JOLIET, Ill. – Quarterback Don Butkus (Dyer, Ind./Mount Carmel Ill.) threw for a school-record 520 yards as the USF football team opened up its season with a 41-24 loss to No.4 Morningside.
Butkus finished the day 34-for-65 with 520 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He shattered the previous program record for passing yards in a single game, which was set by E.J. White in 2013 when he threw for 429 vs. Olivet Nazarene. Butkus also set the USF single-game record for most passing attempts.
The Saints started off strong, pulling out to a 14-0 lead. The USF defense stepped up early, forcing a pair of turnovers to stymie Morningside drives. On the Mustangs' first possession, Arnijae Ponder fumbled at the USF 23-yard line and Josh Woodard (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) swept in to recover it. Later, with the Saints leading 7-0 and Morningside on the move, Dekota Doerr (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) laid a big hit on Connor Niles, jarring the ball loose. Kody Randa (Sandwich, Ill/Sandwich) ended up at the bottom of the pile, giving the Saints their second turnover of the first quarter.
Offensively, USF's third drive of the day accounted for the first points of the contest. Butkus went 4-for-5 on the drive, including a 42-yard strike to Brandon Ruffin (Peoria, Ill./Peoria) and a five-yard touchdown pass to Jean Pietrzak (Westmont, Ill./Westmont). The Saints next possession was more of the same, this time culminating with a 25-yard touchdown catch by Ruffin.
The Mustangs scored the next 20 points to take their first lead of the contest. Morningside's Trent Solsma connected with Connor Niles on an 82-yard touchdown pass to give his team a 20-14 advantage.
St. Francis quickly answered to retake the lead. Early in the drive, the Saints faced a third-and-29. Butkus dropped a screen pass to the right and Zach Moreno (Le Grand, Calif./Le Grand) took it 57 yards down the right sideline to keep the drive alive. Butkus and Ruffin connected once again on a touchdown pass to pull USF ahead by one.
Morningside retook the lead on a 10-yard run by Ponder, but the Saints pulled within three (27-24) at the break with a nine-play, 71-yard drive that culminated with a Grayson Barnette (Lenior, N.C./West Caldwell) 25-yard field goal.
The Mustangs marched down the field on their first drive of the second half. However, on second-and-goal from the Saints' two-yard line Doerr made a diving interception in the end zone that kept the Saints within one score.
Morningside was able to break through on another big play, a 69-yard touchdown pass from Soslma to Niles, later in the quarter. The Mustangs scored once more early in the fourth and took the victory.
The Saints finished with 570 total yards of offense. Three receivers reached the century mark, including a team-leading nine catches and 119 yards from Ray Vallot (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee). Doerr highlighted the USF defense with 16 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception. Woodard added 10 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Morningside's Solsma rounded out his afternoon with 411 yards and four touchdowns. His favorite target was Niles who hauled in eight receptions for 263 yards and two scores.
The Saints have a bye week upcoming before traveling to face No.1 Saint Francis (Ind.) on September 9. Kickoff in Fort Wayne is scheduled for 12:00 local time/11:00 a.m. Central time.
