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INDIANAPOLIS – It's Family Weekend at Butler University and that means the Bulldogs will be playing football at the Sellick Bowl this Saturday. The annual "Battle of the Bulldogs" will put Butler up against Drake. Kick-off is set for 12 PM.
 
Bulldog Bits
- Butler leads the PFL in time of possession (35.09), passing yards allowed (157.8), and defensive touchdowns (2).
- Nick Orlando leads the PFL with five rushing touchdowns.
- Yogi Flager ranks second among PFL teams in yards per reception (19.8) and third in receiving touchdowns (3).
- Flager has caught at least four passes in three-straight games for Butler.
- Thomas Rousseau collected the first interception of his collegiate career in St. Paul.
- Tommy Carlsen led the BU defense against the Tommies with a season-high nine tackles.
- Bradley Magee and Jack Belskis each recorded seven stops at St. Thomas; a new season-high total for each linebacker.
- Butler has not allowed a 100-yard receiver since Nov. 23, 2019 (10 games).
- Butler has scored 133 points this season and has allowed 133 points (33.25 ppg).
- BU is averaging 4.9 yards per rush. Orlando leads the team, averaging 6.5 per carry.
 
SCOUTING DRAKE: The Bulldogs ended the month of September with a 1-3 overall record. They won their season opener 45-3 against West Virginia Wesleyan, but ran into two nationally ranked opponents the next two weekends. #11 Montana State took down Drake in week 2 (45-7) and #11 North Dakota would shutout the Bulldogs 38-0. The PFL opener would be played in Des Moines, but it would not end well for the home team. Valparaiso went on the road to claim a 24-21 victory at Drake Stadium. The Beacons shocked everyone in attendance on Saturday when they converted a 4th-and-10 play with 1:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. Jordan Bingham pulled down a 30-yard touchdown grab that proved to be the game-winner.
 
Drake allowed 155 rushing yards to Valparaiso in the setback. Preseason All-PFL pick Danny Morales was inactive for the second-straight game.
 
LAST GAME VS. DRAKE: Drake came to the Sellick Bowl last year to record a 33-7 victory. 23 of their 33 points came in the second quarter. Ian Corwin passed for three touchdowns and rushed for 67 yards. Cross Robinson was also an impact player with 74 rushing yards to go along with a score.
 
Bret Bushka completed six of his nine passes for 95 yards and a TD vs. Drake last year. Butler was held in check with only 28 rushing yards.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES: Drake owns a 21-8-1 record against Butler in the all-time series. The first-ever meeting resulted in a 0-0 tie during the 1932 season.
 
Butler's last win over Drake came at home in 2015. They outscored Drake 17-3 in the second half to win 20-13.
 
THIRD DOWN SUCCESS: Butler has been good on third down this season. They have converted on 49% of their third down tries (26-53) and have only allowed 15 first downs on third down.
 
The Bulldogs only moved the chains four times on third down at St. Thomas. Their longest drive of the day came in the third quarter. They covered 40 yards on 12 plays before turning the ball over on downs.
 
WIDESPREAD WEAPONS: Butler has 13 student-athletes with at least one reception this season and eight different players with at least six rush attempts. Yogi Flager and Johnny O'Shea are responsible for 28 of Butler's 61 receptions this season (46%) while Kavon Samuels leads all Bulldogs out of the backfield with 59 carries (31%).
 
Samuels was held without a catch at St. Thomas. The last time he didn't come up with at least one reception was back on Nov. 12, 2019 against Drake.
 
BULLDOG BACKFIELD: Kavon Samuels leads Butler in rushing attempts (59), rushing yards (238), and all-purpose yards (300). He currently ranks fourth in the PFL in rushing yards.
 
Backup running backs AJ Deinhart, Michael Benefield, and Joey Suchy are all averaging 5.3 yards per carry this season.
 
BELIEVE IN BUSHKA: Bret Bushka has completed 57 of his 86 pass attempts this season for 693 yards and six touchdowns.
 
Bushka leads the PFL in completion percentage (66%), yards per pass attempt (8.4), and is second in passing yards per completion (12.4). He set new season-high totals last week in attempts (27) and completions (16).
 
TURNOVER BATTLE: Drake leads the PFL in fumble recoveries (6), and passes intercepted (5) which gives them the best turnover margin in the league (1.75).
 
Butler's defense has an interception in three-straight games, giving them four this season. They have recovered four fumbles.
 
TOUGH STRETCH: Butler played three of their first four games on the road to start the 2021 campaign, but the schedule doesn't get any easier in October. BU will host Drake, San Diego and Davidson at the Sellick Bowl over the next four weeks. Those three teams were picked by head coaches as the top three teams in the PFL Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
The lone road trip in the mix during that stretch will send Butler to Morehead State on Oct. 16.
 
UP NEXT: Butler will host San Diego on Saturday, Oct. 9. The 12 PM kick-off will mark the 26th meeting between the two programs.
 
San Diego leads the all-time series against Butler 20-5. USD won the last meeting 27-13.