With six touchdowns from Andrew and Howard combined, Butler defeats Division II Upper Iowa

Indianapolis, Indiana – Reagan In the season opener on Saturday, Butler defeated NCAA Division II team Upper Iowa 40-7 behind three touchdown passes from Andrew and one touchdown run.

In their first game without graduated starter Brett Bushka, the 2024 Pioneer League offensive player of the year, the Bulldogs went through a quarterback rotation. Four quarterbacks made at least one pass attempt overall.

The game’s first touchdown was scored by Nick Howard, a graduate transfer from Dartmouth who helped lead the Big Green to a share of the Ivy League championship in 2023. Howard punched over from the 1 after Nick Bafka returned an interception 24 yards to the Upper Iowa 8.
Additionally, Derek Allen Jr. scored on a 58-yard touchdown pass that Howard completed.

Zacarius Murray’s interception on Andrew’s opening play put the Peacocks in possession of the ball at the Butler 24. He immediately returned, finding William Enneking for a 16-yard touchdown pass halfway through the second quarter and Luke Wooten for a 70-yard touchdown pass just before halftime.

After Butler’s defense forced the offense to punt from its own 17, Upper Iowa’s lone touchdown was scored in the second quarter when Darryl Overstreet Jr. found Eddie Burgess on a 23-yard pass.

Out of his ten pass attempts, Andrew completed five for 119 yards. Howard did not have an interception and went 5 of 6 for 95 yards. Additionally seeing action at the center were Landon Hochstein and Sage Shindler, a transfer from Illinois Wesleyan, who together finished 4 of 6.

Howard, who now holds the record for most rushing touchdowns at Dartmouth, burst for a 31-yard touchdown and gained 54 yards on five carries. Andrew gained 29 yards on five carries.

Despite being picked off three times, Overstreet was only able to complete 12 of 31 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. RJ Wells rushed 13 times for an additional 83 yards, while Jayden Mitchell carried 16 times for 85 yards.

Butler leaves to play on September 7 at Murray State.