Butler University Athletics

BOZEMAN, Mont. - Butler fell to the No. 1 Montana State Bobcats 51-24 on Saturday evening in Bozeman, Mont. in front of a record crowd at Bobcat Stadium, with 22,277 fans in attendance. With the loss, Butler slides to 1-1 on the season while MSU improves to 2-0.
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NOTEABLE STATS

• Gabe Passini threw for 140 yards and a touchdown and added 22 yards on the ground.
• Chet Yardley hauled in three catches for 55 yards.
• Beck Janki made a 35-yard field goal and three extra points.
• Nick Munson had three catches for 32 yards and a touchdown.
• Desmin Jackson scored a touchdown.
• Jarrin Alley rushed for a touchdown.
• Michael Dellumo had 10 carries for 23 yards.
• Tommy Diamond led the defense with seven tackles.
• Tristan Johnson recorded an interception.
• Justin Lamson threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns while completing 15 of his 20 attempts.
• Taco Dowler hauled in five catches for 97 yards and a touchdown.
• Adam Jones carried the ball 13 times for 77 yards and a touchdown.

 
ON THE RECORD WITH HEAD COACH KEVIN LYNCH
"Well, I thought our guys really did a good job coming out and competing. We didn't execute there for about eight minutes in the second quarter, and when you play a team like this, they will take every advantage they can and will find a way to get the number up. Second half, I mean, we played toe-to-toe, and I was happy with the way we finished. It was really a game that I felt like early in the first quarter, the whole first quarter, was going right to script of how we wanted to play the game, and then it got away from us a little bit there in the second quarter. I do think, looking at this one, we can build off this. That's a great football team and a great environment, and to do some of the things that we did, I know that we're going to be better for playing this game for sure."
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HOW IT HAPPENED

• After the Bulldogs' opening drive stalled, BU pinned the Bobcats on their own one-yard line. Montana State drove down the field but the Butler defense stood tall, limiting the home side to a field goal on their opening drive. The Bulldogs responded with a 10-play, 58-yard drive that was fueled by a 27-yard connection from Passini to Yardley. Janki converted the 34-yard field goal, evening the score at 3-3. Montana State returned the ensuing kickoff for a 100-yard score, giving the Bobcats the 10-3 advantage heading into the second quarter.
• After stalling out on the first drive of the second quarter, the Butler defense was able to stand tall, forcing a turnover on downs for the Bobcats. MSU forced Butler to punt and then strung together a seven-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown rush from Adam Jones. The Bobcats were able to add two more scores in the quarter as the Bobcats took the 30-3 lead into the half.
• Montana State opened the second half with a four-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a Bobcat touchdown. Butler responded with a 12-play, 65-yard drive that saw Munson find the end zone on a three-yard pass from Passini. On the Bobcats' ensuing drive, Johnson picked off Patrick Duchien, marking his first interception of the season. The Bulldogs were able to find the end zone on a two-play drive as Jackson scored his second touchdown in as many games, bringing the score to 37-17.
• MSU started the fourth with a score as the Bobcat lead grew to 44-17. The Bobcats scored a 35-yard touchdown on their next drive, extending their lead. Butler scored a late touchdown on a one-yard rush by Alley. The Bobcats secured the 51-24 victory at the final whistle.

 
UP NEXT
Butler will return to Indianapolis and host Franklin College on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.