Butler Begins PFL Play At Morehead State

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LEAGUE START:  Butler will take an unbeaten record and one of the nation’s highest scoring averages into its Pioneer Football League opener at Morehead State on Saturday, Sept. 26.  The first league test for both teams is scheduled for 1 p.m. (ET) at Jayne Stadium in Morehead Ky.  The Bulldogs were the lone PFL team to make it through the first three weeks of the season unscathed.  Butler picked up consecutive non-league victories over Albion, Franklin and Hanover behind a high-powered offense that posted three straight 40-point performances.  It marked the first time in school history that the Bulldogs scored more then 40 points in three straight wins!  Butler’s 44.3 points per game scoring average leads the PFL and ranks second in the nation heading into this weekend’s games.  Morehead State, 6-0 all-time against the Bulldogs at Jayne Stadium, improved to 2-1 on the season with a 13-10 victory in double-overtime at North Carolina Central last weekend.          

Butler is 3-0 for the second time in three seasons.

ON THE AIR:  For the fifth straight year, Butler football games can be heard on XL 950 (AM) in Indianapolis and on the internet at BigPlayProductions.com.  Calling the game are play-by-play announcer Brian Giffin and former Butler football coach Ken LaRose.  This weekend’s game against Morehead State will be carried live, starting with a pre-game show at 12:40 p.m. (ET).
 
HIGH ROLLERS:  Butler scored on five of its first six possessions against Hanover, while rolling up a 42-21 victory in the non-league contest.  The Bulldogs grabbed an early lead in the contest on a 19-yard pass interception return for a touchdown by Andy Dauch less than two minutes into the first quarter and then stretched that margin to 35-7 by halftime.  Butler added a sixth touchdown less than four minutes into the third period, which ended the afternoon for most of the Bulldogs’ starters.
   
Butler has not trailed in its first three football games this season.

PRIZE CATCH:  Senior wide receiver Dan Bohrer caught two touchdown passes in Butler’s victory over Hanover, and the second etched his name in the Butler record book for the second time in as many weeks.  Bohrer grabbed a three-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andrew Huck in the first half and then caught an eight-yard scoring aerial from quarterback Cal Blair to close out Butler’s scoring in the third period.  The eight-yard catch gave him 18 career touchdown receptions, matching the Butler all-time record set by Mike Chrobot (1975-78).  A week earlier in the Bulldogs’ win at Franklin, Bohrer became Butler’s all-time leader in pass receptions, a total that currently stands at 155.  Bohrer has caught at least one pass in 22 consecutive games for the Bulldogs.  

Dan Bohrer had a 13-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter against Morehead State last year to give the Bulldogs their first lead in the game.

ON TARGET:  Butler quarterback Andrew Huck only played one half in Butler’s victory over Hanover, but it was a productive 30 minutes.  He connected on 13 of 15 pass attempts for 134 yards and one touchdown, and he carried the ball four times for 31 yards and an additional TD.  The second-year signal caller completed his first three passes in the game, missed on two attempts and then finished with 10 consecutive completions.  He led the team to touchdowns on four of five possessions in the first half!          

Andrew Huck leads the NCAA Division I FCS in passing efficiency (182.12).

FEELING DEFENSIVE:  Butler limited Hanover to just 31 rushing yards on 33 attempts in the non-league win.  It was the third straight game that the Bulldogs have held their opponent under 50 yards rushing.  Hanover finished the game with just 163 total yards, including just 68 yards in the first half.  It was the second time in three outings that Butler held its opponent under 200 yards for the game.

Butler leads the PFL in rushing defense (18.0 ypg) and total defense (221.7 ypg).

CAREER DAY:  Sophomore defensive back Andy Dauch had only one tackle against Hanover, but he still turned in the top performance of his young Butler career.  Dauch gave Butler the early lead in the contest with his first career pass interception and a 19-yard return for his first collegiate touchdown less then two minutes into the game.  He went on to add his first career punt return for 11 yards and his first career forced fumble.  Dauch finished his afternoon with a kickoff return for 28 yards, one-yard shy of his career-long return.

SOLID START:  Redshirt freshman quarterback Calvin Blair completed his first six passes against Hanover, including an eight-yard scoring strike to Dan Bohrer.  Blair had 12 consecutive completions over his first three collegiate games, before throwing his first incomplete pass against Hanover.  He finished the Hanover game with 6 of 11 passing for 50 yards.

BULLDOG BITS:

•Butler leads the PFL in passing offense (284.7), passing efficiency (176.5) and total offense (461.3).

•Senior wide receiver Dan Bohrer ranks fifth on Butler’s all-time list for receiving yards with 1,901.  He needs 33 yards to pass Tom Redmond (1970-72) in fourth place and 37 yards to pass Paul Page (1983-86) in the No. 3 spot.

•Quarterback Andrew Huck continues to lead the PFL in passing (259.0 ypg), total offense (307.0 ypg) and passing efficiency (181.12).  He ranks fifth in the league in rushing (48.0 ypg).

•Sophomore Zach Watkins, who had five receptions for 53 yards against Hanover, continues to lead the PFL in scoring (10.0).  He’s tied for the league-lead in receptions/game (6.7) and he ranks second in the circuit in receiving yards/game (112.0).

•Junior Grant Hunter recorded two quarterback sacks against Hanover.  He’s the PFL’s active leader in career quarterback sacks with 17.5.

•Tailback Scott Gray scored his second touchdown of the season on a one-yard run in the third quarter against Hanover.  Gray has scored 19 touchdowns in 15 career games at Butler.

•Wide receiver Jordan Koopman had a career-long 62-yard kickoff return to set up Butler’s second touchdown in the Hanover win.  Koopman finished the game with thee kickoff returns for 93 yards, and he added five pass receptions for 36 yards.

•Sophomore Mark Giacomantonio continues to lead the PFL in pass interceptions (1.00).  He’s tied for second in the league in passes defended (1.33).

•Offensive guard Donny Gilmore started his 25th consecutive game for the Bulldogs in last weekend’s victory over Hanover.

•Senior safety Spencer Summerville, who leads the Bulldogs in tackles with 14, had a career-high 11 tackles, including a career-best eight solo tackles in last year’s game against Morehead State.

ON THIS DATE:  Placekicker John Jenkins kicked a Butler-record five field goals on Sept. 26, 1987.  Jenkins was perfect on five field goal attempts in the game, and he scored all of Butler’s points in a 15-10 victory over Dayton at the Butler Bowl.