Bulldogs Begin PFL Season Against Drake

Oct. 13, 2004

HOME START: Butler (1-5), coming off a non-league road test at nationally-ranked St. Francis (Ind.), will begin a string of four consecutive Pioneer Football League North Division games with a home contest against Drake on Saturday, Oct. 16. The annual "Battle of the Bulldogs" is slated for 1 p.m. (EST) at the Butler Bowl. Head coach Kit Cartwright's squad will play its entire PFL season in the next four weeks, concluding with a game at 2003 PFL champ Valparaiso on Nov. 6. Drake (4-2, 1-0 PFL) enters this week's action with a three-game winning streak, including a 41-38 decision over PFL North Division foe San Diego last weekend. The Des Moines, Iowa, squad is ranked sixth in The Sports Network Mid-Major Top 10 poll. Butler is looking to rebound from a 35-7 setback at St. Francis, the No. 3-ranked team in the NAIA. The Indiana Bulldogs picked up a 21-14 victory over Austin Peay in their last game at the Butler Bowl, two weeks ago.

Butler's last two wins over Drake have been at the Butler Bowl (2002 & 1997).

FINAL EXAM: Butler tuned up for PFL North Division play with a severe road test against one of the top-scoring teams in the NAIA! The Bulldogs turned in a solid performance for three quarters against the potent Cougars, before two fourth quarter touchdowns put the game out of reach. Butler trailed just 14-0 at halftime, and just 21-7 in the fourth quarter after a four-yard Ian Nelson to Billy Nardini touchdown pass. The Bulldogs then successfully executed an "onsides" kick and reached the St. Francis 22-yard line two plays later. But a fumble by Nelson ended Butler's drive and the Bulldogs' last serious scoring threat. The high-scoring Cougars, who entered the game averaging 43.0 points per outing, added two touchdowns in the last 10 minutes of the game for the final margin. St. Francis, unbeaten in its last 26 regular season games, came into the contest with an average winning margin of 30.1 points over its 15-game home field winning streak!

HIT MAN: Junior free safety Chris Haynes, getting just his second collegiate start, led Butler?s defense at St. Francis with a career-high 20 tackles. He had a career-best 16 solo tackles and four assists in the game. Haynes had six solo tackles and two assists in the first quarter alone, and he reached double-figures in tackles by halftime! He became the first Butler player since 1997 (when linebacker Kevin Ward recorded 21 tackles against Evansville) to post 20 tackles in a game. Haynes, starting in place of injured Ben Hess, entered the game with 20 total tackles for the season.

Chris Haynes matched the highest single game tackles total in the PFL this season.

TEAM DEFENSE: Despite giving up five touchdowns at St. Francis, the Bulldogs still rank fourth in the PFL in team scoring defense (24.3 ppg). Butler has held four of six opponents to 21 points or less. The Bulldogs rank third in the conference in team passing defense (155.7 ypg).

ARMS RACE: Butler has had a different starting quarterback in each of the last three meetings with Drake, and two of those signal callers are currently on the Bulldogs' roster. Butler's all-time passing leader, DeWayne Ewing, was the starter against Drake in 2001, current senior Ian Nelson started the 2002 meeting and junior Bob Farmer was last year's starter. Nelson completed 19 of 29 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown, while leading Butler to a 48-44 victory over Drake in 2002. Farmer hit 25 of 41 passes (with one interception) for 300 yards and a touchdown in last year's meeting in Des Moines. He became the first Butler quarterback since Ewing to pass for 300 yards in a game. Nelson was Butler's starter at St. Francis last weekend, but Farmer came off the bench in the fourth quarter and completed four of five passes for 53 yards on the Bulldogs' final drive. Senior Adam Webb also has started two games for the Bulldogs this season.

Ian Nelson scored the game-winning touchdown with 0:20 left against Drake in 2002.

DOUBLE THREAT: Sophomore running back Billy Nardini took over Butler's scoring and pass receiving lead at St. Francis. The second-year back had four pass receptions for 48 yards and one touchdown, boosting his season totals to 19 receptions for 187 yards. He?s scored a team-high three touchdowns. Nardini, who also stands third on the team in rushing, saw only brief action against Drake last year.

SENIOR STOPPERS: Senior linebackers Jim Hart and Parker Smith lead the Bulldogs and are tied for ninth in the PFL in tackles with 51 apiece. Hart had a career-high 15 tackles and his first pass interception of the season at St. Francis, while Smith chipped in with eight tackles, including one tackle for loss. Hart had eight tackles against Drake last year.

BULLDOG BITS:

*Three of the last four meetings between Drake and Butler at the Butler Bowl have been decided in the final two minutes - 2002 (BU, 48-44), 2001 (DU, 41-39) and 1997 (BU, 14-13).

*Senior quarterback Ian Nelson led the Bulldogs in rushing for the third consecutive game with 41 yards against St. Francis. Nelson added 124 passing yards to finish with 165 total offense yards. Nelson ranks fifth in the PFL in total offense (178.8 ypg).

*Ian Nelson ranks fourth in the PFL in passing efficiency (105.1) and fifth in the circuit in passing average (132.5 ypg).

*Sophomore wide receiver Matt McCanna scored his first collegiate touchdown against Drake last year. McCanna tallied Butler?s lone TD in the game on a 14-yard pass from Bob Farmer.

*Senior offensive tackle Kyle Westerlind ran his string of consecutive starts for the Bulldogs to 27 straight games in Butler's game at St. Francis.

*Sophomore linebacker Dave Inman suffered a sprained ankle at St. Francis, and he is doubtful for the Drake game. Inman is fifth on the team with 35 tackles.

*Sophomore free safety Ben Hess will sit out the rest of the 2004 campaign, following a neck injury suffered in Butler?s game at Davidson. Hess currently leads the PFL in pass interceptions with three.

*Senior running back Justin Campbell missed the Bulldogs' game at St. Francis with a sprained ankle, and he remains questionable for this week's action. Campbell ranks second in the PFL in kickoff return average (20.6 ypr) and fourth in all-purpose yards (119.6 ypg).

*Butler's coaches named four players to receive "Player of the Game" awards following the Bulldogs' game at St. Francis. Named on offense was sophomore running back Billy Nardini, while junior defensive back Chris Haynes was tabbed on defense. Freshman wide receiver Nate Miller earned "Special Forces" (Special Teams) recognition, while sophomore linebacker Mike Hiday was chosen from the Scout Team.