Leon Lett originally made the rule famous, and now, it’s helped the Butler Community College football team win its second straight NJCAA national championship.

A bizarre touchdown off a blocked field goal in the second overtime gave the Grizzlies the lead, and an interception on the next play sealed the deal, as Butler defeated Snow College 37-30 Saturday at the Top of the Mountains Bowl at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. The Grizzlies have won back-to-back titles for the second time (they also won in 1998 and 1999) and have won six national titles, including five in the last 11 seasons.

Before the heart-stopping climax, the Grizzlies seemed to be well on their way to victory. Then again, national championships aren’t supposed to be easy, despite Butler’s 56-27 win over Snow in last year’s title game.

Both teams scored on their opening possessions. Butler quarterback Press Taylor completed a 69-yard pass to Edgard Theliar to set up a two-yard touchdown run by tailback Randell Bell for an early 7-0 lead. The Badgers responded three minutes later, with tailback Tyson Church scoring from two yards out to tie the game.

The Grizzlies began to assert themselves in the second quarter, thanks to a big play from their defense. Cornerback Laron Scott intercepted a pass and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was blocked, but the Grizzlies had the lead again, 13-7, with 8:01 left.

The Butler defense quickly forced another turnover, recovering a fumble on the next Snow possession, setting up Bell’s one-yard touchdown to make it 20-7 with 6:34 left in the half. The Badgers picked up a safety on a blocked punt in the third quarter to make it 20-9, but the Grizzlies would tack on a 24-yard field goal by Logan Ortiz to put the Grizzlies up 23-9 heading into the final quarter.

Early in the fourth, however, the momentum shifted when Taylor fumbled and Snow recovered deep in Butler territory, setting up a 10-yard touchdown pass from Jon Eastman to Sam Thomas, cutting the lead in half. The Badgers would tie the game at 23-23 on their next drive, scoring on a fourth-and-goal with a two-yard touchdown run by fullback Mike Meifu with 4:14 to play in regulation.

On Butler’s next possession, the Grizzlies drove to the Snow 22-yard line with just over a minute left. On fourth down, though, Butler chose to go for the first down rather than attempt a 40-yard field goal, perhaps due to the fact the Grizzlies already had a blocked extra point and a missed field goal in the game. Taylor was sacked on the play, which set up overtime.

The Badgers scored on their second play in the first overtime, a 24-yard pass from Eastman to Thomas. Butler scored three plays later on a 14-yard pass from Taylor to Faron Hornes. Then came the second overtime, with perhaps the strangest championship-winning touchdown in football history.

The Grizzlies were faced with a fourth down at the Snow 7-yard line, so they brought out Ortiz to attempt a 24-yard field goal. It was partially blocked, and it bounced into the end zone. Then, it was touched by a Snow player and bounced away, where Butler’s Demonte Hill fell on it in the corner of the end zone. To understand what happened next, you have be up on your football history.

Several years ago, in an NFL Thanksgiving Day game between the Miami Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys, the Dolphins attempted a game-winning field goal in the final seconds. It was partially blocked and went past the line of scrimmage. If the Cowboys had not touched the ball at that point, it would have been a dead ball, and the Cowboys would have won.

But Lett came in and tried to fall on the ball and it squirted away, making it a live ball. The Dolphins recovered with three seconds still showing on the clock, and they got a second chance to kick the game-winner, which they did, winning the game 16-14.

So, after Butler’s Hill recovered the ball in the end zone, the officials briefly discussed the matter, then awarded the touchdown to the Grizzlies, giving Butler a 37-30 lead.

The game ended on the next play, when Eastman’s pass was deflected by a defender, then by the receiver, then ended up in the hands of Butler linebacker Forlando Johnson, who quickly took a knee with the ball and set off a massive celebration on the Butler side of the field.

The final statistics were fittingly even across the board. Snow put up 401 yards of total offense but turned the ball over four times. Butler had 380 total yards and two turnovers. Taylor finished the game 20-for-32 for 280 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Bell was voted the game’s Most Valuable Offensive Player with 87 yards rushing on 22 carries with two touchdowns. Hornes finished with six receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown while Tyrece Gaines had five catches for 53 yards and Theliar added three catches for 94 yards. Butler defensive end Zac Clark, who had four tackles and two sacks, was voted the Most Valuable Defensive Player.

Snow’s Eastman completed 19 of 32 pass attempts for 266 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted by the Grizzlies three times. Thomas finished with eight catches for 154 yards and both of Eastman’s touchdowns. Church ran the ball 19 times for 92 yards and a touchdown.

Unlike last year, there will be no sharing of the national championship this year. After sharing with fellow unbeaten Mississippi Gulf Coast last season, the Top of the Mountains Bowl made an agreement with the NJCAA saying this year’s winner would be declared the undisputed national champion.

The Kansas Jayhawk Conference went 2-0 in bowl games. Fort Scott knocked off Blinn (Texas), 30-14, Saturday at the Heart Of Texas Bowl in Copperas Cope, Texas.

Snow 7 0 2 14 (7) ((0))--30

Butler 7 13 3 0 (7) ((7))--37

First Quarter

B--Bell 2 run (Ortiz kick), 11:35

S--Church 2 run (Phillips kick), 8:22

Second Quarter

B--Scott 39 interception return (kick blocked), 8:01

B--Bell 1 run (Ortiz kick), 6:34

Third Quarter

S--Safety (blocked punt out of end zone), 13:01

B--Ortiz 24 field goal, 5:40

Fourth Quarter

S--Thomas 10 pass from Eastman (Phillips kick), 11:24

S--Meifu 2 run (Phillips kick), 4:14

First Overtime

S--Thomas 24 pass from Eastman (Phillips kick)

B--Hornes 14 pass from Taylor (Ortiz kick)

Second Overtime

B--Hill recovered field goal in end zone (Ortiz kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

Snow--Church 19 carries-92 yards, Eastman 7-18, Meifu 3-12, McKenzie 3-6, Thomas 1-3, Buck 1-(minus 2). Butler--Bell 22-87, Taylor 12-50, Hubbard 6-3, Jacques 1-2, Hamm 1-0.

Passing

Snow--Eastman 19 completions-32 attempts-266 yards-2 TD-3 INT. Butler--Taylor 20-32-280-1-0.

Receiving

Snow--Thomas 8 receptions-154 yards, Buck 4-74, Church 3-18, Ogbonna 2-13, Hatch 1-6, Meifu 1-1. Butler--Hornes 6-76, Gaines 5-53, Theliar 3-94, Davis 3-17, Bell 2-31, Williams 1-9.