Full Notes (PDF)

HOMECOMING SATURDAY: Butler hosts Marist in a Homecoming affair Saturday afternoon at the Butler Bowl in Indianapolis. A weekend of events are planned on the Butler campus. The Bulldogs enter the contest at 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Pioneer Football League thus far in 2016. Marist is 1-3 overall (1-0 PFL). The game will be streamed live on ButlerSports.com.
 
HOMECOMING HEROICS: In 2015, 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 PFL opener for both schools. Brandon Collins hauled in a Matt Shiltz pass with one hand to give Butler its only lead of the game with 37 seconds to play. Butler's defense would turn away Campbell's final attempt to seal the win.
 
NEW SIGNAL-CALLER: Will Marty got his first career start under center in a Butler uniform Saturday against San Diego. He had 177 yards through the air, including a 13-yard connection with Cord Collier in the fourth quarter for his first career touchdown toss. Marty connected with Pace Temple seven times for 94 yards.
 
DEFENSIVE STOPPER: Cornerback Mike Cerone had nine tackles and an interception for the Bulldogs Saturday against San Diego. The nine tackles were a team-high and included one tackle for loss.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Visiting San Diego used a stout defense and an early 14-0 lead to propel to a 44-10 victory Saturday afternoon at the Butler Bowl. The Toreros had 526 yards on the afternoon, led by 326 yards passing from Anthony Lawrence and 128 yards on the ground from Jonah Hodges.
 
AGAINST THE RED FOXES: In a series that only dates back to 2011, Marist has a 2-1 advantage all-time over Butler. The Red Foxes won the first match-up in 2011 (a 28-10 decision in Indianapolis) with Butler returning the favor the following season in New York (17-14). In the most recent meeting, Oct. 31, 2015 at Marist, the host Red Foxes won, 35-14. Among current PFL teams, Marist is Butler's least-played opponent (three total meetings) other than Stetson (Butler is 1-0 against Stetson).

THIS TIME LAST YEAR: Marist jumped out to an early lead that Butler was unable to overcome as the visiting Bulldogs fell, 35-14, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Marist converted the first play from scrimmage into a touchdown as they connected on a 60-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead. Marist put together two touchdowns later in the first half to take a 21-0 advantage into the locker room. Marist had 390 total yards compared to 318 for Butler.

SETTING THE PACE: Sophomore Pace Temple leads the PFL and is ninth in the NCAA FCS division in receiving yards at 496 (99.2 per game). His 24 catches on the season trail only Morehead State's Jake Raymond in the conference. Through only four games, Temple has already eclipsed his freshman campaign numbers, when he had 18 catches for 214 yards.
 
Temple had a career-high 128 yards receiving at Campbell Sept. 24. Temple's 67 yards against Marist in 2015 were a season-high for the then-freshman.
 
DOESN'T GET MUCH CLOSER: Through five games, Butler and its opponents are almost dead even in total offense (2,003 yards for Butler to 2,009 for opponents) and points (148 for Butler and 146 for the team's five opponents).
 
KEEPING THE JERSEYS CLEAN: Butler has only allowed two sacks on the season. That is despite losing starting center Dakota Sneed to injury earlier in the year.
 
FRESH LEGS: Freshman Drew Bevelhimer connected on the first field goal attempt of his Butler career, knocking home a 47-yarder in the third quarter Sept. 10 against Franklin. He went 8-of-8 on PATs as well in that game. He is 6-of-8 on field goals in his short Butler career. Bevelhimer and linebacker Mason Brunner are the two true freshmen to see action so far this season for the Bulldogs.
 
HOME COOKING: The Bulldogs started the 2016 home schedule off with a win over Franklin Sept. 10 before dropping Saturday's decision at the Butler Bowl to San Diego. Butler displayed a 5-0 home mark in 2015. That Butler team was the first since 2012 to go undefeated at the Butler Bowl.
 
STOPPING THE CHAINS: Butler's opponents are converting only 31 percent of third down attempts against the Bulldogs' defense. That percentage is the 16^th-best number in FCS.
 
PLAYING IT SMART: Butler is averaging only 5.2 penalties per game. That is second-fewest in the PFL and the 14^th-best mark in the FCS division.
 
GOING BACKWARD: Butler's punt coverage unit has been so good this season that opposing returners are averaging a loss of 0.75 yards per return. This is the third-best mark in FCS and also leads the PFL. The Bulldogs also lead the PFL in net punting (39.7 yards), which is 13^th in FCS.
 
QUICK HITS: Butler ranks third in the PFL in both scoring offense (29.6 points per game) and total offense (400.6 yards per game)…running back Duvante Lane is second in the PFL with seven rushing touchdowns. Lane had his first 100-yard game as a Bulldog in the home opener Sept. 10 against Franklin…senior Jordan Ransone leads Butler with 2.0 sacks so far this season…senior linebacker David Starkey's three forced fumbles are the best mark in the PFL. Starkey also leads the team with 37 tackles this season and his 2.5 tackles for loss are tied for the top spot on the roster…Butler is out-scoring opponents, 44-30, in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs and opponents are even in the first quarter, with opponents out-scoring Butler by three points apiece in both the second and third quarters…Will Marty's 39 passing attempts Saturday against San Diego were a season-high for Butler.