It had been 503 days since the Independence Community College football team had taken the field. They finished the 2019 season as Jayhawk Conference Champions and started the 2021season beating the 7th ranked Butler Grizzlies 31-24. The Pirates started the game strong scoring a touchdown on their first drive, forcing a fumble on Butler's first drive and then scoring another touchdown on their second drive. ICC held the 17-0 lead after the first quarter and then after a slow second quarter would head into halftime leading 17-3.
After a quarterback change, Butler would take control to start the second half scoring 24 unanswered points to take their first lead of the game. The ICC offense struggled to find a rhythm in the 3rd quarter but right as the quarter would come to a close the Pirates tied the game up at 24-24. With 43 seconds left, the Pirates running back Tavion Thomas, a Cincinnati transfer, would find the endzone for the fourth time in the game to give ICC the go-ahead touchdown.
Thomas finished the game with 13 carries, 172 yards, three rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown. QB Brock Domann 17-34, 122 yards and 1 touchdown. ICC rushed for 338 yards on 43 carries.
