Strange ending gives Butler crown

SALT LAKE CITY -- A strange play in the second overtime of the Top of the Mountains Bowl here Saturday gave Butler a claim of its second consecutive NJCAA national championship.

The Grizzlies had the first possession of the second overtime and opted to attempt a 40-yard field goal on fourth down. The kick was blocked by Snow but went past the line of scrimmage. In a bizarre turn of events, the ball was touched by a Snow player and then rolled into the end zone where it was recovered by Butler's Demonte Hill for a touchdown. Logan Ortiz kicked the extra point to give the Grizzlies a 37-30 lead.

Jon Eastman's pass was intercepted by Forlando Johnson on Snow's first play of its half of the second overtime to seal the win for Butler (11-1).

Snow and Butler entered the contest ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, in the NJCAA/JC Football.com Poll.

Butler defeated Snow in last year's Top of the Mountains Bowl, 56-27, to clinch a share of the 2007 national championship with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Butler controlled the game early, taking a 20-7 halftime lead behind two scores from running back Randell Bell and a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown by Laron Scott.

However, the second half belonged to Snow (11-1) as they scored 16 second-half points while holding the Grizzlies to just a field goal.

Eastman led the Badgers on a 10-play drive late in the fourth quarter, capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Mike Meifu to tie the game at 23-23.

That forced the first overtime period in a NJCAA-sanctioned national championship football game.

Both teams scored touchdowns in the first overtime to move the contest into a second extra period. Sam Thomas hauled in a 24-yard scoring strike from Eastman on the Badgers' possession. Faron Hornes hauled in a 14-yard pass from Press Taylor on Butler's possession.

Snow out-gained the Grizzlies 401-380 in total offense, but Butler turned four turnovers into 14 points.

Butler was led offensively by Bell who rushed for 86 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns, while quarterback Press Taylor completed 20-of-32 passes for 283 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Egard Theliar led the Grizzlies with three receptions for 93 yards, while Faron Hornes had six catches for 76 yards and a score.

Zac Clark was the defensive leader for Butler. He posted four tackles and two sacks, consistently breaking through the Snow offensive line to put pressure on Eastman.

For the game, Eastman completed 19-of-31 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns, but also had three interceptions. Running back Tyson Church rushed for 96 yards on 20 carries and also had a touchdown.

Thomas posted a big game for the Badgers catching eight passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns.

Isi Filimoeatu led the Badger defense with eight tackles, including two tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles.

NOTES: This is the second time Butler has won back-to-back national championships, winning in 1998 and 1999. The Grizzlies have six national championships overall, including five in the past 11 years (1981, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2008)....

The Top of the Mountains Bowl named game MVP's for both teams. Thomas and Filimoeatu earned the honors for Snow, while Bell and Clark were the MVP's for Butler....

This was the third time in the five-year history of the Top of the Mountains Bowl that Butler and Snow have faced off. Snow won the first match-up in 2005 17-14...

Over 8,000 fans were in attendance to watch the event, which was the first-ever American football game to be played in the newly opened Rio Tinto Stadium, the home field of Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake team....

Information for this summary provided by the National Junior College Athletic Association Sports Information Department.