INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — In a stunning upset that defied statistical projections, the undefeated Presbyterian Blue Hose remained perfect on the season by outlasting the Butler Bulldogs 31 to 25 in a nonconference football game Saturday at Saint Vincent Field.

Presbyterian, which entered the game as a nine-point underdog and was given just an 18 percent chance to win by one analytics system, improved to 5-0. Butler fell to 4-2.

The game was a tale of explosive plays from Presbyterian’s offense against a methodical, ground-based attack from Butler that ultimately came up short. Blue Hose quarterback Collin Hurst, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound sophomore from Davie, Florida, was remarkably efficient, completing 12 of 16 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also ran for a score.

Hurst orchestrated a near-perfect opening drive, capping it with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Cincere Gill to give Presbyterian an early lead. The Blue Hose offense struck again before the first quarter ended, with running back Zach Switzer plunging in from 8 yards out to extend the lead to 15-0.

Butler, unable to find its footing early, finally responded with a marathon 17-play, 77-yard drive that consumed over seven minutes of the first quarter. The drive was kept alive by a Presbyterian face mask penalty and was finished by Bulldogs quarterback Reagan Andrew, who scrambled for a 9-yard touchdown.

The second quarter was a battle for field position. Butler kicker Ryan Short connected on a 33-yard field goal, and Presbyterian’s Jett Jackson answered with a 38-yard kick of his own. Just before halftime, Butler’s Griffin Caldwell broke free for a 14-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 18-16 at the break after a failed two-point conversion attempt.

The third quarter saw only a 25-yard field goal from Short, bringing Butler to within 18-19 and setting up a tense final period.

Any momentum Butler had built was instantly erased on the first play of the fourth quarter. On first down from his own 25, Hurst found tight end Nathan Levicki on a short pass that turned into a back-breaking 75-yard touchdown, giving Presbyterian a 25-19 lead after the extra point.

Butler responded with another drive into Presbyterian territory, resulting in Short’s fourth field goal of the day, this one from 37 yards, to make it 25-22.

Presbyterian then embarked on a clock-draining, 11-play drive that sealed the victory. Switzer, who finished with 75 yards on the ground, capped the drive with his second touchdown, a 3-yard run with just under a minute remaining.

Butler mounted a frantic final drive in the closing seconds, advancing to the Presbyterian 24-yard line with 10 seconds left. Out of timeouts, the Bulldogs spiked the ball to stop the clock and then sent Short out for a 41-yard field goal, which he made as time expired. The ensuing onside kick was recovered by Presbyterian to end the game.

While Hurst’s efficiency was key for Presbyterian, the Blue Hose ground game was dominant. Justin Montgomery rushed for 134 yards on just 10 carries, repeatedly breaking off long runs to keep drives alive.

Butler’s offense was led by the dynamic play of quarterback Reagan Andrew. The 5-foot-7, 190-pound sophomore from St. Louis, Missouri, was a workhorse, completing 20 of 33 passes for 195 yards and carrying the ball 31 times for 115 yards and a touchdown. Griffin Caldwell added 46 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs.

The Blue Hose will look to continue their perfect season next Saturday when they host Stetson. Butler will travel to face Dayton.