Reagan Andrew threw for three touchdowns and also rushed for a score on Saturday afternoon helping the Butler Bulldogs defeat the Upper Iowa Peacocks 40-7. Nick Howard led the team with 54 rushing yards and the BU defense came up with three interceptions in the Week 1 matchup.
 
Butler's first interception of the season was a big one as Nick Bafia picked off a Darryl Overstreet Jr. pass and returned the ball 24 yards to the BU eight-yard line. Three plays later the Bulldog offense would score the first points of the season as Nick Howard plunged into the end zone from the one.
 
BU moved in front 13-0 at the midway point of the second quarter after a 16-yard touchdown pass from Andrew to William Enneking in the middle of the field. Enneking wrestled the ball away from a Peacock defender to score his first TD at the Sellick Bowl.
 
Upper Iowa broke up the shutout late in the first half, but the Bulldogs would get those points back moments later on a 70-yard bomb from Andrew to Luke Wooten. The big-play came with just nine second remaining in the second quarter and gave BU a 19-7 halftime lead.
 
Butler's second big play of the day came early in the third as Derek Allen Jr. beat his man deep in the middle of the field for a 58-yard TD pass from Howard. Allen made a one-handed catch and took off to the end zone to make the game 26-7.
 
Butler outscored Upper Iowa 21-0 in the second half. The last two touchdowns of the day came from Andrew. He rushed for a 22-yard TD and then found Archie Cox for a 19-yard touchdown.
 
Andrew and Howard split time at quarterback against the Peacocks at the Sellick Bowl. Andrew connected on five of his 10 pass attempts to throw for 119 yards and three touchdowns. Howard was 5-for-6 on the day with 95 yards and a score. On the ground, Howard led all Bulldogs with 54 rushing yards on just five carries. Andrew also took off five times to gain 34 yards. Each BU QB rushed for a TD in the victory.
 
Butler's leading receiver in the season opener was Joey Audia. The BU wideout caught a team-high three passes for 33 yards. Cox and Billy Dozier were the only other 'Dawgs with multiple receptions in the win.
 
Butler put up 388 total yards of offense , averaging 7.9 yards per play. They scored 13 points off turnovers and were 3-for-3 in the red zone.
 
On the other side of the ball, Butler limited Overstreet Jr. to just 121 passing yards while picking off the Peacock QB three times. Joining Bafia with interceptions on Saturday were Brayton Spetter and Onye Onuoha.
 
Will Mason and Adam Sturtz shared the team lead with seven tackles each and Sturtz was also credited with a sack and two tackles for loss.
 
Butler will take this momentum into Week 2 with a road game lined up at Murray State. Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m. eastern, 6 p.m. central.