PITTSBURG, KS – Juventino Sanchez’s 28-yard field goal with 1:11 remaining gave #2 Navarro, Texas a 13-12 win over top-ranked Butler for the National Junior College Athletic Association title. The Grizzlies (11-1) bypassed kicking extra points and were stopped on both PATs.
Butler coach Troy Morrell said recent kicking problems caused him to decide prior to the game to attempt two-point conversions.
Morrell, though, blamed the loss his team’s inability to take advantage of offensive opportunities, notably in the first half when they had third and goal on the four yard line. After a running play lost a yard, three incompletions turned the ball over on downs.
Neither team scored in the first half.
The second half started with a flurry of scoring. Navarro’s Depauldrick Garrett’s two-yard touchdown capped the half’s opening drive, as the Bulldogs led 7-0.
Butler countered with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Zach Mettenberger to Connor Combes, but Mettenberger was sacked on the ensuing PAT.
After Sanchez kicked a 26 yard field goal, Butler scored again on a one-yard run by Cody Mills. This time, Mettenberger’s pass was incomplete on the conversion, leaving the Grizzlies with a 12-10 lead with 2:28 remaining in the third quarter.
Both defenses stiffened the rest of the way. Navarro linebacker sacked Mettenberger twice in the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs took possession with 6:15 remaining on their own 48 and ran twelve plays, all rushes, to set up Sanchez’s game-winning field goal.
Butler’s final drive lasted only one play, as Mettenberger’s pass was intercepted by Chazz Edmond-Paris.
Navarro (11-1) wins their second national title, adding to their 1983 championship.
Navarro opened their season with a 16-10 loss to Butler on August 26 in Wichita.
