INDIANAPOLIS – Butler and Drake are charter members of the Pioneer Football League. The Battle of the Bulldogs began in 1932 with BU hosting Drake. The two teams would play again the following year, but then go on a 60-year hiatus. The two programs would then become rivals in 1993 which each institution joining the PFL.
Butler vs. Drake Football Timeline
- The first meeting between Butler and Drake was played in 1932 and ended in a 0-0 tie. Butler's first win over Drake was recorded in 1993 by the final score of 28-3. Their last win in the all-time series was a 20-13 victory during the 2015 season.
- Richard Johnson rushed for 229 yards on 42 carries in 1993 while scoring two touchdowns vs. Drake. Jason Stahl only completed three passes that day, but two went for touchdowns to Kevin Gribbins.
- Arnold Mickens rushed for 293 yards against Drake in 1994, posting the second-most rushing yards in a single-game in BU history. Mickens took 45 carries in the game, the fifth-most in school history.
- In 1997, Butler scored 14 points vs. Drake in the fourth quarter to pull out a 14-13 victory. Eli Stoddard threw a three-yard TD pass to Jeremy Harkin for the first BU points. The extra point was no good, keeping the score at 13-6. Stoddard then threw a 60-yard TD pass to Husani Dillon with 1:49 to play. BU went for two and got the conversion for the win!
- Butler's offense erupted for 48 points in a four-point win vs. Drake in 2002. 28 of the 48 points came in the fourth quarter, and a one-yard TD run from Ian Nelson with just 20 seconds left would give BU the victory. Dale Jennings scored four rushing touchdowns, running for 160 yards on just 18 carries.
- Butler snapped a nine-game PFL losing streak in 2008 with a 21-15 win over Drake. Matt Kobli hit Dan Bohrer with a six-yard TD pass to open up the scoring. Butler's defense would give the team a 14-6 lead at the half after a 39-yard interception return for a TD by Rob Blevins. Ryan Hitchcock topped off the game with a 15-yard TD run.
-David Lang hit a game-winning 27-yard field goal vs. Drake in 2009 to give Butler a 20-17 win. A seven-play, 40-yard drive took just 42 seconds to Lang into field goal range. Nick Caldicott made a game-changing play late in the fourth quarter with an interception on the 49-yard line. BU set the single-season wins record (10) that day.
- Wade Markley stepped in for an injured Matt Lancaster in 2013 to give BU a 24-14 win over Drake. Markley completed 27 passes for 253 yards and a score. He also rushed for a TD in the fourth to seal the victory. The ground game was the difference as Trae Heeter led all players with 113 rushing yards.
- Butler outscored Drake 17-3 in the second half during the 2015 meeting to pull out a 20-13 win on Senior Day. Matt Shiltz led the charge with 227 yards through the air with two TD's. He also led the team with 60 rushing yards.
- The longest punt in Butler football history came in a game against Drake. Ian Dobek punted the ball 76 yards in the 2016 meeting. He ended the season finale with five total punts, covering 218 yards (43.6).
