2016 Snapshot: Butler

It is transition time at Butler. New head coach Nathan Hyatt takes over a program looking to make to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 12 years.

The good news for Hyatt is that he inherits a squad that is rich in talent at the skill positions. The Aviators will have some growing pains on both sides of the line but should be in the hunt for one of the eight Region 6 playoff berths.

“The team is showing a great work ethic in the off season. They are working very hard,” Hyatt states. It’s the right course for a veteran team that appears to be focused on playing in November once again.

Butler Aviators (photo from vbcsd.com)

Division II, Region 6
2015 RECORD: 7-4, 4-1 GWOC North
COACH: Nathan Hyatt (0-0 @ Butler, first year, 4-6 overall, one year)

TOP RETURNEES
Tyler Burley, Sr, WR/SS – Emerged as one of the Butler bright spots in 2015. Burley had 12 receptions for 185 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver. On defense, he was in on 37 total tackles with two fumble recoveries and one-and-a-half sacks. Burley was named Second Team All-GWOC North.

Aaron Fields, Sr, WR – When healthy Fields is a producer but he has only managed to get on the field for 10 games over the past two seasons. His 20 receptions for 303 yards and three touchdowns were still good enough to earn Fields a Second Team All-GWOC North spot as a junior.

Logan Flatt, Jr, RB – Flatt is a main cog in the Aviators offense and should run for more than 1,000 yards in each of the next two years. He racked up 1,164 all-purpose yards (544 rushing) and eight touchdowns on the ground. That hard work earned him Second Team All-GWOC North acclaim as a sophomore.

Matt Grossman, Sr, FB/MLB – A great comeback story for Grossman who saw injuries cut his sophomore season short. Grossman was in on 60 total tackles, force two fumbles and had three fumble recoveries. He was named Second Team All-GWOC as a junior.

Gavin Kohler, Sr, OL/DE – One of the top returning defensive lineman in the GWOC North Kohler was in on 56 total tackles with four-and-a-half sacks and two fumble recoveries in ’15. He earned Second Team All-GWOC North acclaim for his work.

Trey Sanders, Jr, WR/DB – A big time playmaker Sanders touched the ball 22 times last season and had five touchdown receptions of 26 yards or more along with a run of 34 yards. He was a Second Team All-GWOC pick as a sophomore.

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(seven appearances, 6-7) – 2015, 2013, 2003, 2002, 2001 (Regional Champions), 2000, 1999

2016 SCHEDULE
What sticks out the most about this schedule is the incredible athletes that Butler will face week in and week out. The Aviators will play six road games include three of the year’s first four away from Vandalia.

THE NEXT LEVEL
Even though the Aviators made the playoffs for the second time in the last three seasons there is still work to do to get to the next level. Last season Butler gave up 49.5 points per game in its four losses with an average margin of defeat being 28.75 points per contest. To be fair one of those losses was to eventual Division II state champion, La Salle and another was to Division III regional champion, Trotwood-Madison.

BEATEN BY THE BEST
Butler has been to the playoffs six times since 2000. The Aviators have lost to the eventual Division II state champions three times and the eventual state runner-up three times in those appearances.

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