2023 Butler Bulldogs football team

2023 Butler Bulldogs football
Conference	Pioneer Football League
Record	7–4 (5–3 PFL)
Head coach	Mike Uremovich (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Alex Barr (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Jeff Knowles (2nd season)
Home stadium	Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl

2023 Pioneer Football League standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Drake $^		8	–	0					8	–	4
St. Thomas (MN) *		7	–	1					8	–	3
Davidson		6	–	2					7	–	4
Butler		5	–	3					7	–	4
Marist		4	–	4					4	–	7
San Diego		4	–	4					4	–	7
Morehead State		3	–	5					4	–	7
Presbyterian		2	–	6					4	–	7
Valparaiso		2	–	6					3	–	8
Dayton		2	–	6					4	–	7
Stetson		1	–	7					3	–	8
$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant * – St. Thomas (MN) ineligible for FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division III Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2023 Butler Bulldogs football team represented Butler University as a member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by second-year head coach Mike Uremovich, the Bulldogs compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing fourth in the PFL. Butler played home games at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl in Indianapolis.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 2	2:00 p.m.	at No. 14 Montana*	Washington–Grizzly Stadium Missoula, MT	ESPN+	L 20–35	25,430
September 9	1:00 p.m.	Taylor*	Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl Indianapolis, IN	FloSports	W 41–13	3,113
September 16	6:00 p.m.	Wabash*	Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl Indianapolis, IN	FloSports	W 47–21	6,271
September 23	12:00 p.m.	at Stetson	Spec Martin Stadium DeLand, FL	YouTube	W 28–18	1,128
September 30	1:00 p.m.	Presbyterian	Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl Indianapolis, IN	FloSports	W 27–17	3,302
October 7	1:00 p.m.	at St. Thomas (MN)	O'Shaughnessy Stadium Saint Paul, MN	Midco Sports Plus	L 10–17	4,855
October 14	1:00 p.m.	Davidson	Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl Indianapolis, IN	FloSports	L 33–35	1,873
October 21	1:00 p.m.	at Dayton	Welcome Stadium Dayton, OH	Facebook Live	W 37–10	2,785
October 28	1:00 p.m.	Valparaiso	Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl Indianapolis, IN	FloSports	W 17–7	4,224
November 4	2:00 p.m.	at Morehead State	Jayne Stadium Morehead, KY	ESPN+	W 49–7	8,868
November 18	12:00 p.m.	Drake	Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl Indianapolis, IN	FloSports	L 9–13	2,788
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

[1][2][3]

Game summaries

No. 14 Montana

See also: 2023 Montana Grizzlies football team

Game One – Butler Bulldogs (0–0) at No. 14 Montana Grizzlies (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	3	3	14	0	20
No. 14 Grizzlies	10	11	7	7	35

at Washington-Grizzly Stadium • Missoula, Montana

• Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C)
• Game attendance: 25,430
• Referee: Kelly Holman
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Ron Davis (play-by-play) and Grady Bennett (analyst)

Game information

First quarter (14:00) MONT – Junior Bergen 54-yard pass from Sam Vidak, Grant Glasgow kick (Drive: 3 plays, 68 yards, 0:55; Montana 7–0) (9:45) MONT – Grant Glasgow 23-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 1:30; Montana 10–0) (6:00) BUT – Luka Zurak 29-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 27 yards, 1:15; Montana 10–3) Second quarter (9:43) MONT – Grant Glasgow 49-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 44 yards, 5:35; Montana 13–3) (6:00) BUT – Luka Zurak 39-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 53 yards, 3:43; Montana 13–6) (3:05) MONT – Xavier Harris 3-yard run, Ryder Meyer run (Drive: 7 plays, 68 yards, 2:50; Montana 21–6) Third quarter (6:57) BUT – Jyran Mitchell 32-yard pass from Bret Bushka, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:40; Montana 21–13) (4:48) BUT – Ryan Lezon 26-yard pass from Bret Bushka, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 4 plays, 34 yards, 1:23; Montana 21–20) (3:41) MONT – Eli Gillman 24-yard run, Grant Glasgow kick (Drive: 3 plays, 50 yards, 1:00; Montana 28–20) Fourth quarter (6:34) MONT – Clifton McDowell 1-yard run, Grant Glasgow kick (Drive: 9 plays, 63 yards, 4:29; Montana 35–20)

