GAME 3:  Butler (1-1, 0-0 PFL) at HANOVER (0-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 13 // 1:30PM
Location: Hanover, Ind. // Alumni Stadium

THE SERIES: Butler leads the all-time series against Hanover 22-1-1. The first meeting between Butler and Hanover was played in 1887! The Bulldogs capped off their inaugural season with a 24-10 victory to complete their 3-0 season.

BULLDOG BLITZ: 
- Butler picked up its first win of 2025 Saturday, defeating visiting Truman State, 37-27, at the Sellick Bowl. 
- Saturday marked the first win for Butler head coach Kevin Lynch (both at Butler and as a head coach). He was hired in December after serving as Ball State's offensive play caller last year, and was the Assistant Head Coach and Quarterbacks Coach for the Cardinals during the 2024 season.
- Butler has now won five straight home openers. 
- The Bulldogs are 16-4 when playing at the Sellick Bowl since the beginning of the 2022 season.
- Ethan Loss registered 106 receiving yards in Saturday's win over Truman State. It marked a career-high and the first 100-yard game of his Butler career. 
- Loss has had eight catches in each of Butler's first two games, tying his single-game career-high. Against Truman State, Loss was one of 10 different Bulldogs to catch passes, including six receptions by Cameron Heald. Ethan Malafa, Brady Preston and Ershod Jasey II each caught touchdown passes.
- Butler redshirt sophomore Luke Green was named the Pioneer Football League (PFL) Special Teams Player of the Week after Green blocked two PATs in Butler's 37-27 victory against Truman State on Saturday. 
- Butler had 10 pass breakups in the game against Truman State, led by three from Onye Onuoha.
- Butler was picked fourth in the 2025 Pioneer Football League Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- Jeremiah Jackson and Danny Orgler represent Butler on the 2025 Preseason All-PFL Team.
- Butler added 29 newcomers to the 2025 roster, including transfers from Ball State, Idaho, and Toledo, and Tulane. 
- Butler handed Hanover a 122-0 loss in 1921. The game, nicknamed "The Track Meet", featured the Bulldogs scoring 17 touchdowns and adding one field goal.

ONE YEAR AGO: Butler passed for three touchdowns and added four more on the ground, allowing the Bulldogs to claim a 53-0 win over Hanover Sept. 14, 2024 at the Sellick Bowl in Indianapolis. 

Butler ended the night with 492 total yards of offense. Butler's defense was outstanding to post the shutout win. They limited Hanover to just nine first downs and 133 yards of offense. The Bulldogs were credited with 11 tackles for loss and two sacks.

AMONG THE NATION'S BEST: Through the first two weeks of the season, Butler is among the FCS Top 10 nationally in several categories. Butler is fourth in time of possession (35:56 per game), fifth in third-down conversion (57.1 percent), sixth in fewest sacks allowed (only one through two games), and sixth in fewest penalties (only six through two games). Butler's two blocked kicks -- both on PATs by Luke Green -- are tied for the national lead. 

INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS: In addition to Green holding the FCS lead in blocked kicks, Ethan Loss is sixth nationally with 16 catches and tenth in both receiving yards (187) and all-purpose yards (309). Reagan Andrew's three rushing touchdowns are tied for seventh in FCS. 

WEEK 2 RECAP: Butler opened up a 28-7 lead with a touchdown less than three minutes into the second half before 20 straight points by Truman State pulled the visitors within a single point at 28-27. The ensuing PAT was blocked by the Bulldogs who returned it for a two-point conversion and a 30-27 advantage. Butler's defense limited the Truman State offense to only three completions on 14 fourth-quarter passing attempts to seal the 37-27 win.

RIGHT WHERE HE LEFT OFF: Reagan Andrew accounted for Butler's first four touchdowns Saturday against Truman State – two passing and two rushing – before leaving the game in the third quarter with an injury. His shortened day ended with 156 passing yards on 14-for-17 throwing and 34 rushing yards.The dual-threat signal-caller ranked sixth in the PFL in total offense during the 2024 season, averaging 190.3 yards per game.

SCOUTING HANOVER: Hanover kicked off the 2025 season a week ago with a trip to Centre College, with Centre winning the contest 23-15.
 
Junior Eian Roudebush piloted the passing attack, throwing for 170 yards on 14 completions and a touchdown. He also added a team-high 51 rushing yards and a score.

2024 RECAP: The Bulldogs won nine games in 2024, marking their highest total since 2013 when Butler shared the PFL crown with Marist (7-1). BU opened the year 5-0, defeated Davidson for the first time since 2016 and notched their first-ever win over St. Thomas.

Butler received votes in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll before the start of the 2024 season and were ranked No. 23 heading into the season finale.

ON THE OFFENSIVE -- 2024 VERSION: A year ago, Butler's offense led the PFL in scoring offense, red zone offense, third down conversions, first downs, fewest sacks allowed, fewest tackles for loss allowed, and fewest penalties. Butler scored on 47 of their 51 trips to the red zone in 2024. 

DAWGS ON D -- 2024 EDITION: Butler returns seven starters to a defensive unit that only allowed 16.3 points per game last year, the third-best scoring defense in the country. BU ranked sixth among their FCS peers in total defense limiting the opposition to just 292 yards per game. The Bulldogs also ranked sixth in FCS football in passing yards allowed (158) and seventh in red zone defense.

Butler came up with consecutive shutouts last year for the first time since 1947! The Bulldogs defeated Hanover 53-0 in Week 3 then dominated the action vs. Virginia-Lynchburg in Week 4 (63-0).

SIDELINE SHAKEUP: First-year head coach Kevin Lynch kept five assistant coaches from last year's staff while adding seven new football minds to the program. The offensive coordinator will be Colin Johnson and Jordan Belfiori was added to serve as the defensive coordinator. Special Teams will once again run through Joe Cheshire.

Kevin Lynch's father, Bill, coached at Butler from 1985-89 and won 36 games over that five-year stretch. He won over 70 percent of his games while on the sideline at BU and was the first coach to accomplish that feat since Pat Page did it from 1920-25!
 
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs return to the road  at  Weber State Saturday, Sept. 20. Butler then returns to the Sellick Bowl Sept. 27 to host Marist. The game serves as the PFL opener for the Bulldogs and it will be Homecoming Weekend on the Butler campus.