INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — In a stunning upset that defied statistical models and betting lines, the undefeated Presbyterian Blue Hose weathered a relentless ground assault from Butler’s Reagan Andrew to escape Saint Vincent Field with a 31-25 victory on Saturday.

The Blue Hose, entering the game as nine-point underdogs, improved to 5-0, while the Bulldogs fell to 4-2. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a comfortable 42-21 win for Butler, giving the home team an 82 percent probability of victory. Instead, it was Presbyterian’s efficiency and explosive plays that secured the win.

Presbyterian quarterback Collin Hurst, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound sophomore from Davie, Florida, was the model of precision. He completed 12 of 16 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns, adding 3 rushing yards on three carries. His counterpart, Butler’s Reagan Andrew, put on a spectacular individual display, amassing 115 rushing yards and a touchdown on 31 carries while completing 20 of 33 passes for 195 yards.

The game began at a blistering pace for the visitors. Presbyterian needed just over two minutes to find the end zone on their opening drive. Hurst orchestrated a four-play, 75-yard march, capped by a 14-yard touchdown pass to Cincere Gill. The drive was fueled by a 36-yard burst from running back Justin Montgomery.

Butler responded with a methodical 17-play, 77-yard drive that consumed over seven minutes of clock. Andrew was the engine, carrying the ball six times on the drive, including a 9-yard scramble for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 8-7.

The Blue Hose, however, immediately answered. They marched 75 yards in just five plays, with Zach Switzer plunging in from 8 yards out to extend the lead to 15-7 as the first quarter ended.

The second quarter became a battle for field position and points. Butler’s Ryan Short connected on a 33-yard field goal to make it 15-10. Presbyterian’s Jett Jackson responded with a 38-yard kick of his own to push the lead back to eight points.

Just before halftime, a pivotal special teams error by Presbyterian gave Butler new life. BJ Atkins fumbled a punt, which was recovered by Butler’s Mason Armstrong at the Presbyterian 20 with 48 seconds left. Two plays later, Griffin Caldwell took a handoff 14 yards for a touchdown. The Bulldogs failed on a two-point conversion attempt, sending the teams to the locker room with Presbyterian leading 18-16.

The third quarter was a defensive struggle, dominated by long, time-consuming drives from Butler. The Bulldogs opened the half with a 16-play, 59-yard drive that resulted in a 25-yard Short field goal, giving Butler its first and only lead of the game at 19-18.

After the teams traded punts, Butler threatened again early in the fourth quarter, driving to the Presbyterian 8-yard line. The drive stalled, and Short was true from 37 yards out, extending the Bulldogs’ lead to 22-18 with 11:11 remaining.

The Blue Hose’s offense, dormant for much of the second half, awoke in spectacular fashion. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Hurst found tight end Nathan Levicki over the middle. Levicki broke free and raced 75 yards for a touchdown, instantly reclaiming the lead for Presbyterian at 25-22.

Butler’s next drive ended in a punt, giving the ball back to Presbyterian with 5:27 left on the clock. The Blue Hose then iced the game with a masterful, clock-killing drive. They ran 12 plays, covering 75 yards and draining all but 55 seconds from the clock. Switzer, who finished with 75 rushing yards and two touchdowns, capped the drive with a 3-yard score, his second of the day, to make it 31-22.

Montgomery was the workhorse on the final drive, carrying the ball five times for 48 yards, including a 37-yard scamper that set up the scoring play. He finished with a game-high 134 rushing yards on 10 carries.

Butler mounted a frantic final drive, moving from its own 21 to the Presbyterian 24 in just 35 seconds, aided by completions of 19 yards to Michael Nix and another 19 to Luke Jones. With 10 seconds left, Short kicked his fourth field goal of the day, a 41-yarder, to make the score 31-25.

The ensuing onside kick was recovered by Presbyterian, and Hurst took a knee to seal the improbable victory.

Presbyterian’s defense, while yielding 466 total yards to Butler, came up with critical stops in the red zone and forced the Bulldogs to settle for field goals on multiple promising drives. The Blue Hose offense was ruthlessly efficient, scoring touchdowns on three of their four trips into the red zone.

Butler’s Caldwell complemented Andrew’s huge day with 46 rushing yards and a touchdown on six carries. Nick Munson was Andrew’s primary receiver, catching five passes for 59 yards.

Presbyterian will look to maintain its perfect record next Saturday when it hosts Stetson. Butler will aim to rebound on the road at Dayton.