Statistics	BUT	MONT
First downs	15	24
Total yards	304	441
Rushing yards	41	230
Passing yards	263	211
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	24–36–1	17–29–2
Time of possession	28:45	31:15

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Butler	Passing	Bret Bushka	24/35, 263 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Jyran Mitchell	12 carries, 23 yards
	Receiving	Ryan Lezon	2 receptions, 55 yards, TD
Montana	Passing	Sam Vidlak	15/25, 180 yards, TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Eli Gillman	19 carries, 119 yards, TD
	Receiving	Junior Bergen	4 receptions, 72 yards, TD

Taylor (NAIA)

See also: Taylor Trojans football

Game Two – Taylor Trojans (NAIA) (1–1) at Butler Bulldogs (0–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Trojans (NAIA)	0	7	0	6	13
Bulldogs	14	3	21	3	41

at Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl • Indianapolis, Indiana

• Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 68 °F (20 °C) • Wind: SW at 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
• Game attendance: 3,113
• Referee: Michael Hoffman
• TV: FloFootball

Game information

First quarter (13:00) BUT – Jyran Mitchell 1-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 5 plays, 66 yards, 2:00; Butler 7–0) (5:36) BUT – Jyran Mitchell 60-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 1 play, 60 yards, 0:09; Butler 14–0) Second quarter (8:57) BUT – Luka Zurak 23-yard field goal (Drive: 15 plays, 75 yards, 7:38; Butler 17–0) (3:15) TAY – Ja Thomas 24-yard pass from Damon Hockett, Isaac Hoke kick (Drive: 10 plays, 79 yards, 5:36; Butler 17–7) Third quarter (10:43) BUT – Luke Wooten 36-yard pass from Bret Bushka, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 3 plays, 39 yards, 1:47; Butler 24–7) (9:19) BUT – Jyran Mitchell 63-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 1 play, 63 yards, 0:10; Butler 31–7) (3:18) BUT – Harry Ochs fumble recovery in end zone, Luka Zurak kick (Butler 38–7) Fourth quarter (9:13) BUT – Luka Zurak 20-yard field goal (Drive: 15 plays, 69 yards, 7:11; Butler 41–7) (9:01) TAY – Dakohta Sonnichsen 75-yard pass from Stephen Ellis (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:12; Butler 41–13)

Statistics	TAY	BUT
First downs	13	16
Total yards	325	439
Rushing yards	156	254
Passing yards	169	185
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	11–20–0	14–23–0
Time of possession	32:18	27:42

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Taylor	Passing	Damon Hockett	10/19, 94 yards, TD
	Rushing	Stephen Ellis	6 carries, 42 yards
	Receiving	Dakohta Sonnichsen	1 reception, 75 yards, TD
Butler	Passing	Bret Bushka	13/22, 185 yards, TD
	Rushing	Jyran Mitchell	12 carries, 178 yards, 3 TD
	Receiving	Ethan Loss	4 receptions, 79 yards

Wabash (DIII)

See also: Wabash Little Giants football

Game Three – Wabash Little Giants (DIII) (1–0) at Butler Bulldogs (1–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Little Giants (DIII)	0	14	0	7	21
Bulldogs	7	17	9	14	47

at Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl • Indianapolis, Indiana

• Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
• Game time: 6:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 70 °F (21 °C) • Wind: NW at 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h)
• Game attendance: 6,271
• Referee: Gregory Gompf
• TV announcers (FloFootball): Greg Rakestraw (play-by-play)

Game information

First quarter (10:01) BUT – Bret Bushka 1-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:51; Butler 7–0) Second quarter (13:36) BUT – Ethan Loss 30-yard pass from Bret Bushka, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 2:48; Butler 14–0) (9:21) BUT – Jyran Mitchell 7-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 6 plays, 54 yards, 3:21; Butler 21–0) (3:43) WAB – Cade Campbell 9-yard pass from Jacob Riddle, Brody Rucker kick (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 5:38; Butler 21–7) (0:16) WAB – Derek Allen Jr. 22-yard pass from Liam Thompson, Brody Rucker kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 1:37; Butler 21–14) (0:00) BUT – Luka Zurak 48-yard field goal (Drive: 2 plays, 30 yards, 0:11; Butler 24–14) Third quarter (6:42) BUT – Liam Thompson sacked in end zone for a safety (Butler 26–14) (3:14) BUT – Ershod Jasey II 4-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 6 plays, 45 yards, 3:20; Butler 33–14) Fourth quarter (12:44) WAB – Jacob Riddle 18-yard pass from Liam Thompson, Brody Rucker kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 5:30; Butler 33–21) (8:38) BUT – Luke Wooten 22-yard pass from Bret Bushka, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 4:06; Butler 40–21) (5:32) BUT – Nick Bafia 66-yard interception return, Luka Zurak kick (Butler 47–21)

