Butler is one school where the basketball arena literally and figuratively shadows the football team.
I was able to earn my first press pass as a photographer Saturday at a Butler home football game with Morehead State. This Pioneer Football League bout saw 114 points on the scoreboard and over 1,100 yards of offense. They may be two basketball schools but they put up a basketball score on the football field Saturday.
The Eagles had over 700 yards and still lost the game 62-52 to the host Bulldogs. What little defense there was came from Butler in forcing two interceptions and a fumble. Morehead State also turned the ball over on downs three times.
There was some controversy as a Butler defender knocked out Morehead State’s starting quarterback Austin Gahafer on a brutal sack. The Butler defender was flagged for targeting and ejected from the game. The damage was done though for the Eagles as Gahafer walked to the sideline and did not return. Another Bulldog player would be ejected for targeting yet it was the Eagles who were penalized more on the day with nine for 110 yards. I can assure you their coach was not happy with the refs. I even heard him or an assistant scream at the refs “You’re stealing this from us!” from the Eagle’s sideline.
While the game won’t mean much in the grand scheme of things (both have 2-4 conference records) it was important for Butler to restore some momentum. The Bulldogs won the league last year and became the first PFL team in the FCS playoffs. Butler (4-5) should end the year a respectable 5-6 or 6-5 while Morehead (3-6) will be an underdog the rest of the way to a projected 3-9 finish.
NC2A Nerd 