Butler University Athletics

INDIANAPOLIS - Butler defeated the Chicago State Cougars on 47-20 on Saturday afternoon at the Bud & Jackie Sellick Bowl, marking Butler's ninth consecutive homecoming victory. Desmin Jackson was spectacular for Butler, rushing for a career-high 164 yards and a touchdown. With the win, Butler improves to 3-1 on the season while Chicago State slides to 1-3.
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NOTEABLE STATS

• Jackson carried the ball 14 times for 164 yards and a touchdown. Jackson has now scored a touchdown in every game this season.
• Gabe Passini completed 12-of-23 passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns. Passini added 27 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown.
• Nick Munson hauled in three catches for 42 yards and a touchdown.
• Drew Sullivan had two catches for 20 yards and a touchdown.
• Sam Manna had three carries for 46 yards and a touchdown.
• Michael Nix scored a touchdown.
• Tommy Diamond led the defense with 10 tackles, half a sack and one pass breakup.
• Steven Stephany blocked a punt and an extra point.
• Mason Strader forced a fumble.
• Oscar Kirch had eight tackles and one pass breakup.
• Butler forced three turnovers.

 
ON THE RECORD WITH HEAD COACH KEVIN LYNCH
"Well, it was a great team win. That team we played today had a lot of talent. We knew it was going to be a challenge, specifically what they did on defense, where I think they pressured about every play, played a lot of cover zero. We had to get the ball out quick. It was hard to get something vertically in the pass game there to get some explosives, and just kind of had to hang in there in the run game. And we were able to finally rip a couple. Obviously, Desmin Jackson had a great game, and Sam Manna had a nice long run there at the end. The biggest thing for us, we're still doing a great job in the turnover margin. We were able to force some turnovers and obviously take care of the football, which was huge. I'd like us to be a little bit better on third down. I know we got a fourth down there at the end, though that was big as well. Overall, I was really happy with us. Obviously, we thought going into the game we had an advantage on special teams, and you know we blocked a punt, forced a bad snap, and we really took advantage of what we thought we could. It was nice to start as fast as we did, but that was a good team, and they kept coming, and they had some great speed. We look forward to opening league play next week in a battle for the Hoosier Helmet."
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HOW IT HAPPENED

• Butler forced a three-and-out on Chicago State's first drive. BU then blocked a punt as Stephany jumped in the way of the kick, giving the Bulldogs the ball at the CSU eight yard line. Passini took a QB draw up the middle for a nine-yard score, giving Butler an early 7-0 lead. After another defensive stop, CSU's punt team had a snap go over the punter's head and out of the endzone for a safety. BU then put together a two-play, 35-yard drive that ended with a 32-yard touchdown catch from Munson. CSU responded with a 74-yard touchdown, but Stephany once again came up with a block on the point after attempt. On Butler's next drive, Passini found Sullivan for a 16-yard touchdown, giving the Bulldogs a 23-6 advantage at the end of the first.
• CSU opened the second quarter with a 10-play, 67-yard drive that ended with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Ashton Pannell to Arshawn Powell. A two-point conversion cut the deficit to nine (23-14) for the visitors. CSU muffed a punt with 8:23 left in the frame, and Butler was able to jump on the loose ball. BU was unable to capitalize on the muffed punt as the Bulldogs had to punt the ball back to the Cougars. After a defensive stop, Butler put together an eight-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a one-yard rushing touchdown from Manna. BU took the 30-14 lead into the break.
• Butler started the second half with a three-and-out. CSU then put together a 17-play, 71-yard drive, but the Bulldog defense stood tall, stopping the Cougars on fourth and goal to keep the score 30-14. Butler was then forced to punt again, but the Bulldog defense continued to make big plays. Strader came crashing down on a run play and forced a fumble that Kirch jumped on top of, marking the Dawgs' second turnover of the game. BU took the 30-14 lead into the fourth quarter.
• Windley opened the fourth quarter with a 45-yard field goal make, which extended the Butler lead to 33-14. CSU responded with a two-play, 79-yard drive that saw Chris Edmonds score a 77-yard touchdown. After a Butler punt, CSU began their drive deep in their own territory. On a crosser across the middle of the field, Beesley punched the ball out of the CSU receivers hands and jumped on the fumble, marking the Bulldogs' third turnover of the day. Butler turned the turnover into points as Passini found Nix for a 14-yard score, giving BU a 20-point lead. Following a CSU punt, Jackson took the first play of the drive 72 yards to the house, giving Butler the 47-20 lead. Butler was able to hold off the Cougars in the final minutes of the game, securing the 47-20 victory.

 
UP NEXT
Butler will return to action next Saturday, Sept. 26 as Butler will make the quick trip to Valparaiso, Ind. to take on Valparaiso in the annual Hoosier Helmet game. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.