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Weber State running back Davion Godley (25) picks up yards against Butler on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.

ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Weber State's Bird Butler, top, leaps over Butler University's Mason Armstrong (2) during a punt return on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.

ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Fans of the run game were happy to be at Stewart Stadium on Saturday to see Weber State host Butler.

Davion Godley rushed for 193 yards on 19 carries to lead Weber State to a 38-24 victory, capping his performance on a 52-yard run with 5 minutes left and setting up WSU’s final, insurance-building touchdown.

“We had great blocks, great holes, and as soon as I hit one, I hit it, went vertical, got whatever I got,” Godley explained about what went well when the offense was working. “Later as the game goes, it breaks for longer as they get tired.”

Those 193 yards led the FCS nationally, according to a list compiled by Hero Sports writer Sam Herder.

Butler quarterback Gabe Passini was not far behind; he took over most of the signal-calling duties late in the first quarter with Butler’s offense doing almost nothing. Passini’s legs kept the game competitive, and his 175 yards were fourth-most nationally at the FCS level.

Godley, a sophomore, recorded a career-high with his performance and his first 100-yard game this season. He had one 100-yard game as a freshman last season (109 against Idaho State) and flirted with it two more times (97 at Montana, 92 against Cal Poly).

Godley ran for nearly 100 yards in the first quarter against Butler before WSU slowed down, especially in the second half.

“They played their safeties lower; I’ve got to do a better job of taking advantage of throwing the football vertically and putting our guys in better situations,” head coach Mickey Mental said.

NEW GUYS IN SPOTLIGHT

Saturday’s game saw three young players step into the spotlight for the first time. Sophomore receiver AJ Jayroe hauled in his first reception, a tough 20-yard touchdown snag; sophomore tight end Ammon Munyer had a catch-and-run, 20-yard touchdown on only his third career reception; and redshirt freshman running back Chauncey Sylvester got his first career carries, one of which was a 3-yard touchdown that helped seal the win.

“Those guys practice their butts off. They earned playing time,” Mental said. “The playcalls just gave them the ball, gave them the opportunity, and they came through. … To come up with big plays — because we needed every point, at the end of the day — it was good to see.

“Chauncey, to his credit, was ready for the moment and he seized it. So it’s a credit to those guys.”

MAKING A PLAY

Weber State spent all offseason talking about making plays when they’re available, especially when it comes to defensive takeaways.

Sophomore cornerback Ishaan Daniels did that in the waning seconds of a second quarter that saw WSU nearly blow a 27-7 lead due to giving the ball away offensively. Butler threw to the end zone on the left sideline and Daniels was first to the ball, cradling in a catch with one foot down before going out of bounds.

“Huge play by Ishaan,” Mental said. “We lose all these close games last year, so making the plays when given the opportunity to make a play — to his credit, made a heck of a play on a pick, kept the foot down, and obviously that really helped us obtain this win tonight.”

THE WORD ON BIRD

Decision-making from senior back and returner Bird Butler would be “at the forefront” this week, Mental said, after a rollercoaster performance from the energetic personality.

Butler returned five punts for 79 yards, two of which set WSU up with short fields in the first quarter. He also broke a big return late in the fourth quarter, negated by a holding flag but made up for by Godley’s 52-yard run.

WSU hadn’t fumbled the ball once this season before Saturday, and Butler put it on the turf twice. The first came on his only kickoff return, taking a chance from 8 or 9 yards deep in the end zone instead of taking a touchback, getting out near the 25 and fumbling. That gave Butler the team a 25-yard field with 1:51 left in the second half after already cutting the score to 27-17.

Bird Butler, the player, also fumbled an offensive carry in the third quarter trying to hurdle a defender near the line of scrimmage.

The first, Daniels helped clean up with his interception and the second, WSU recovered and salvaged a made Sloan Calder field goal.

“I’m going to watch the tape before I say anything on that, see what he actually did. And obviously, it’s going to get corrected,” Mental said. “Noah (Kjar) was our backup returner and him going down obviously played a big piece.”