Bulldogs Roll In Season-Opener
ALBION, MICH. -- Junior quarterback Andrew Huck passed for 222
yards and three touchdowns to spark Butler to a 29-13 victory over
host Albion in a non-league game at Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium on
Saturday (Sept. 4). It was the season-opener for both
teams.
Huck, who passed for more than 2,400 yards and 21 touchdowns while
leading Butler to an 11-1 record a year ago, hit on 20 of 31
attempts with just one interception against the Britons. He
hit wide receiver Zach Watkins with a 17-yard scoring aerial in the
second quarter for Butler’s first touchdown and then threw
two second half touchdown passes to junior Jordan Koopman in the
second half.
Koopman’s first touchdown catch covered two yards and gave
Butler a 23-6 advantage His second scoring grab came from 26
yards out with just over three minutes remaining to close out the
game’s scoring.
The Bulldogs, who led the Pioneer Football League in total offense
a year ago, were hitting on all cylinders in the opening
game. Sparked by the one-two punch of senior Scott Gray and
junior Ryan Hitchcock, Butler rolled up 297 rushing yards to go
with Huck’s passing yards. Gray finished with 93
rushing yards on 18 carries, while Hitchcock added 88 yards on 14
attempts.
Butler had a 519-232 edge in total yards in the game and a 27-9
advantage in first downs.
Huck guided the Bulldogs on a 47-yard scoring march on their first
possession of the game. Junior David Lang capped the drive
with a 22-yard field goal for the first score of the game.
Lang came back three minutes later with a 35-yard field goal to
make it 6-0, and the touchdown catch by Watkins to start the second
quarter made it 13-0.
A 48-yard scoring run by Albion’s Clinton Orr cut
Butler’s margin to 13-6, but Lang responded with his third
field goal, a 29-yarder, to give the Bulldogs a 10-point lead at
halftime.
The Britons answered Koopman’s first scoring catch with a
71-yard Spencer Krauss to J. C. Cruse touchdown pass in the third
quarter, but the Bulldogs held Albion scoreless in the final
period.
Koopman finished with a career-high nine receptions for a
career-best 108 yards, while Watkins added three catches for 58
yards. Linebackers William Lamar and Jordan Ridley paced
Butler’s defense with six tackles apiece, while defensive
backs Logan Sullivan and Jack McKenna each recorded a pass
interceptions in the win.
The Bulldogs will remain on the road next week with a trip to
Youngstown State for an early evening game on Saturday, Sept.
11.
