Blue Tops White In Spring Game

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- In a game that featured more than 100 points, it was Butler’s defensive unit that prevailed.  The Blue team (defense) topped the White team (offense), 56-52, in Butler’s annual spring football game at the Butler Bowl on Saturday, April 21.

The offensive and defensive squads squared off under a special scoring system that included points for first downs, big plays, defensive takeaways, defensive stops, sacks and tackles for loss, in addition to normal football scoring.

There were big plays on both sides of the ball.

Newcomer Matt Lancaster, a transfer quarterback from Illinois State, engineered the first scoring drive.  He led the offense on a 64-yard march in five plays, covering the final 13 yards himself on a scramble.  Tailback Don Stewart sparked the drive with a 38-yard run.

But the Blue team answered with a touchdown of its own when linebacker Zack Sedivy picked off a pass from quarterback Matt Shiltz and returned it 30 yards to the end zone.

Two other touchdowns were scored in the contest, which was played with a running clock.  Quarterback Wade Markley tossed a 25-yard scoring aerial to wide receiver Brayton Deckard to cap an 85-yard drive, and Shiltz hit wide receiver Brian Akialis with a 21-yard strike to finish a 70-yard drive.

The game came right down to the final seconds when the defensive unit, clinging to a four-point advantage, stopped the offense twice on long pass attempts.

Markley completed 16 passes for 170 yards to lead Butler’s offensive unit, while Shiltz finished with 80 yards on seven completions.  Tailback Don Stewart led the ground game with 81 yards on nine carries.