Statistics	WAB	BUT
First downs	21	26
Total yards	338	442
Rushing yards	62	244
Passing yards	276	198
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	24–34–1	13–18–0
Time of possession	32:16	27:44

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Wabash	Passing	Liam Thompson	22/32, 256 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Cade Campbell	6 carries, 36 yards
	Receiving	Derek Allen Jr.	10 receptions, 99 yards, TD
Butler	Passing	Bret Bushka	13/18, 198 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Jyran Mitchell	13 carries, 82 yards, TD
	Receiving	Ethan Loss	4 receptions, 73 yards, TD

at Stetson

See also: 2023 Stetson Hatters football team

Game Four – Butler Bulldogs (2–1) at Stetson Hatters (2–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	14	7	7	28
Hatters	0	0	7	11	18

at Spec Martin Stadium • DeLand, Florida

• Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny
• Game attendance: 1,128
• Referee: Drew Myers
• TV: YouTube

Game information

First quarter No Scoring Plays Second quarter (11:28) BUT – Bret Bushka 2-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 14 plays, 58 yards, 7:27; Butler 7–0) (6:27) BUT – Ershod Jasey II 28-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 8 plays, 64 yards, 4:01; Butler 14–0) Third quarter (5:52) STET – Rassie Littlejohn 30-yard interception return, Daniel Holbrook kick (Butler 14–7) (3:30) BUT – Jyran Mitchell 58-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 2 plays, 58 yards, 0:55; Butler 21–7) Fourth quarter (10:07) STET – Daniel Holbrook 39-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 43 yards, 4:53; Butler 21–10) (2:02) STET – Gabe Atkin 2-yard pass from Brady Meitz, Nazeviah Burris run (Drive: 11 plays, 90 yards, 3:43; Butler 21–18) (1:46) BUT – Jyran Mitchell 43-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 2 plays, 48 yards, 0:15; Butler 28–18)

Statistics	BUT	STET
First downs	15	15
Total yards	376	258
Rushing yards	322	91
Passing yards	54	167
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	9–19–1	18–32–3
Time of possession	33:25	26:35

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Butler	Passing	Bret Bushka	9/19, 54 yards, INT
	Rushing	Jyran Mitchell	26 carries, 209 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Ethan Loss	3 receptions, 15 yards
Stetson	Passing	Matt O'Connor	10/16, 106 yards
	Rushing	Kadarris Roberts	16 carries, 62 yards
	Receiving	Gabe Atkin	8 receptions, 83 yards, TD

Presbyterian

See also: 2023 Presbyterian Blue Hose football team

Game Five – Presbyterian Blue Hose (2–1) at Butler Bulldogs (3–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Hose	7	10	0	0	17
Bulldogs	7	7	7	6	27

at Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl • Indianapolis, Indiana

• Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 73 °F (23 °C) • Wind: E at 3 miles per hour (4.8 km/h)
• Game attendance: 3,302
• Referee: Rich Fisher
• TV: FloFootball

Game information

First quarter (9:52) BUT – Jyran Mitchell 12-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 7 plays, 56 yards, 3:15; Butler 7–0) (9:02) PRES – Dominic Kibby 93-yard pass from Tyler Wesley, Mack Mikko kick (Drive: 2 plays, 93 yards, 0:48; Tied 7–7) Second quarter (8:17) BUT – Bret Bushka 6-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 13 plays, 72 yards, 6:43; Butler 14–7) (8:05) PRES – Dominic Kibby 75-yard pass from Tyler Wesley, Mack Mikko kick (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:12; Tied 14–14) (4:58) PRES – Mack Mikko 44-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 20 yards, 2:23; Presbyterian 17–14) Third quarter (6:12) BUT – Ryan Lezon 14-yard pass from Bret Bushka, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 16 plays, 85 yards, 8:48; Butler 21–17) Fourth quarter (7:20) BUT – Luka Zurak 23-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 64 yards, 6:51; Butler 24–17) (2:26) BUT – Luka Zurak 20-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 3:10; Butler 27–17)

