PFL Release

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Pioneer Football League announced First and Second All-League Teams on Tuesday afternoon. QB Bret Bushka, RB Jyran Mitchell, FB Joey Suchy, OL Bryan Bystol, OL Adam Dolan and DB Nick Bafia were all PFL First Team selections while PK Luka Zurak represented Butler on the Second Team.

The Pioneer Football League's head coaches named 66 student-athletes to the league's 31st All-Pioneer Football League Teams. In addition to the student-athletes recognized on the league's first and second teams, 102 student-athletes received honorable mention recognition. Six Bulldogs were tabbed honorable mention. Among those chosen were LB Jeremiah Jackson, DL Austin Korba, LS Kody Leach, TE Ryan Lezon, WR Ethan Loss and DB Will Mason.
 
Eight First Team All-PFL selections are repeat first-team honorees. Valparaiso wide receiver Solomon Davis, Butler quarterback Bret Bushka, San Diego running back Re-al Mitchell, St. Thomas linebacker Jon Bunce, Stetson defensive back Rassie Littlejohn, and Marist long snapper Justin Iaccio each repeated their 2022 First Team All-PFL selection.
 
Bushka passed for 1,789 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023. An 11-game starter, Bushka completed 63 percent of his passes (173-275) and averaged 162 passing yards per game. The dual threat QB also rushed the ball 106 times for 441 yards and six touchdowns. Bushka tied a Butler single-game record with five touchdown passes at Morehead State on Nov. 4 and moved to third all-time at BU with 5,924 career passing yards.
 
Mitchell took home PFL Offensive Player of the Year honors on Monday and was a clear choice for the All-PFL First Team. The graduate transfer rushed the ball 199 times for Butler and amassed 1,268 rushing yards to average 115.2 per game. His 12 rushing touchdowns paired with three receiving touchdowns gave him 90 points, tying Scott Gray (2007) for eighth on the single season scoring list at Butler.
  
Suchy shined for Butler in short yardage situations this year. The redshirt-junior from Mayfield Heights, Ohio averaged 3.7 yards per carry and gained 152 yards on 41 carries. His best PFL game included eight attempts against Valpo for 25 yards.

Bystol and Dolan were responsible for opening up running lanes for Mitchell and Suchy throughout the 2023 campaign. Each offensive lineman started in all 11 games for BU with Bystol at center and Dolan at left tackle. As a unit, Butler ranked second in the PFL in total offense (368.4), scoring offense (28.9), and rushing offense (202.1.). 
 
The leader of the Bulldog defense got the nod as a first team selection. Bafia led Butler with 65 total tackles (41 solo). He ranked 20th overall in the PFL with his 65 stops and seventh among all the defensive backs in the league. Bafia was credited with six pass break-ups and ranked second in the PFL in forced fumbles. He had three games with 10+ tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown against Wabash. Bafia helped Butler rank second in the FCS in red zone defense. BU led the PFL and ranked ninth in the FCS in scoring defense (17.5).
 
Special Teams guru Luka Zurak went 17-for-20 on field goals in 2023. He hit a season-long 48-yard field goal in the win over Wabash and matched that effort with a make from 48 vs. Drake. Zurak supplied BU with three made field goals vs. Drake and at Dayton. He made two at Montana, vs. Taylor, vs. Presbyterian, and vs. Davidson. On kickoffs, Zurak averaged 59 yards and had 13 touchbacks. He also punted for BU averaging 37.5 yards per punt.
 
The 31st All-PFL Teams follow Monday's announcement of the league's Major Award Winners. Wednesday, the league names its 31st Academic All-PFL team and its Scholar-Athlete of the Year, concluding the league's awards week.