Box Score Butler's Homecoming crowd was treated to a spectacular fourth-quarter comeback that propelled the Bulldogs to a 25-24 win over Campbell in the Pioneer Football League opener for both schools. Brandon Collins hauled in a Matt Shiltz pass with one hand to give Butler (3-1, 1-0 PFL) its only lead of the game with 37 seconds to play. Butler's defense would turn away Campbell's (2-2, 0-1 PFL) final attempt to seal the win.
Down 24-18, Butler got the ball at its own 25 after a touchback with 2:29 to play. On 4th and 6 from Butler's own 29, Shiltz threw a pass up for grabs down the right sideline and Collins made an adjustment on the ball and hauled in the 42-yard completion. More importantly, it moved the sticks. Butler faced fourth down again with 54 seconds to play. Shiltz's pass to the back corner of the endzone fell incomplete, but Campbell was called for pass interference, tying up Marquese Martin-Hayes. Two plays later, Shiltz found Collins isolated on the right side in one-on-one coverage and the wide receiver pulled in a one-handed touchdown catch. The PAT gave the Bulldogs a 25-24 advantage.
"You have to tip your cap to our defense," said head coach Jeff Voris. "They made all the plays they had to for us to stay in the game. You play the first 58 minutes to have a chance to win the game. In that last drive, we had 11 guys believing and trusting in one another. We were efficient and played with great emotion. Guys made plays when we needed them."
Campbell would not go quietly. Starting its drive with 37 seconds to play and on its own 38, a 31-yard completion made things interesting. The Camels would advance the ball all the way to Butler's 23, needing only a field goal to win. But a chop block on the Camels would push the ball back to the Butler 38. Kameron Bryant's Hail Mary was deflected and ultimately intercepted by Zach LaRoche as the final horn sounded.
Shiltz led the Bulldogs with 234 yards through the air and 83 on the ground. His two touchdown passes went to Collins and Pace Temple, who hauled in a 7-yard completion in the first quarter.
Campbell held a slight edge in total yards, 376-371, and time of possession, 31:57-28:03. DeShawn Jones had 133 yards rushing and one touchdown for the Camels.
After a scoreless third quarter, Campbell took its largest lead with a two-yard touchdown run by Jared Joyner with 12:38 to play. The score gave Campbell a 21-10 lead. After trading possessions, Butler put together a drive that brought the Bulldogs back in the game. Shiltz found Guy DiBalsamo for 19 yards and mixed in four runs and a Campbell facemask penalty. On first down from the eight, Shiltz handed the ball to DiBalsamo on the end-around. Shiltz then leaked out and ended up wrestling the ball from a Campbell defender for a touchdown catch. On another end-around, Brian Akialis flipped the ball to tight end Zack Wolfe for the ensuing two-point conversion to pull the Bulldogs within 21-18. Campbell would connect on a field goal to set up the final scoring sequence.
Butler enters their bye week and will have two weeks to prepare for Morehead State. The Bulldogs travel to Morehead, Ky., for the PFL match-up Saturday, Oct. 10. The game kicks at 1 p.m. The Bulldogs return to the Butler Bowl Oct. 17 to face Davidson.
Photo by Jimmy Lafakis.
