INDIANAPOLIS – Cross Robinson scored the only touchdown of the afternoon for the Drake Bulldogs with 4:53 to play in the third quarter to give the visitors a 6-3 advantage. That score would hold for the remainder of the game moving Butler's overall record to 2-3.
 
How It Happened
After a scoreless first quarter of play, Drake drove the ball deep into Butler territory early in the second quarter. The Butler defense held strong, as Jordan Casselberry made a stop on fourth and short at the Butler eight-yard line to take over on downs.
 
Late in the second quarter, Butler converted a fourth down with a five-yard pass from Bret Bushka to AJ Deinhart to put Butler into field-goal range. Kicker JJ Wadas converted a 40-yard field goal to score the game's first points and Butler took a 3-0 lead into the half.
 
Drake took the lead with 4:53 left in the third-quarter after a 4-yard touchdown run by Cross Robinson, but missed the PAT. On the ensuing Butler drive, Bret Bushka connected with Yogi Flager for a 32-yard pass to put Butler into Drake territory. A pair of Bret Bushka runs helped to set the Bulldogs up at the Drake 2-yard line, but a fumble returned the ball back to Drake.
 
Butler was unable to put together a substantial drive in the fourth quarter and was forced to punt the ball back to Drake with 5:53 to go in the fourth. Drake converted on third down after a 12-yard pass from Blake Ellingson to Ryan Hayes with 1:59 to go in the fourth quarter, allowing Drake to take a knee for the remainder of the game.
 
Play of the Game
Butler lost a costly fumble on the Drake 1-yard line with 4:53 to play in the third quarter.
 
Inside the Box Score
- JJ Wadas hit a 40-yard field goal to give Butler a 3-0 advantage at the half
- It was Wadas' first field goal attempt of the season
- Yogi Flager led the offense for Butler with six receptions, covering 82 yards
- Bret Bushka completed 12 passes for 109 yards
- Bushka added a team-best 78 rushing yards
- Bushka and Flager connected on a 32-yard pass play, the longest of the day for BU
- Tommy Carlsen led Butler's defense with 12 tackles
- Thomas Rousseau had a sack, a tackle for loss and four stops for BU
- Jordan Caselberry and Jacob Cain also shared a sack
 
Up Next
Butler will host San Diego next Saturday, Oct. 9. Kick-off is set for 12 PM at the Sellick Bowl.