INDIANAPOLIS, IND. — Chicago St. lost to Butler 47-20 on Saturday at the Sellick Bowl. CSU scored three touchdowns, including a 74-yard run by
Chris Edmonds in the first quarter and a 77-yard touchdown in the fourth. The Cougars were limited by three lost fumbles, while Butler finished with 257 rushing yards and went 5-for-5 in the red zone.
The Cougars' first-quarter scoring came on Edmonds' 74-yard touchdown run, but CSU finished the quarter with two first downs, 49 rushing yards and five passing yards. Butler converted both of its third-down chances, went 2-for-2 in the red zone and got one rushing touchdown and two passing touchdowns from Gabe Passini to lead 23-6 after the quarter.
CSU outscored Butler 8-7 in the second quarter and put together a 10-play, 67-yard scoring drive, capped by
Ashton Pannell's 11-yard touchdown pass to
Arshawn Powell and a successful two-point try that made it 23-14. Butler still finished the quarter with an 82-70 edge in total yards, including 60 on the ground, and added a late 1-yard touchdown run to take a 30-14 lead into halftime.
Chicago State held the ball for 9:44 in a scoreless third quarter, with Pannell completing 7 of 9 passes for 68 yards and the offense converting 3 of 5 third downs. The Cougars' 17-play, 71-yard drive included a fourth-down conversion at the Butler 12, but it ended on downs at the 1, and Butler remained ahead 30-14 entering the fourth.
CSU's fourth-quarter production came largely through Pannell's passing, as he completed 4 of 5 throws for 81 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown to Edmonds, while the ground game totaled nine yards. Butler rushed for 136 yards in the quarter, scored 10 points off turnovers and outscored the Cougars 17-6 to close out a 47-20 final.
Edmonds rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown on nine carries and caught three passes for 74 yards and another score. Pannell completed 16 of 26 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns and added 43 rushing yards on 13 carries.
Michael Johnson led CSU with nine tackles.
Jayden Earley recorded eight tackles and a sack.
Up next, CSU football team hosts Norfolk State University on Saturday, Sept. 26, at SeatGeek Stadium in Chicago, Illinois.
