By: Dana Becker
Messenger Sports Staff
Anything and everything that could go wrong for the Iowa Central football team here on Saturday, did.
Five turnovers and constant pressure applied by No. 12 Butler resulted in a deflating 45-10 setback inside Dodger Stadium for the No. 3 Tritons.
"It was just one of those games and one of those days," ICCC head coach Jesse Montalto said. "Some injuries we had coming in, we couldn't overcome. Couple that with so many things just going against us and we really didn't have a chance.
"Butler came in and took it to us. We'll go back to the drawing board and try to right the ship for these final three games."
The Grizzlies (4-2 overall) scored 38 unanswered points after the Tritons (5-2) took a 10-7 lead with a Mario Sanders touchdown catch from Triton quarterback Justin Silverstein. Silverstein battled through the day to throw for 191 yards and rush for 67, while Sanders had six catches for 38 yards and ran for another 38.
Butler was paced by quarterback Tanner Murray, as the sophomore threw for 251 yards and a pair of TDs. Seth McGowan found the end zone three times on short runs in the victory, with Jamarion McDougle and PJ Caldwell each catching scores.
"We need to take the ball and control the game when we have a lead like we did," Montalto said. "We let them do what they wanted to do and we couldn't get out of our own way."
Kongolo Mwenemkamba gave Iowa Central a 3-0 lead with a 21-yard field goal late in the first quarter. Butler answered as Murray found McDougle from 24 yards out.
Silverstein was a perfect 3-for-3 on the following drive, hitting three different receivers before connecting with Sanders for the score.
The advantage was short-lived, though, as the Grizzlies marched right back down the field with the first McGowan score.
"This one is done and over with and there is nothing we can do to change that," Montalto said. "What we can control is how we practice moving forward and how we play over these next three regular season games."
Iowa Central heads to Dodge City on Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The Conquistadors (4-3) got by Ellsworth on Saturday, 21-7.
The Tritons won last year's matchup with Dodge City by a final of 49-22.