INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — Gabe Passini threw two touchdown passes and Butler used several big plays to defeat Saint Thomas (Minn.) 41-14 in an NCAA Football Championship Division game Saturday at Saint Vincent Field. Butler improved to 8-2, while Saint Thomas (Minn.) fell to 7-3. Attendance was 3,029.

Passini, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound quarterback from Middleton, Wis., completed 13 of 23 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 11 times for 54 yards and punted twice for 88 yards. His scoring passes covered 23 yards to Nick Munson and 29 yards to Michael Nix. Passini’s play helped Butler build and protect its lead throughout the afternoon.

Butler’s rushing attack produced three touchdowns. Desmin Jackson scored on a 19-yard run, Michael Dellumo broke loose for a 67-yard touchdown and later added a 56-yard scoring run. Beck Janki made a 32-yard field goal and converted extra points. Evan Windley made a 44-yard field goal. Sam Taglia punted three times for 101 yards. Drew Sullivan caught one pass for 5 yards, Blake Matthews had two receptions for 12 yards and Gage Goralski caught one pass for 19 yards.

Saint Thomas (Minn.) scored on a 1-yard run by Nick Peipert and a 9-yard run by Anthony Policare. Peipert, a 6-foot-1, 211-pound quarterback, completed 3 of 4 passes for 29 yards and ran four times for 38 yards. Policare, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound quarterback, completed 15 of 26 passes for 152 yards and ran 10 times for 17 yards. Ben Hoiland made both extra-point attempts for the Tommies.

Policare spread the ball around to a crowded receiving group. Quentin Cobb-Butler had six receptions for 73 yards and punted five times for 187 yards. Joseph Koch added three catches for 38 yards and six carries for 11 yards. Eli Paulson had three catches for 27 yards, one kickoff return for 15 yards, two punt returns for 28 yards and one tackle. Pierce McCrary caught three passes for 20 yards. Patrick Wagner had two receptions for 14 yards, AJ Boarman had one for 17 yards, and Bryan Domino had one for 10 yards. Gabriel Abel carried nine times for 13 yards. Mordecai Ford returned three kickoffs for 46 yards. Peyton Himley had one kickoff return for 21 yards and five tackles. Aidan Macke punted twice for 54 yards. Stefano Giovannelli completed his only pass for 18 yards.

Defensively, Saint Thomas (Minn.) was led by Charlie Boucher, who made eight tackles. Nash Tichy had six tackles. Walker Owens and Ty Nielsen each made five stops. Evan Tyler recorded four tackles and a quarterback hurry, while Mitchell Schares had three tackles and a quarterback hurry. Will Seymour added three tackles. Kyle Winchester, Jaden Richberg, Sam Shaughnessy and Brent Rowe each had two tackles. Will Carlson, Rod Finley, Aidan Adamski, Rocco DiLeonardi, Bless Nyanneh, Noah Long, Bakari Edwards and Eli Paulson each made one tackle.

Butler’s defense was paced by Jackson Stratton and Okemdi Eze. Each made nine tackles. Eze added 1.5 sacks, one quarterback hurry and one interception. Tristan Johnson had six tackles. Will Beesley made four tackles. Michael Pugh II had two tackles and one sack. Tommy Diamond and Luke Green each made three tackles. Dantu Gardner Jr. had two tackles, and Ben Brandenburg had one. Stratton also recorded a quarterback hurry.

Saint Thomas (Minn.) will host Drake next before visiting Valparaiso. Butler will visit Marist before hosting Morehead State.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected Butler to win 36-35. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Butler with a 66.7 percent probability to win.