Statistics	PRES	BUT
First downs	13	30
Total yards	356	464
Rushing yards	33	299
Passing yards	323	165
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	17–28–0	18–27–1
Time of possession	18:41	41:19

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Presbyterian	Passing	Tyler Wesley	17/28, 323 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Zach Switzer	6 carries, 21 yards
	Receiving	Dominic Kibby	5 receptions, 199 yards, 2 TD
Butler	Passing	Bret Bushka	17/26, 148 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Jyran Mitchell	31 carries, 149 yards, TD
	Receiving	Ethan Loss	4 receptions, 36 yards

at St. Thomas (MN)

See also: 2023 St. Thomas Tommies football team

Game Six – Butler Bulldogs (4–1) at St. Thomas Tommies (3–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	3	0	7	10
Tommies	3	7	7	0	17

at O'Shaughnessy Stadium • Saint Paul, Minnesota

• Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Couldy • Temperature: 50 °F (10 °C) • Wind: SE at 7 miles per hour (11 km/h)
• Game attendance: 4,855
• Referee: Tim Duffy
• TV: Midco Sports Plus

Game information

First quarter (10:25) STMN – Stephen Shagen 35-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 52 yards, 4:29; St. Thomas 3–0) Second quarter (14:56) STMN – Hope Adebayo 2-yard run, Stephen Shagen kick (Drive: 8 plays, 44 yards, 4:37; St. Thomas 10–0) (0:33) BUT – Luka Zurak 21-yard field goal (Drive: 15 plays, 61 yards, 8:07; St. Thomas 10–3) Third quarter (4:39) STMN – Hope Adebayo 27-yard run, Stephen Shagen kick (Drive: 9 plays, 88 yards, 5:21; St. Thomas 17–3) Fourth quarter (8:34) BUT – Jyran Mitchell 10-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 6 plays, 35 yards, 1:31; St. Thomas 17–10)

Statistics	BUT	STMN
First downs	18	12
Total yards	262	300
Rushing yards	151	229
Passing yards	111	71
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	16–31–0	5–8–0
Time of possession	28:56	31:04

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Butler	Passing	Bret Bushka	16/31, 111 yards
	Rushing	Bret Bushka	16 carries, 63 yards
	Receiving	Ryan Lezon	4 receptions, 35 yards
St. Thomas (MN)	Passing	Tak Tateoka	5/8, 71 yards
	Rushing	Shawn Shipman	22 carries, 103 yards
	Receiving	Andrew McElroy	2 receptions, 32 yards

Davidson

See also: 2023 Davidson Wildcats football team

Game Seven – Davidson Wildcats (4–1) at Butler Bulldogs (4–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	7	21	7	0	35
Bulldogs	7	7	10	9	33

at Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl • Indianapolis, Indiana

• Date: Saturday, October 14, 2023
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 54 °F (12 °C) • Wind: W at 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
• Game attendance: 1,873
• Referee: Rodney Smith
• TV: FloFootball

Game information

First quarter (12:11) DAV – Brody Reina 46-yard pass from Coulter Cleland, Adam Zouagui kick (Drive: 6 plays, 87 yards, 2:44; Davidson 7–0) (9:16) BUT – Ryan Lezon 8-yard pass from Bret Bushka, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 5 plays, 59 yards, 2:50; Tied 7–7) Second quarter (8:41) DAV – Mari Adams 1-yard run, Adam Zouagui kick (Drive: 6 plays, 18 yards, 2:06; Davidson 14–7) (7:13) BUT – Bret Bushka 60-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 3 plays, 68 yards, 1:21; Tied 14–14) (4:11) DAV – Mari Adams 36-yard run, Adam Zouagui kick (Drive: 6 plays, 71 yards, 2:56; Davidson 21–14) (1:17) DAV – Adam Maione 25-yard pass from Coulter Cleland, Adam Zouagui kick (Drive: 4 plays, 67 yards, 1:14; Davidson 28–14) Third quarter (10:24) BUT – Jeremy Johnson 22-yard return of blocked punt, Luka Zurak kick (Davidson 28–21) (2:41) BUT – Luka Zurak 40-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 25 yards, 3:35; Davidson 28–24) (0:00) DAV – Mari Adams 8-yard run, Adam Zouagui kick (Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 2:41; Davidson 35–24) Fourth quarter (10:10) BUT – Luka Zurak 29-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 63 yards, 4:50; Davidson 35–27) (6:24) BUT – Jyran Mitchell 4-yard run (Drive: 4 plays, 50 yards, 1:57; Davidson 35–33)

