Football Returns Home To Take On Butler
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell's football program (1-3, 0-2 PFL), after a trip to Iowa last weekend, returns home to the Barker-Lane Stadium/Ed Gore Field to take on Butler (3-2, 1-1 PFL) in a conference matchup on Saturday, Oct. 8, at noon.
Campbell lost to Drake by a 31-14 score on the road on Oct. 1. The Camels fell behind 21-0, but were able to outscore the Bulldogs by 14-10 margin in the second half. Braden Smith was 28-for-50 for 263 yards and a touchdown. His completions, attempts and yards are all school records. Smith's favorite target in the game was Preston Dodson. Dodson had eight receptions for 85 yards. Dodson has hauled in 17 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns over the last two games. Dodson has risen to fifth in the PFL in receptions per game and is seventh in receiving yards a contest (66.75). Jeremiah Robinson continued his outstanding play with 12 tackles, two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss against Drake. Robinson is ranked among both the conference and national leaders in both sacks and tackles for loss this season. He leads the conference in tackles for loss (2.00) and is tied for 9th in nation. Robinson is tied for third in the PFL in sacks (1.00) and tied for 12th in the country. Brandon Chandler ranks second in the PFL is punt returns (12.67) and tied for 14th in the NCAA. Ted Moore is second in the PFL with his average of 42.43 yards a punt. The average also ranks him 15th in the country.
Butler defeated Dayton on the road last weekend by a 29-27 score. David Lang hit the game-winning 35-yard field goal in the final two minutes. He was named the PFL Special Teams Player of the Week on Sunday. The Bulldogs have a balanced attack with Andrew Huck having completed 129 passes for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season. Running back Trae Heeter has been impressive and leads the team with 488 yards on the ground and is averaging 5.4 yards a carry. Heeter also serves as the team's primary kickoff returner and has totaled 986 all-purpose yards on the season. Zach Watkins is the team's best receiver with 39 catches for 413 yards and three touchdowns. Jordan Koopman is another to watch with 32 catches for 357 yards and three scores. Jordan Ridley is Butler's most active defender with 53 tackles, 2.5 stops for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery. Grant Hunter has six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks on the season.
Campbell defeated Butler by a 27-10 score in Indianapolis last season. The Camels dominated the line of scrimmage with 270 yards on the ground. CU had four different players with 40 or more yards rushing. Randel Herring had a steady performance with 12 tackles and a sack. The Bulldogs have won both of the previous games in Buies Creek. The road team has won every game in the series thus far. CU's C.J. Oates has scored a touchdown in every game the two teams have played the last three years.
All of Campbell's games can be followed and listened to online at Gocamels.com on the Campbell Radio Network with Chris Hemeyer, Andy Bowman and Bill Priestley on the call.
Campbell's football program travels to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. next weekend to take on Marist on Oct. 15 at noon.
