What the Northwestern games tell us about Butler

Written by: Marko Tomich

1.

The addition Roosevelt Jones into the Bulldog’s line up has been HUGE. Jones is a do it all utility man for the Dawgs as we saw in the Northwestern game. Jones was able to score 12 points, grab six rebounds and toss out four assists as the Bulldogs fended off the Wildcats. Butler last year struggled against bigger and more aggressive opponents the addition of Jones has helped. (As Butler has seen in Battle 4 Atlantis)

2.

The offense is balanced and when one player is having an off night, someone else is able to step up. Last year the Dawgs were a one-person offense (Kellen Dunham in case you missed every game). Kellen struggled in the first half against the Wildcats to be the go to guy and find his shot. Alex Barlow was able to step up or Andrew Chrabascz. The team showed last night if you slow down one the others will step up.

3.

Coach Chris Holtmann is the real deal. He shows leadership and commands respect from his players. It is clear and obvious that the team chemistry is at a completely different level than it was last year. He has the team playing every game like it is a conference game. Although it was a close game Holtmann was able to grind out a win in a match his team never trailed.

4.

The Bulldogs have senior leadership. When Northwestern was hanging in the game late Barlow made a steal that led to a layup at the other end. Barlow’s steal put the Hinkle Fieldhouse fans over the top, which helped the Dawgs regain momentum for the remainder of the game. Barlow has been able to lead by example and vocally for Butler. The team never seems to be lost when the ball is in his hands he is a floor general that Butler has been missing.

Butler beats down Loyola Maryland

Written by: Marko Tomich

Dominating, the single word to describe Butler and freshman Kelan Martin’s game against the Loyola Maryland in an 80-39 rout. The Bulldogs are 3-0 on the season and look right on schedule even with interim head coach Chris Holtmann stepping in for Brandon Miller.

Martin is a pure-bred scorer from Louisville, Ky., that can hurt you from a variety of ways, which Loyola found out quickly. Martin entered the game with Butler trailing by two and the Bulldogs never looked back.

Martin recorded an assist, steal and three pointer in his first two possessions early in the first half.

Martin was three of three from behind the arc, snagged five rebounds, and tossed two assists on his way to 13 points all in the first half.

Butler’s defense turned up the pressure forcing nine first half turnovers and held Loyola to just 29 percent from the field and a measly 22 percent behind the arc.

Butler went to the locker room with a 42-18 point lead, for those of you keeping track at home Martin trailed Loyola by only five at half.

Butler continued its prolific offensive performance that included 40 points in the paint and converted 37 points off of turnovers.

Loyola’s bright spot was Eric Laster who seemed to be the only player that could find himself in an offensive grove. Laster finished with 24 points hitting four of his six three point attempts.

The bench was the big difference in the match. Butler’s bench outscored their opponent 39-0. Loyola’s bench went a combined 0-18 from the field.

Roosevelt Jones continues his stat-stuffing year finishing the game with 10 points, six assist, and four steals. Butler sure did miss his toughness and all around play last year.

Butler will be traveling to the Bahamas for their next game, as they will be in the Battle 4 Atlantis Thanks giving tournament. Butler will square off with North Carolina in their first match.

The Dawgs walked away with a win last time these two met in a Thanks giving tournament, 2012 Maui Invitational, then freshman Kellen Dunham had 17 points.

St. Xavier Rolls Over Cathedral, 27-0

By: William Beal

INDIANAPOLIS – Under the lights at Lucas Oil Stadium, the St. Xavier Bombers defense pitched a shutout, defeating the Cathedral Fighting Irish 27-0.

The Bombers were most successful against the run, limiting the Irish to 50 yards on 33 rushing attempts.

The Bombers also won the turnover battle 3-0; forcing five fumbles, recovering two, and getting an interception.

With 1:20 left in the third quarter, senior Rashon Edwards intercepted a tipped pass from Cathedral quarterback Max Bortenschlager, and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown, putting St. Xavier up 13-0.

The play energized the Bombers offense, which only produced seven points through the first three quarters, as they scored 14 in the final quarter to secure the game.

The first play of the fourth quarter was a 74-yard pass by Bombers quarterback Sean Clifford to fellow sophomore Colton Paul for a touchdown.

That was the first touch of the game for Paul, who then took a jet sweep for 34 yards on the next drive to set up the final score of the game, an 11-yard run by Clifford.

Clifford finished the game on 10 of16 passing, for 159 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and a rushing touchdown.

The Irish were rattled from the start of the game, when senior running back Caleb Cross fumbled on the first play from scrimmage.

The Bombers capitalized quickly, when Clifford connected with senior running back Ronnie Fricke for a 12-yard touchdown three plays later.