Statistics	DAV	BUT
First downs	23	14
Total yards	506	345
Rushing yards	282	215
Passing yards	224	130
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	19–20–1	14–31–1
Time of possession	37:20	22:40

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Davidson	Passing	Coulter Cleland	19/20, 224 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Mari Adams	30 carries, 171 yards, 3 TD
	Receiving	Mark McCurdy	6 receptions, 81 yards
Butler	Passing	Bret Bushka	13/29, 129 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Jyran Mitchell	16 carries, 123 yards, TD
	Receiving	Ethan Loss	3 receptions, 43 yards

at Dayton

See also: 2023 Dayton Flyers football team

Game Eight – Butler Bulldogs (4–3) at Dayton Flyers (2–5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	13	7	3	14	37
Flyers	0	3	0	7	10

at Welcome Stadium • Dayton, Ohio

• Date: Saturday, October 21, 2023
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Rain • Temperature: 59 °F (15 °C) • Wind: SW at 7 miles per hour (11 km/h)
• Game attendance: 2,785
• Referee: Jason Perkins
• TV: Facebook Live

Game information

First quarter (7:07) BUT – Luka Zurak 24-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 41 yards, 5:52; Butler 3–0) (5:21) BUT – Jyran Mitchell 24-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 1 play, 24 yards, 0:10; Butler 10–0) (1:39) BUT – Luka Zurak 46-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 2:07; Butler 13–0) Second quarter (10:07) DAY – Sam Webster 32-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 60 yards, 6:32; Butler 13–3) (4:04) BUT – Jyran Mitchell 3-yard pass from Bret Bushka, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 6:03; Butler 20–3) Third quarter (8:26) BUT – Luka Zurak 36-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 57 yards, 1:41; Butler 23–3) Fourth quarter (5:42) DAY – Luke Hansen 2-yard run, Sam Webster kick (Drive: 18 plays, 67 yards, 6:50; Butler 23–10) (4:12) BUT – Jyran Mitchell 59-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:30; Butler 30–10) (1:47) BUT – Ryan Lezon 9-yard pass from Bret Bushka, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 4 plays, 12 yards, 1:13; Butler 37–10)

Statistics	BUT	DAY
First downs	16	17
Total yards	342	288
Rushing yards	151	105
Passing yards	191	183
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	18–23–1	30–49–0
Time of possession	27:57	32:03

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Butler	Passing	Bret Bushka	18/23, 191 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Jyran Mitchell	16 carries, 117 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Ethan Loss	6 receptions, 86 yards
Dayton	Passing	Drew VanVleet	30/48, 183 yards
	Rushing	Luke Hansen	9 carries, 54 yards, TD
	Receiving	Jake Coleman	7 receptions, 52 yards

Valparaiso (Hoosier Helmet Trophy)

See also: 2023 Valparaiso Beacons football team and Hoosier Helmet Trophy

Game Nine – Valparaiso Beacons (1–6) at Butler Bulldogs (5–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Beacons	0	0	7	0	7
Bulldogs	0	0	14	3	17

at Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl • Indianapolis, Indiana

• Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 50 °F (10 °C) • Wind: NE at 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
• Game attendance: 4,224
• Referee: CJ Jackson
• TV: FloFootball

Game information

First quarter No Scoring Plays Second quarter No Scoring Plays Third quarter (10:16) BUT – Jyran Mitchell 67-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 2 plays, 80 yards, 0:47; Butler 7–0) (10:01) VAL – Solomon Davis 70-yard run, Ryan Hawk kick (Drive: 1 play, 70 yards, 0:15; Tied 7–7) (0:00) BUT – Bret Bushka 3-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 18 plays, 75 yards, 10:01; Butler 14–7) Fourth quarter (3:15) BUT – Luka Zurak 32-yard field goal (Drive: 15 plays, 29 yards, 8:42; Butler 17–7)

Statistics	VAL	BUT
First downs	12	20
Total yards	289	331
Rushing yards	117	242
Passing yards	172	89
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	11–21–1	13–21–0
Time of possession	21:01	38:59

