Butler cornerback Connor Reid coming off the field during a matchup against Drake University on Oct. 2. Photo by Grace Denckhoff.
BELLA RIGGIONE | SPORTS REPORTER | briggion@butler.edu
The Butler football team fell to Davidson 49-35 on Oct. 23 and move to 2-6 on the season.
Butler striked first with a 20-play, 66-yard drive to result in quarterback Bret Bushka finding receiver Yogi Flager for a 9-yard touchdown pass.
The Wildcats quickly responded 45 seconds later with running back Aris Hilliard breaking away for 59-yards to even the score 7-7.
It was a back-and-forth affair between the two teams throughout the first half.
Following the touchdown, the Bulldogs scored in a similar fashion with running back AJ Deinhart carrying the ball down the field for 53-yards all the way to the end zone — taking the 14-7 advantage.
Davidson answered again early in the second quarter with a touchdown from running back Bradyn Oakley and kept their momentum up as they scored 10 minutes later with a 3-yard touchdown rush from running back Coy Williams — taking the lead 21-14.
Butler tied the game with 1:06 remaining in the half with a 9-yard run from running back Michael Benefield, but Davidson responded with 17 seconds left as running back Mark McCurdy ran down the field for a 35-yard touchdown run. The Wildcats took the lead 28-21 going into halftime.
Davidson took over during the third quarter and scored on all three of their possessions. Hillard capped off an 8-play, 60-yard drive with a 15 yard touchdown.
Four minutes after, quarterback Louis Colosimo found Oakley for a 57-yard pass in the end zone. Following that score, running back Eli Turner capped off a 3-play 33- yard drive with a rushing touchdown — giving the Wildcats a commanding 49-21 lead.
The fourth quarter was all Bulldogs, but it was not enough to secure the win. Bushka scored on a 17-yard run with 6 minutes to go in the game and would later find Flager for his second touchdown of the game.
The final score was 49-35 with Davidson walking away with the victory.
Butler will travel to Dayton next on Oct. 30 to try and grab their first PFL win.
