Full Notes (PDF)

LAST STEP OUTSIDE THE LEAGUE: Butler travels to Upland, Ind., to meet Taylor in the Bulldogs' final non-conference game of the 2016 season. The Bulldogs are 1-1 on the young season. Taylor, of the NAIA, is 1-2 on the season. Taylor will provide a live video stream and live stats. Links are available on ButlerSports.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Malcolm Weaver had 260 yards and three touchdowns in just over a half of action, leading Butler to a 59-14 win over visiting Franklin Saturday night under the lights at the Butler Bowl. Two touchdown connections to Pace Temple sandwiched around a 13-yard rushing touchdown by John Hall gave Butler a 21-0 advantage near the end of the first quarter.
 
THIS TIME LAST YEAR: Senior quarterback Matt Shiltz had 293 yards passing and another 78 on the ground, accounting for four Butler touchdowns and leading the Bulldogs to a resounding 41-10 win at Taylor. Taylor jumped out to an early 10-7 lead before Butler rolled to 34 consecutive points.
 
AGAINST THE TROJANS: Butler holds a 5-0 advantage in the all-time series against Taylor. Four of those wins have come under coach Jeff Voris. The first meeting took place in 1965 with Tony Hinkle manning the Butler sidelines.
 
ON THE OUTSIDE: Sophomore Pace Temple and senior Danny Cotter have combined for 358 receiving yards in the team's two games. That is 68 percent of the team's receiving production. Butler graduated four of its top five pass-catchers from 2015.
 
HOME COOKING: The Bulldogs started the 2016 home schedule off with a win Saturday. Butler displayed a 5-0 home mark in 2015. That Butler team was the first since 2012 to go undefeated at the Butler Bowl.
 
THREE…AND YOU'RE OUT: In the season opener, the Bulldogs defense limited Indiana State's offense to 3-of-13 on third down conversions. The team followed that up by preventing Franklin on third down at a high clip as well, as the visitors converted only 3-of-14. Butler led the PFL in that defensive category in 2015, as their opponents were able to convert on only 31.3 percent of third downs.
 
GROUND GRIND: While Butler rushed for 254 yards on the ground Saturday against Franklin, the Butler defense limited Franklin to only 55 yards on 28 carries. Franklin entered the fourth quarter with just one net rushing yard.
 
CENTURY MARK: Duvante Lane had 104 yards on 12 carries against Franklin. It was the first time in his Butler career that he posted a 100-yard performance. His three touchdowns were also a career-high.
 
BIG PLAYS BY THE D: The Bulldogs had four sacks, including two by senior captain Jordan Ransone, and three interceptions Saturday against Franklin. Adam Chappelle had two of the picks, including one he returned six yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
 
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 Saturday. He went 8-of-8 on PATs as well. Redshirt freshman Evan Giebel came on in the fourth quarter for his first career punt. Coach Jeff Voris asked Giebel to pin Franklin deep in their own territory, and his 28-yard punt was downed at the 2.
 
QUICK AND TO THE POINT: Not including Butler's interception return for a touchdown, the Bulldogs had seven touchdown drives Saturday against Franklin. Only one of the seven was longer than 2:57 (that drive was 5:13). Butler ran 66 offensive plays, only facing 10 third downs.
 
GETTING THE NOD: Redshirt senior Malcolm Weaver won the starting quarterback battle in camp. In the opener against Indiana State, Weaver completed 18-of-30 passes for 202 yards. Weaver saw extensive action in 2014 as a sophomore, starting five contests. During that time, he passed for 1,010 yards and ran for 198, accounting for eight total TDs.
 
SOMETIMES THE NUMBERS LIE: Butler had statistical advantages in several key categories in Saturday's loss at Indiana State: first downs (24-21), time of possession (33:42-26:18), rushing yards (145-124), and penalties committed (only three for 25 yards compared to 90 yards in penalties for Indiana State). However, Indiana State took advantage of four Butler turnovers and converted those into 21 points on the afternoon.
 
PRESEASON HONORS: Sean Horan and Connor Andras represent Butler on the 2016 Preseason All-Pioneer Football League Team as selected by the league's head coaches. Horan, recognized as one of the PFL's three linebackers selected, led the Bulldogs in tackles in 2015, being named first-team Academic All-Pioneer Football League, second-team All-Pioneer Football League, and receiving Butler's Defensive MVP recognition. Andras, a junior, is one of two long snappers on the preseason team. He earned honorable mention All-PFL in 2015. He also sees time along Butler's defensive line.
 
CAPTAINS: Linebacker Sean Horan, defensive tackle Jordan Ransone, and offensive lineman Michael Demos are Butler's captains for the 2016 season. All three are fifth-year seniors.
 
BACK IN (ALMOST) FULL FORCE: Butler's defense returns nine of its 11 starters from a season ago, graduating only defensive tackle Adam Rodgers and linebacker Jordan Massey. The defense returns its top eight tacklers from 2015, led by Sean Horan with 72. Senior Josh Willis and his team-leading seven sacks also returns.
 
ALONG THE LINE: Butler was able to utilize one unit along the offensive line for all 11 contests in 2015. Left tackle David Tiwari and center Max Brodbeck graduated from that unit, but Michael Robinson (LG), Nestor Porres (RG) and Joe Hackett (RT) return. The group also welcomes back All-Pioneer Football League performer Michael Demos at left tackle. He missed the 2015 season due to injury.
 
I'LL TAKE THAT: Isaak Newhouse led the Bulldogs with six interceptions a season ago. Newhouse ranked third in the PFL and seventh in FCS in picks per game last season.
 
THAT'S GOOD WORK: Butler senior captain Sean Horan is among 165 nominees for the 25th Anniversary Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced the nominees Wednesday, July 13.
 
IT'S SO PRETTY, LET'S PLAY TWO: The 2016 schedule for the Bulldogs will be identical to the 2015 slate as Butler opens with Indiana State, Franklin and Taylor before facing off with the same eight PFL foes as they did a season ago.
 
WINNING WAYS: Butler has posted winning seasons in three of the last four years.
 
THE MAN IN CHARGE: Head coach Jeff Voris is in his 11th season in charge at Butler, posting a 61-54 record. He is third on Butler's all-time wins list, trailing only Tony Hinkle (165) and Bill Sylvester (84).