INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler football team improved to 5-2 overall with a convincing 31-10 victory over Marist on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs have now won three-straight games for the first time since the 2017 campaign and have won five-straight on Homecoming weekend!
 
Joey Suchy led the BU rushing attack today with 84 yards on 16 carries. He scored a 12-yard touchdown late in the first half to give BU a 10-7 lead over the Red Foxes and his three-yard TD run in the third quarter broke a 10-10 tie.
 
Butler outscored Marist 21-0 in the second half to take complete control of the action. Bret Bushka dropped back to pass in the fourth quarter and found Suchy down the sideline for a 16-yard TD pass and Kwesi Kyei-Fordjour would take us to the final score of 31-10 with a one-yard TD run with under six to play in the game.
 
Kyei-Fordjour split carries with Suchy in the second half to get BU to the finish line. He ended the game with nine carries for 32 yards and the score. Bret Bushka took off 13 times to gain 69 rushing yards. Bushka also connected with eight different receivers to throw for 159 yards and the TD to Suchy.
 
The Bulldogs trailed Marist 7-0 after the first quarter, but they were able to grab three points midway through the second quarter with a Luka Zurak 35-yard field goal. Suchy's first TD of the game gave BU a slim three-point advantage but the two teams would head into the half tied up at 10-10.
 
Suchy scored late in the third quarter to put BU back on top. That touchdown was set up by a trick play that resulted in 55 yards with Bushka finding Jared Suchevits for a big gain. The TD pass from Bushka to Suchy early in the fourth gave BU some wiggle room and any chance of a comeback was eliminated after the one-yard plunge from Kyei-Fordjour.
 
The Butler defense stopped Marist on downs twice in the second half and also added a fourth quarter interception. Connor Reid picked off Brock Baggozzi to keep the second half shutout alive and three-straight scoring drives from the Bulldogs would clinch the team's third conference win of the season.
 
Nick Bafia was all over the field for the BU defense. He led the team with eight tackles, all of which were solo. Byron Hubbard II and Daniel Obwaya shared a sack while Jacob Cain was credited with two QB hurries.
 
Butler only allowed three rushing first downs all game and limited the Red Foxes to 283 yards of total offense. The Bulldogs stayed balanced on offense with 12 rushing first downs to go along with nine through the air. They posted 381 yards of offense and were 5-for-5 on red zone visits.
 
The next game for Butler will be right back here at the Sellick Bowl. The Bulldogs will host Morehead State on Saturday, Oct. 29 with a 12 PM kick-off.