The Irish suffered from unforced errors as well, fumbling on high snaps three times, however, losing the ball only once.

One of those high snaps led to possibly the most exciting play of the game, when Bortenschlager corralled the loose ball and scrambled to his right, finding sophomore receiver Luke Sanders on the run for a 26-yard gain.

Bortenschlager finished with 131 yards on 11 of 21 passing with no touchdowns and one interception while being sacked five times.

Not to be understated in the game was the work on special teams by the Bombers.

Senior punter Jack Hannan finished with seven punts, averaging 43.1 yards. The longest being a 56-yarder to pin the Irish on their own 6 in the third quarter, setting up the pick six by Edwards two plays later.

Bombers senior linebacker Cole Jones was awarded the player of the game for his defensive contributions.

St. Xavier (0-0, 3-1) will face the Archbishop Mueller Fighting Crusaders (0-0, 4-0) next Friday, while Indianapolis Cathedral (1-0, 1-3) will face the Trinity Shamrocks (0-0, 3-2) on the same day.

St. Xavier Bombers 27, Cathedral Fighting Irish 0

St. Xavier        7          0          6          14        —         27

Cathedral         0          0          0          0         —         0

1Q

2. XAVIER – Fricke 7 pass from Clifford (Homan kick), 10:22.

3Q

3. XAVIER – Edwards 22 interception (Kick failed), 1:23.

4Q

1. XAVIER – Paul 74 pass from Clifford (Homan kick), 11:50.
2. XAVIER – Clifford 11 run (Homan kick), 8:47.

Team Statistics                               St. Xavier                   Cathedral

First downs                                              6                                  10

Rushes-Yards                                      34-109                         33-50

Passing yards                                      159                              147

Passing Comp-Att-Int                        10-16-0                       13-23-1

Punts-avg                                            7-43.1                          7-37.7

Fumbles-Lost                                      0-0                               5-2

Penalties-Yards                                   6-49                             2-10

Individual Statistics

RUSHING: St. Xavier – Glines 16-33, Fricke 8-20; Cathedral – Cross 15-35

PASSING: St. Xavier – Clifford 10-16-0-159; Cathedral – Bortenschlager 11-21-1-131

RECEIVING: St. Xavier – Fricke 2-27, Paul 1-74; Cathedral – Whigham 5-40, Dotson 1-44

Ben Davis rolls past Wildcats

By Matthew VanTryon / Sept. 27

Kyle Castner secured his place among Ben Davis football legends on Friday night as the Giants crushed Lawrence North 56-6 to celebrate Homecoming.

With 295 yards passing against the Wildcats, Castner now has a school-record 5,307 career yards and is 218 yards away from the season passing record of 2,052 yards set by Matt Brock in 2011.

“It’s a blessing to be here, third year starting,” Castner said. “To be up with those guys is unbelievable. I couldn’t be happier with guys around me and my coaches.”

Castner surpassed Brock in 18 fewer games — Brock finished his career with 44 games played. Castner has played 26.

Castner ran an offensive clinic in the first half. The Giants scored touchdowns on each of their six possessions.

Dorian Tate began the scoring with a 24-yard touchdown run on the first play from the line of scrimmage. Castner found Chris Evans on a 75-yard strike on the opening play of the next drive.

Tate found the end zone again on the ground before the quarter came to a close.

Ben Davis coach Mike Kirschner praised Castner’s leadership and his team’s efficiency

“He came out and took control early, he made some nice plays, and receivers did a nice job of catching the ball,” he said.

The Giants continued to roll in the second quarter.

Evans found the end zone on two consecutive plays for the Giants midway through the second quarter. He wrapped up a nine-play drive with a 9-yard touchdown run, and began the next drive with a 43-yard dash.

Ben Davis went into the half with a commanding 42-0 lead.

Castner finished the half 10 of 14 with 214 passing yards.

Ben Davis picked up the second half where it left off. Stori Emerson scored on a 29-yard pass reception to start the quarter, and added a 19-yard reception a drive later.

Ben Davis used the remainder of the game to get a look at a fresh group of players. Kirschner was pleased with what he saw.

“It’s what you hope for a few times a season, to get your young guys varsity experience on a Friday night,” he said. “Those same guys have got to be your varsity players next year on a Friday night. You get a game or two like this during the season, it only helps you down the road.”

Lawrence North got on the board with a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Giants travel to Carmel next Friday night. The Greyhounds are undefeated and sit atop the 6A rankings with the Giants.

Castner said beating Carmel starts Saturday at practice.

“We’ve got to have a great week of practice,” he said. “We’ve got to come out strong like we did today, we’ve got to play fast. We can’t stoop down to their level.”