Quarterback Bret Bushka passing in Butler’s win over Valparaiso. Photo by Claire Runkel. 

NICK ORR | SPORTS REPORTER | nporr@butler.edu

Butler football secured the 31-10 victory over Marist to celebrate Homecoming. The Bulldogs have won three straight games for the first time since 2017. The rushing attack was on full display, as Butler finished the game with 222 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. 

Joey Suchy finished the game with three total touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs to victory and advance them to 3-1 in PFL play and 5-2 overall. 

To start off the scoring, the Marist offense drove down 70 yards in 12 plays and got the first points of the game on a six-yard touchdown reception by Amin Woods from quarterback Brock Bagozzi. The drive would be Marist’s only touchdown of the game. 

In the early second quarter, the Bulldogs executed a 14-play, 62-yard drive that ended in a 35-yard field goal by kicker Luka Zurak to cut the lead to 7-3. 

Late in the second quarter, Butler took its first lead of the game on a 12-yard run from Suchy. The run capped off a nine-play, 65-yard drive to make the score 10-7. 

Marist would respond with a 31-yard field goal from kicker Luke Paladino to even the score at 10-10 going into halftime. This would be the last points scored by Marist for the game. 

After five straight punts, the Butler offense finally broke through. Suchy found the endzone for the second time, this one from five yards out. The run was the finale of a short three-play drive and extended the lead to 17-10. 

The Bulldogs first drive in the fourth quarter was a scoring drive, as Suchy found the endzone for the third and final time of the game on a 16-yard reception from quarterback Bret Bushka. The scoring drive extended the lead to 24-10. 

The final scoring of the game came with 5:42 to play in the fourth quarter. Kwesi Kyei-Fordjour ran in a one-yard score to cap off a seven-play, 35-yard drive to extend the lead to 31-10. 

The Bulldogs pick up the win on homecoming and will look to continue their winning ways as they take on Morehead State on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 12 p.m. at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl.