SPRINGFIELD, OHIO -- Butler used a strong third quarter offensive performance and a solid defensive effort to take a 22-16 victory at Wittenberg on Saturday, Sept. 6.  It was the season-opener for both teams at Edwards-Maurer Field.

The Bulldogs (1-0), who led just 2-0 at halftime of the non-conference game, answered an early third-quarter field goal by Wittenberg with 20 consecutive points to take a commanding 22-3 advantage into the final period.

But the host squad stormed back with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns and the final outcome wasn't settled until senior JoJo Ciancio came up with a clutch pass interception in the final minute.

"The defense played really, really well and kept us in it until we settled down offensively," said Butler head coach Jeff Voris after the game.  "I was definitely pleased and excited for the win and the way we competed and responded."

Most of the first half was played between the 20-yard lines.  The Bulldogs had the best first-half scoring opportunity when quarterback Matt Shiltz, getting his first collegiate start, engineered a 77-yard drive to the Wittenberg one-yard line.  But the drive ended with a dropped pass in the end zone.

That drive did lead to the only score of the first half.  On the first play after Wittenberg took over on its own one-yard line, Butler's duo of Sean Horan and Kyle Annis tackled running back Sean Gary in the end zone for a safety.

Wittenberg grabbed it's only lead of the game, 3-2, less than four minutes into the third quarter on a 22-yard field goal by Evan Grissom, but the Bulldogs answered 20 seconds later on a 63-yard Shiltz to freshman Sam Schrader touchdown pass.

Schrader added a 27-yard touchdown later in the quarter and Shiltz hit senior Derek O'Connor with a five-yard scoring pass with 1:49 left in the third period to give Butler a 22-3 lead.

The Tigers mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter with a pair of five-yard touchdown passes from Zack Jenkins to Zach Culvahouse, and the host squad was driving in the final minute when Ciancio intercepted a third down pass at the Butler 28-yard line.

It was fitting that Butler's defense put the final touch on the win.  The Bulldogs' defensive unit came up with four turnovers in the win and recorded ten quarterback sacks.  Linebacker Jordan Massey led the defense with ten tackles, while defensive lineman Glen Somers recorded two-and-a-half sacks.

"We controlled the line of scrimmage most of the night," noted Voris of his team's defensive performance.  "We kept pressure on them and they had to change the way they wanted to attack.  Our guys did a good job of answering their adjustments."

Shiltz, who had not thrown a varsity pass before Saturday's game, wound up connecting on 19 of 32 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns.  His favorite target was O'Connor, who finished with seven catches for 56 yards.  Schrader, playing his first varsity game, led the Bulldogs' ground attack with 60 yards on nine carries, and he added three receptions for 95 yards.   

"We had a lot of guys who were seeing their first extended action and to go on the road against a really good football team that's well-coached and had a great plan, I thought it was a great win," added the Butler coach.

The Bulldogs will return to Ohio next Saturday, Sept. 13, to meet Youngstown State.  That game is slated for 4 p.m.