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Valparaiso	Passing	Rowan Keefe	11/19, 172 yards, INT
	Rushing	Solomon Davis	1 carry, 70 yards, TD
	Receiving	Solomon Davis	2 receptions, 68 yards
Butler	Passing	Bret Bushka	13/21, 89 yards
	Rushing	Jyran Mitchell	26 carries, 159 yards, TD
	Receiving	Ethan Loss	4 receptions, 58 yards

at Morehead State

See also: 2023 Morehead State Eagles football team

Game Ten – Butler Bulldogs (6–3) at Morehead State Eagles (3–5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	21	14	7	7	49
Eagles	7	0	0	0	7

at Jayne Stadium • Morehead, Kentucky

• Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Mostly Sunny • Temperature: 62 °F (17 °C)
• Game attendance: 8,868
• Referee: J. Bradford
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Jared Stacy and Hunter Hurst

Game information

First quarter (11:49) BUT – Ethan Loss 25-yard pass from Bret Bushka, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 5 plays, 62 yards, 2:22; Butler 7–0) (6:53) BUT – Luke Wooten 28-yard pass from Bret Bushka, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 5 plays, 50 yards, 2:35; Butler 14–0) (1:31) BUT – Jyran Mitchell 61-yard pass from Bret Bushka, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 4 plays, 86 yards, 2:12; Butler 21–0) (0:51) MORE – Kyle Daly 68-yard pass from Carter Cravens, Nathan Hackett kick (Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:40; Butler 21–7) Second quarter (9:22) BUT – Luke Wooten 21-yard pass from Bret Bushka, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 6:29; Butler 28–7) (1:06) BUT – Jack Bill 55-yard pass from Bret Bushka, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 4 plays, 65 yards, 0:47; Butler 35–7) Third quarter (0:41) BUT – Bret Bushka 12-yard run, Luka Zurak kick (Drive: 8 plays, 71 yards, 5:05; Butler 42–7) Fourth quarter (2:58) BUT – Patrick Coury 18-yard interception return, Luka Zurak kick (Butler 49–7)

Statistics	BUT	MORE
First downs	27	9
Total yards	482	247
Rushing yards	179	111
Passing yards	303	136
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	21–25–2	13–23–1
Time of possession	37:45	22:15

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Butler	Passing	Bret Bushka	16/17, 281 yards, 5 TD, INT
	Rushing	Jyran Mitchell	22 carries, 125 yards
	Receiving	Luke Wooten	5 receptions, 88 yards, 2 TD
Morehead St	Passing	Carter Cravens	11/20, 126 yards, TD
	Rushing	Jackson Lanier	12 carries, 78 yards
	Receiving	Kyle Daly	5 receptions, 104 yards, TD

Drake

See also: 2023 Drake Bulldogs football team

Game Eleven – Drake Bulldogs (7–3) at Butler Bulldogs (7–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Drake	0	7	0	6	13
Butler	3	0	6	0	9

at Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl • Indianapolis, Indiana

• Date: Saturday, November 18, 2023
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 48 °F (9 °C) • Wind: N at 2 miles per hour (3.2 km/h)
• Game attendance: 2,788
• Referee: Robert Guyton Jr.
• TV: FloFootball

Game information

First quarter (6:24) BUT – Luka Zurak 38-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 68 yards, 5:01; Butler 3–0) Second quarter (2:48) DRKE – Hunter Johnson 2-yard pass from Luke Bailey, Shane Dunning kick (Drive: 10 plays, 60 yards, 5:16; Drake 7–3) Third quarter (7:32) BUT – Luka Zurak 23-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 68 yards, 7:21; Drake 7–6) (0:21) BUT – Luka Zurak 48-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 51 yards, 6:32; Butler 9–7) Fourth quarter (2:43) DRKE – Dorian Boyland 2-yard run (Drive: 11 plays, 78 yards, 5:13; Drake 13–9)

Statistics	DRKE	BUT
First downs	15	19
Total yards	176	265
Rushing yards	56	125
Passing yards	120	140
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	16–28–0	21–34–0
Time of possession	22:43	37:17

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Drake	Passing	Luke Bailey	16/28, 120 yards, TD
	Rushing	Dorian Boyland	8 carries, 31 yards, TD
	Receiving	Trey Radocha	3 receptions, 29 yards
Butler	Passing	Bret Bushka	21/34, 140 yards
	Rushing	Jyran Mitchell	12 carries, 55 yards
	Receiving	Luke Wooten	6 receptions, 65 yards

References

1. "Butler Bulldogs Schedule 2023". ESPN. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
2. "2023 Football Schedule". Butler University. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
3. "2023 Butler Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved April 8, 2023.