by six points or fewer.
Butler averages 161.2 rushing yards per game, while its defense has produced 15 sacks.
Running back Markellus Bass dominated last season’s meeting with Dodge City, rushing for 187 yards and three touchdowns in a 30–10 victory.
Conference stakes rising
Butler has won seven of the last 10 meetings, although Dodge City enters with considerable momentum.
The Conquistadors are unbeaten in conference play at 2–0, while the Grizzlies stand at 3–1.
With both teams nationally ranked and the conference race tightening, Saturday’s matchup could come down to turnovers, field position and another dramatic fourth-quarter finish.