Down by 20 late in the first half to Weber State, Butler nearly was able to complete a comeback before ultimately falling on the road, 38-24, Saturday night in Ogden, Utah.
 
Butler quarterback Gabe Passini had 175 yards rushing on 23 carries. He added five completions for 51 yards, while accounting for touchdowns both on the ground and through the air.
 
With the late-night result out West, both Butler and Weber State are 2-2 on the season.
 
LINES OF SCRIMMAGE:

• Weber State led 27-7 after a touchdown with 4:46 remaining in the second quarter. Butler scored 10 points over the final stretch of the first half to pull within 10 at halftime.
• Passini's 12-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter cut the Weber State lead to 30-24 but the hosts were able to put the game out of reach with a touchdown with 2:54 remaining in the contest.
• Passini and Brady Preston connected on a 32-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
• Butler forced Weber State into three turnovers – highlighted by interceptions from Devaon Holman and Danny Orgler – but WSU held a 442-248 advantage in total yards.
• Butler was 0-for-14 on third down after entering the game ranked fourth in the FCS by converting 55 percent of their third-down opportunities.
• Holman, Steven Stephany and Mason Armstrong each had seven tackles to lead the Bulldogs.
• Davion Godley led the Weber State offensive attack with 193 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Jackson Gilkey threw for 185 yards and two scores through the air.
• After Weber State scored on five of their first six possessions, Butler allowed the home team only 10 points over the final 34 minutes of the game.
• Saturday was the first meeting between the two programs. Butler's only other game against a Big Sky opponent came in the 2023 season opener, a 35-20 road loss at Montana.
• Weber State opened the season with road losses at James Madison and Arizona before defeating McNeese a week ago.

 
UP NEXT: Butler returns to the Sellick Bowl Sept. 27 to host Marist. The game serves as the PFL opener for the Bulldogs and Homecoming Weekend on the Butler campus. The Bulldogs are 16-4 when playing at the Sellick Bowl since the beginning of the 2022 season.