INDIANAPOLIS - Butler defeated the Georgetown College Tigers, 27-23, on Saturday afternoon in the season-opener for both teams. Gabe Passini was sensational for Butler, racking up a career-high 176 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown to go with 145 passing yards and a touchdown through the air. 


ON THE RECORD WITH HEAD COACH KEVIN LYNCH
"It was a really good win today. We did not necessarily play our best and there are things we have to clean up on offense, defense and the kicking game. Like I told the guys, some of the mistakes that we made, to able to bounce back and find a way to win was great. I was proud of the way we kept kind of staying at it. You know, we were able to find ways down there, down the stretch, to make some plays to win. I really liked the way our defense played. On paper they may have given up some pass yards, but I thought they really hung in there. It was a hot day, and at times we needed to get some fresh legs in there probably, but we were able to get after the quarterback pretty good and affect him at times. To win the turnover battle 2-0 was great, and obviously we have to clean up the kicking game. I'm proud of what we were able to accomplish today. The goal is to keep getting a little bit better, and it's always better to get better after a win. So excited and happy the way the guys stayed at it and competed like crazy to win that game."

NOTEABLE STATS 

• Passini threw for 145 yards and a touchdown and added a career-high 176 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. 
• Nick Munson recorded 56 receiving yards. 
• Desmin Jackson scored a touchdown. 
• Chet Yardley racked up 59 receiving yards and a touchdown. 
• Beck Janki converted two field goals. 
• Jackson Stratton led the Butler defense with nine tackles. 
• Will Beesley tallied seven tackles and recorded his first interception as a Bulldog. 
• Luke Green recorded three tackles and a sack, which came on Georgetown's final offensive snap of the contest. 
• Justice Burnam threw for 336 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers. 
• Clayton Davis led Georgetown College with 100 receiving yards. 
• TJ Buckman led the Tiger defense with nine tackles. 

• Both sides opened the game turning the ball over on downs. The Tigers were able to string together a drive after a fourth down stop in their own territory. Georgetown College drove down the field but the Butler defense stood tall limiting the Tigers to a field goal. After another turnover on downs for Butler, Georgetown College drove 47-yards down the field and found Clayton Davis for a 21-yard score, giving the visitors an early 10-0 lead. 
• Butler was able to string together an eight-play, 49-yard drive as Janki converted a 34-yard field goal for the Bulldogs, cutting the deficit to seven at the start of the second. On the ensuing kickoff, Butler forced a fumble and jumped on the ball on the Georgetown 26-yard line. The Tiger defense halted the Bulldogs momentum blocking a 32-yard field goal attempt. Javyn Martin snagged the ball out of the air and returned it 66-yards for a touchdown as the visitors lead grew to 14 (17-3).  Butler responded with a nine-play, 61-yard drive that ended with a Yardley, 20-yard touchdown reception. After a three-and-out from the Tigers, Butler marched down the field behind a 37-yard rush from Passini. Jackson finished it off for the Bulldogs with a one-yard touchdown run leveling the score at 17-17 with just under two minutes left in the half. Georgetown College drove down the field and was able to convert a field goal with three seconds left as the Tigers took the 20-17 lead into the half. 
• After both sides opened the second half with punts, BU was able to generate momentum behind a 46-yard run from Passini. Butler was unable to put points on the board after Passini's huge play as BU's 35-yard field goal attempt narrowly missed to the left. The Tigers extended their lead after Butler's missed field goal, with a 40-yard field goal of their own. The Bulldogs responded with a six-play, 77-yard drive that saw Passini scamper into the endzone. Passini's score gave Butler its first lead of the day at 24-23 with 1:30 left in the third quarter. 
• Butler opened the fourth quarter with an interception from Beesley which gave the Bulldogs the ball just outside of the Tiger's 30-yard line. Butler was able to put points on the board with a 27–yard field goal from Janki as the Bulldog lead grew to four (27-23). Georgetown College missed a 35-yard field goal with just under seven minutes left in the fourth, keeping the Butler lead at four. Butler was able to fend off the Tigers comeback efforts, securing the 27-23 victory.  

 
UP NEXT
Butler will travel to Bozeman, Montana, to take on the reigning FCS National Champions, and No. 1 nationally-ranked Montana State. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. MT (8:30 p.m. ET), and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.