Full Notes (PDF)
SECOND SEASON: Butler opens Pioneer Football League play Saturday, traveling to North Carolina for a match-up with Campbell. The Bulldogs concluded non-conference play at 2-1. Campbell is also 2-1. Campbell will provide a live video stream and live stats. Links are available on ButlerSports.com.
LAST TIME OUT: Butler improved to 2-1 on the young season with a 27-14 win Saturday night at Taylor. The Bulldogs held Taylor without a point over the final 27 minutes of the contest to get the win. Malcolm Weaver had 219 yards passing and another 114 yards on the ground to lead the Butler attack. Seventy of his rushing yards came on a second-quarter rushing touchdown that gave the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR: 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.
AGAINST THE CAMELS: Butler holds a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series against Campbell. All of the match-ups have occurred since 2008.
ON THE OFFENSIVE: Butler and Campbell are the top two offenses in the PFL in both scoring and total offense through three non-conference games. Campbell has a slight statistical edge (40.0 to 37.0 points per game and 465 to 460 yards per game). Butler tops the PFL in passing offense at 247.3 yards per contest, while Campbell's attack comes on the ground with a league-best 281 yards per game.
SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE: That Campbell rushing attack will meet Butler's rush defense, which is allowing only 84.7 yards rushing per game for its three opponents. Butler leads the PFL in rush defense. The stout rush defense has aided the Bulldogs in also leading the conference in third-down conversions (opponents converting only 9-of-40 attempts) and in time of possession (32:48).
THREE AND YOU'RE OUT: The Bulldogs allowing opponents to convert on only 22.5 percent of third downs continues a trend from one season ago. 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.
QUICK STRIKES: Butler leads the PFL in time of possession, but a majority of their touchdown drives have been incredibly efficient (and short). Against Taylor on Saturday, Butler's three touchdown drives were 2:12, 0:14 and 3:04, respectively. Only one of Butler's 14 touchdown drives has been longer than four minutes this season.
WINNING SPECIAL TEAMS: Butler leads the PFL in net punting at 40.3 yards per punt. Senior Ian Dobek is averaging 41.4 yards per punt, which is third in the conference. Butler's punt coverage has been so good this season that opponents have netted (-1) yards on punt returns.
KEEPING THE JERSEYS CLEAN: The Bulldogs lead the PFL in pass offense, and despite all the dropbacks, the team has allowed only two sacks on the season.
DUAL THREAT: Redshirt senior Malcolm Weaver leads the PFL in total offense at 273 yards per game. He has passed for at least 200 yards in each of the team's three contests. He had a career-best 114 yards (on just seven carries) Saturday at Taylor, highlighted by a 70-yard scoring drive.
ON THE OUTSIDE: Sophomore Pace Temple leads the PFL with 18 receptions. His 274 yards receiving through three games is second in the conference. Danny Cotter and Nick Weaver each have 11 receptions on the season, with 183 and 168 yards receiving, respectively. Cotter had 106 yards receiving Sept. 10 against Franklin.
CROSSING THE GOAL LINE: Running back Duvante Lane has a league-best six touchdowns this season, all coming on the ground. He has rushed for 202 yards, including 104 two weeks ago in the win over Franklin. That was his first career 100-yard game.
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.
GROUND GRIND: The Bulldogs held Taylor to 75 yards rushing on 30 attempts Saturday, for an average of just 2.5 yards per carry. Conversely, Butler averaged 6.5 yards per carry to the tune of 235 yards total. While Butler rushed for 254 yards on the ground Sept. 10 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.
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 followed that up with a 2-of-2 performance on field goal attempts at Taylor.
BIG PLAYS BY THE D: The Bulldogs had four sacks, including two by senior captain Jordan Ransone, and three interceptions Sept. 10 against Franklin. Adam Chappelle had two of the picks, including one he returned six yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
