The Bulldogs celebrate a touchdown in their win over Dayton on Oct. 8. Photo by Grace Hensley. 

NICK ORR | SPORTS REPORTER | nporr@butler.edu

The Butler football team picked up their first win in PFL play with a dominant, 31-0 victory over Dayton. The Bulldogs were led by quarterback Bret Bushka, who accumulated 371 total yards of offense. Butler’s defense also played a major role in the game, holding Dayton scoreless. The Flyers have not been held scoreless in 501 games, the longest streak in Division I football. 

On the first drive of the game, Butler led a 13-play, 65-yard drive that ended in a 29-yard field goal by kicker Luka Zurak. The Butler defense came up strong on the next Dayton drive. They forced a 44-yard field goal that Dayton missed.

In the second quarter, the Bulldogs found the endzone for the first time in the game. Bushka led a 12-play, 87-yard drive that was capped off with a one-yard score to tight end Cameron Heald to extend the lead to 10-0. 

Following a Dayton punt to open the second half, Bushka found Heald for his second score of the game on a 17-yard touchdown to cap off a 12-play, 69-yard drive to extend the lead to 17-0. Heald would finish the game with four receptions and 34 yards. 

To close out the third quarter, the Bulldog offense put together a 12-play, 80-yard drive that Bushka finished with a four-yard keeper to stretch the lead to 24-0. Bushka would lead Butler in rushing, finishing the game with 33 yards on 10 carries. 

To close out the scoring, the Bulldogs led their lone scoring drive in the fourth quarter. With just over 11 to play in the fourth, Bushka aired it out to receiver Tyler Adams for a 75-yard touchdown, the lone play of the drive. The touchdown extended the lead to the eventual final, 31-0. Adams finished the day with four receptions and 149 yards.

Butler moves to 3-2 on the season and 1-1 in conference play. They will head on the road next week by traveling to Valparaiso to take on the Beacons on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m.