DES MOINES, IOWA – Big plays and a stifling defense led Drake to victory over Butler on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs dominated time of possession and recorded seven more first downs than their opponent, but two turnovers mixed with quick strikes through the air would lead to the second loss of the season for BU.
 
Butler moves to 3-2 on the year with a 1-1 mark in the PFL. With the win, Drake improves to 3-1 with a 2-0 record against conference opponents.
 
The top-ranked Drake defense was as advertised on Saturday. They limited BU 253 total yards, which included 119 rushing yards. Brad Sznajder took a majority of the carries to net 71 yards. He averaged 3.7 yards per attempt while teammate Anthony Scaccia took nine carries for 41 yards. Scaccia went over 1,000 rushing yards in his career with the performance.
 
QB Will Marty would complete 16 of his 37 attempts for 134 yards. His lone TD pass went to Stephen Dennis who ended the game with seven grabs for 53 yards to go along with the touchdown. Senior Pace Temple hauled in four passes for 47 yards.
 
Butler's defensive effort was led by linebacker Carter Raleigh. The senior recorded nine tackles and posted his first sack of the season.
 
Drake jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the closing minutes of the first quarter off a 42-yard TD pass from Grant Kraemer to Zach DeLeon. Kraemer gave a hard count on third and three and got BU to jump which resulted in a free play. He found DeLeon streaking down the middle of the field and the result would be the first points of the afternoon.
 
The following possession for Butler would end quickly as Will Marty was picked off by Jabari Butler. The BU defense would hold Drake after that miscue, but Marty's second interception of the afternoon later in the second quarter would be returned back to the three-yard line. Hartwig would take a carry and cross the goal line to give Drake a 14-0 advantage.
 
Butler got the offense rolling in the final stages of the second quarter to travel 53 yards in 15 plays, but a high throw on fourth and two would keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard. Marty was going to Sam Yeaton on the Drake 17-yard line, but pressure caused the ball to sail over Yeaton's head which took the teams into the half.
 
The first TD of the second half was set up by a long completion from Kraemer to Steven Doran for 33 yards. The gain took the ball inside the BU 10 to the eight. Hartwig would get seven yards on his first carry and punch it in on the second from a yard out.
 
Special teams would move the score to 27-0 as Drake blocked a punt for the fourth time this season. Will Kulick got his hand on the Evan Giebel punt and the next play would go Kraemer to Doran for a 23-yard TD pass. Butler's Carter Raleigh blocked the point after attempt.
 
Drake would go on to outscore Butler 9-6 in the fourth quarter to take us to the final score of 36-6. The final 15 minutes featured a 20-yard TD pass from Kraemer to Doran. The PAT was good this time around to move the score to 34-0. Butler would avoid the shutout on their following possession by throwing a TD pass. Marty got the ball to Stephen Dennis from 21-yards out. The extra point from Drew Bevelhimer was blocked and returned for an additional two points for Drake.
 
The Bulldogs will return to action next Saturday afternoon with a 2 PM kick-off at Valparaiso.