GAME NOTES | WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
 
INDIANAPOLIS – The Bulldogs are back at the Sellick Bowl this weekend for a 1 PM kick-off against Marist on Homecoming Weekend. Winners of two-straight, the Bulldogs will aim to stay undefeated at home this season (3-0).
 
Gameday
Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Indianapolis, Ind. / Sellick Bowl
Live Stats: ButlerSports.com
Watch: FloSports.com
 
2022 PFL Standings
St. Thomas 3-0, 5-1
Davidson 3-1, 5-2
Butler 2-1, 4-2
Dayton 2-1, 4-2
San Diego 2-1, 3-3
Valparaiso 2-1, 3-3
Marist 2-2, 2-4
Stetson 1-1, 3-2
Morehead State 1-2, 2-4
Drake 0-4, 0-7
Presbyterian 0-4, 1-6
 
2022 PFL Schedule – Week 8
Stetson at Dayton - 1 PM
Marist at Butler - 1 PM
St. Thomas at Presbyterian - 1 PM
Davidson at Drake - 2 PM
Valparaiso at Morehead State - 3 PM
 
Bulldog Bits
- It's Homecoming Weekend at Butler!!!
- Bret Bushka has joined the watch list of the 2022 Walter Payton Award
- Butler outscored Valpo 20-6 in the fourth quarter to secure their first win at Brown Field since 2016.
- Butler scored on every drive of the second half at Valparaiso (FG, FG, TD, TD, TD).
- Butler's first lead of the game at Valpo came with 1:45 to play in the fourth quarter.
- Luka Zurak hit two field goals at Valpo (35, 22) and was named PFL Special Teams Player of the Week.
- Zurak is one of just four FCS players that have not missed a field goal this season.
- Bret Bushka leads the PFL and ranks 13th in the FCS in completion percentage (67.4).
- Butler leads the PFL and ranks 3rd in the FCS in red zone offense (95%, 19-for-20).
- Butler ranks second in the PFL and 9th in the FCS in 3rd down conversion percentage (50%).
- BU leads the PFL in 4th down conversion percentage, defensive touchdowns, net punting, punt return defense, completion percentage, sacks allowed, and tackles for loss allowed.
- Jacob Cain recorded his team-best third sack of the season against the Beacons.
- Lucas Kozlowski came up with the first interception of his collegiate career against Valpo.
 
SCOUTING MARIST: The Red Foxes own a 2-4 overall record with each win coming on the road. The season started with back-to-back home losses to Georgetown and Columbia. Marist found the win column on the road at Drake to open up PFL play, but would follow that game with a 38-24 loss in New York to St. Thomas. Over the last two weeks, Marist has defeated Stetson (45-31) and lost to Dayton (24-7). Brock Bagozzi will break the huddle for the Red Foxes. He split time under center last weekend with Diego Arroyo, but still leads the team with six passing touchdowns. Amin Woods is the lead back and Brett Landis is the top option on the outside for Marist.
 
Teddy Wright, Mike Arrington, and Clayborne Fields highlight a talented defensive unit for the Red Foxes. Wright ranks fourth in the PFL in tackles. He averages nine stops per game and reached that total his last time out vs. Dayton.
 
LAST MEETING: The Bulldogs rushed for 136 yards and three touchdowns against the Red Foxes to find the win column in the 2021 season finale. The two teams were tied 14-14 at the half and Butler would go on to outscore Marist 14-7 in the fourth quarter. Joey Suchy led the BU rushing attack with 75 yards and two touchdowns. Deinhart rushed the ball 14 times for 50 yards and Bushka would add a rushing TD to help BU win in Poughkeepsie.
 
Trey Mason helped seal the win with an interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. BU also forced a Marist fumble at the goal line to keep the Red Foxes out of the end zone early in the third quarter.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES: Marist leads the all-time series over Butler 4-2. The first meeting was played in 2011 with Marist winning 28-10 in Indy. Butler returned the favor with a 17-14 win the following season in New York. From there, Marist won three-straight and Butler stopped that streak with their 28-21 win in 2021.
 
Butler has not yet defeated Marist in Indianapolis. Each win ('12, '21) came in Poughkeepsie.
 
HOMECOMING: The Bulldogs have not lost over Homecoming Weekend since 2016! During that stretch, they have recorded wins over DePauw, Jacksonville, Morehead State, and Campbell.
 
Butler's last setback on Homecoming came in 2016 to Marist. The Red Foxes claimed a 30-21 win on Oct. 8.
 
ZURAK NAMED PFL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Zurak was responsible for eight points in Butler's 26-25 PFL victory at Valparaiso, Saturday. He was responsible for Butler's first points with his 35 and 22 -yard field goals in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to 13-6. Zurak connected of 2-of-3 PATs, including what proved to be the game-winning PAT with 1:45 remaining in the game. As a punter, Zurak had kicks of 49 and 51 yards, for an average of 50 yards per punt with both going for touchbacks. He also was responsible for kickoff duties, with six kicks averaging 58.7 yards and one touchback and Valparaiso averaging 13.2 yards per kick return.
 
Zurak is 6-for-6 on field goal attempts this year (Long 35). The only blemish on his perfect kicking season came last weekend when Valpo blocked an extra point try.
 
STRETCH THE FIELD: Luke Wooten caught a 50-yard touchdown pass at Valparaiso. He has hauled in a catch for 20+ yards in five of Butler's six games this season.
 
Wooten's longest TD reception came at South Dakota State (56 yards).
 
HAVE A DAY HEALD: Cameron Heald caught six passes for 75 yards last weekend to set career-high totals in each category.
 
Heald had four catches for seven yards over his first three games of the season. Over the last two weeks, he has 10 receptions for 109 yards and two TDs.
 
IT'S HOW YOU FINISH: Bret Bushka completed three of his four pass attempts in the first quarter at Valpo for just three yards. He ended the game hitting on six of his seven attempts for 85 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Bushka leads the PFL with 11 passing touchdowns this season. He has also rushed for four scores.
 
BAFIA LEADS BULLDOGS: Nick Bafia led Butler with six tackles at Valpo. He matched his season-high tackle total and now has 27 tackles this season.
 
Bafia also made six stops earlier this season at South Dakota State.
 
UP NEXT: Butler will end the month of October with a home game against Morehead State on Saturday the 29th. Kick-off is set for 12 PM.
 
The Eagles have won the last four games against the Bulldogs to increase their lead in the all-time series 18-8.