DES MOINES, Iowa - Butler defeated the Drake Bulldogs 33-21 on Saturday afternoon in Des Moines, Iowa. It is Butler's first win against Drake since 2015, when BU secured the 20-13 in Indianapolis. It is the first time Butler has won in Des Moines since 1994. With the win, Butler improves to 6-2 on the season and 3-1 in PFL action while Drake slides to 2-6 overall and 2-3 in league play.
NOTEABLE STATS
- Gabe Passini completed 6-of-16 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown. Passini added 87 yards on the ground on 19 carries and scored his sixth rushing touchdown of the season.
- Luke Snyder hauled in two catches for 30 yards and a touchdown.
- Desmin Jackson had 17 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown.
- Nick Munson had three catches for 44 yards.
- Michael Dellumo recorded 13 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown.
- Ashton Nawrocki had a strip sack in the contest.
- Dantu Gardner Jr. recorded a fumble recovery to go with three tackles.
- Andrew Lieske led the defense with eight total tackles.
- Okemdi Eze had six tackles and one pass break up.
- Will Beesley, Luke Green and Peyton Foley all recorded a sack.
- Beck Janki converted both of his field goal attempts in the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Drake opened the game with a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 32-yard touchdown reception from Lincoln Delaere. Butler responded with a 10-play, 45-yard drive that ended with a 37-yard field goal from Janki. The home side was able to find the endzone once again as Butler trailed 14-3 with four minutes left in the first quarter. Butler answered on its next drive with a two-yard touchdown from Snyder as BU cut the deficit to four (14-10) heading into the second.
- Drake opened the second quarter with a quick drive that was halted by the Butler defense. BU then put together an eight-play, 80-yard drive that was fueled by a 31-yard completion on a halfback toss from Dellumo to Goralski. Dellumo finished the drive off for BU, scampering into the endzone for a two-yard rushing touchdown. Drake was able to find the endzone one more time before the half as the home side took the 21-17 lead into the break.
- Both sides traded possessions to start the third quarter. Butler faced a 2nd and 20 after a Drake sack, when Passini rattled off a 37-yard rush up the middle, giving BU the ball in Drake territory. Butler was able to drive into the red zone, but Drake was able to come up with an interception in the endzone, halting the Bulldogs' momentum. The Butler defense responded on the next drive as Nawrocki recorded a strip sack that Gardner Jr. was able to jump on top of deep in Drake territory. BU was unable to find the endzone with the short field, but Janki converted on his second field goal of the day as Butler narrowly trailed 21-10.
- Drake started the fourth quarter driving down the field. The Butler defense was able to come up with a huge stop on fourth and one giving the offense the ball at the Drake 35. BU was able to capitalize on the turnover on downs as Jackson found the endzone for his seventh touchdown of the season. On Drake's ensuing drive, the quarterback rolled to his right and made a throw on the run, but Kelly jumped the pass and returned it to the Drake two-yard line. The Bulldog offense capitalized on the turnover with a two-yard rushing touchdown from Passini as the BU lead grew to 12 (33-21). Butler was able to fend off Drake's comeback efforts as BU secured the 33-21 victory at the final whistle.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will once again be on the road next week as BU travels to Clinton, S.C. to take on Presbyterian on Saturday, Oct. 31. Kickoff in South Carolina is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
