Game Notes (PDF)

The Bulldogs make the trip south for a Pioneer Football League contest at Stetson Saturday afternoon. The 4 p.m. kick-off in DeLand, Fla., will air on ESPN3.
Butler is 5-4 on the season and 3-3 in PFL action. The Hatters enter the contest at 2-7 overall (1-5 PFL).

This will be only the third meeting between the two programs as the Bulldogs hold a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series. Stetson joined the PFL prior to the 2013 season and the two teams matched up in 2013 and 2014.

The Bulldogs won, 35-15, in Indianapolis in 2013. In 2014, (then) redshirt freshman Sam Schrader had his breakout game against the Hatters in Florida. Schrader posted 233 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns as Butler won, 49-41. His career-high 193 yards rushing came on only nine carries and his three rushing touchdowns included scoring runs of 83 and 57 yards. He also caught two passes for 40 yards and one touchdown.

Schrader has been equally impressive in 2017. The redshirt senior has accounted for nine touchdowns over Butler's last three games. Seven of those touchdowns have come on the ground and he has thrown for two.

Schrader's nine rushing touchdowns on the season lead the PFL and are fifth in FCS.

Butler had a three-game winning snapped in its most recent outing, falling 27-22 at Dayton on Oct. 28. The host Flyers outscored Butler, 17-0, over the final 30 minutes of play.

The Bulldogs had an advantage in first downs (26 to 19) and total yards (478 to 314), but were done in by a season-high three turnovers. The Bulldogs entered the game third in FCS in fewest turnovers committed. Butler's final two possessions ended in interceptions, including a pick by the Dayton defense on 2^nd and 10 at the Dayton 12 with 37 seconds remaining on the clock.

Pace Temple had another big day for the Bulldogs at Dayton, collecting 126 yards on seven receptions.

Temple has accumulated 873 receiving yards through the team's nine games this season. He has eclipsed 100 yards four times in 2017 and has seven 100-yard performances during his career. Temple's receiving yards are eighth in FCS.

Temple had seven grabs for 138 yards in the Sept. 30 loss to Drake. That followed his eight catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns Sept. 23 at San Diego. His career-high of 156 receiving yards came at Franklin Sept. 9. Temple now has 128 career receptions and went over 2,000 career yards (2,065) in the game against Dayton.  

His 97.0 yards per game and 17.8 yards per reception are first and second, respectively, in the conference. The preseason All-Pioneer Football League selection had 978 receiving yards in 2016, which was 24^th in FCS.  

Butler quarterback Will Marty threw for 267 yards at Dayton. His 313 passing yards against Taylor in the final non-conference game of the season Sept. 21 were one short of his career-high 314 that he posted in the 2016 game against Marist.

Butler had the ball for 35:05 in the game with Dayton and continues to lead the PFL in time of possession with an average of 34:04 per game. The Bulldogs are fourth in FCS in time of possession. Butler held the ball for nearly 42 minutes of game action against Campbell Oct. 21. The 41:49 of possession against Campbell was actually the second-best mark of the season as Butler held the ball for 44:21 against Franklin in the second game of the season.

Isaac Newhouse led Butler with nine tackles, including seven solo stops, at Dayton. Newhouse's averages of 9.7 tackles per game and 6.9 solo tackles per game are second and first, respectively, in the PFL. Newhouse has led the Bulldogs in tackles in six of the team's games. Newhouse had 13 stops against Jacksonville Oct. 14, including 10 solo tackles. He had 11 tackles (eight solo) at San Diego Sept. 23. That performance followed a 14-tackle (12 solo) game against Illinois State in the 2017 opener.

Butler converted 70 percent of their third downs (14-of-20) Oct. 21 against Campbell. Butler's 45-percent success rate on third down this season is second in the PFL and 15^th nationally.

Senior Duvante Lane has 516 yards rushing on the season and his 57.3 yards per game are fifth in the PFL. He has six rushing touchdowns on the season, which is fifth in the conference. Lane had 99 yards rushing at Morehead State and 98 yards against Jacksonville. Lane led the ground attack at Franklin Sept. 9, posting 117 yards on 26 carries. It was Lane's third career 100-yard rushing game. His career-high of 29 carries and 156 yards came against Valparaiso in 2016. Lane was a preseason All-PFL honoree after finding the end zone nine times last season.

The Bulldogs lead the PFL in red zone offense, scoring on 91 percent of their trips inside the 20 this season. The Bulldogs have scored on 31 of 34 red zone possessions, including 22 touchdowns.

Butler is tied for the lead nationally having lost just one fumble on the season. The Bulldogs have committed only seven turnovers in 2017, which leads the PFL and is fifth in FCS. Conversely, including the Bulldogs' five fumble recoveries in the win over Morehead State, Butler has 10 on the season. That mark is sixth nationally while leading the PFL.
 
Sophomore Drew Bevelhimer made all three of his field goal attempts against Campbell, his second 3-of-3 performance of the season. Bevelhimer has connected on 26 of his 32 career field goal attempts (81 percent).

Butler's defense limited Campbell to 34 rushing yards on 17 attempts and just three third-down conversions Oct. 21. 

Mason Brunner led the Butler defense with a career-high 15 tackles against Jacksonville Oct. 14. 
 
Linebacker Xavier Colvin had two sacks, five tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery at Morehead State. 

Butler's coverage units have been among the best nationally once again this season. The Bulldogs lead the PFL allowing only an average of 3.4 yards per punt return (eighth nationally). Butler surrenders only 17.5 yards per kick-off return, which is second in the PFL.

The final regular season contest is slated for the Sellick Bowl Nov. 11, when Valparaiso makes the trip to Indianapolis.