Crusaders Travel To Play Austin Peay Saturday
Tuesday, September 9, 2003
VALPARAISO (1-1) at AUSTIN PEAY (0-2)

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 13 - 1 p.m. CDT
WHERE: Governors Stadium, Clarksville, Tenn.

RADIO: 95.1 (WVUR-FM) - Andy Viano and Brent Whitlock announcing.

TV: (tape-delay) - Comcast Cable - Channel 43 in Valparaiso - Dick Harlan announcing.

THE COACHES: Valparaiso is guided by Tom Horne, who is 55-92-1 in his 15th season at Valpo. Austin Peay is led by Carroll McCray, who is 0-2 in his 1st season at Austin Peay.

SERIES RECORD: Tied 2-2
LAST MEETING: 2002 - Austin Peay won 28-24

LAST WEEK: Valpo defeated Wisconsin Lutheran, 33-13, last Saturday in Valparaiso. Austin Peay lost to Campbellsville, 17-14, last Saturday in Clarksville, Tennessee.

WHAT'S NEXT: Valpo hosts Saint Francis (PA) on Sat., Sept. 20 at noon.

Fresh off its first win of the season, Valpo (1-1) will travel to Clarksville, Tenn. to oppose Austin Peay (0-2) on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Crusaders defeated Wisconsin Lutheran 33-13 last Saturday in the home opener. In its home opener, Austin Peay fell to Campbellsville 17-14.

RUSHIN' REID: In last Saturday's victory, Nick Reid rushed for 130 yards and one touchdown. Reid, a junior from Orlando, Fla./Arizona Western College, averaged 8.1 yards per carry on 16 attempts. The 6'0", 252-pound tailback scampered for 98 yards on nine attempts in the second half.

MACCHI'S BACK: David Macchi, who rewrote Valpo's single-season passing record book in 2002, threw for 263 yards and one touchdown against Wisconsin Lutheran. A senior from San Jose, Cal./Willow Glen, Macchi completed 19 of 28 passes with no interceptions. He found his passing rhythm on two consecutive touchdown drives in the first half, completing 8 of 9 aerials for 100 yards. Macchi capped off the second scoring drive with a two-yard touchdown run. In the second half, the 5'10", 182-pounder connected with Rob Giancola for a 60-yard scoring strike to give the Crusaders a nine-point lead with 12:37 remaining.

GOOD HANDS TRIO: Macchi's production on Saturday was aided by the talented receiving trio of Kevin Knutson, Ryan Barno and Giancola. Knutson, a junior from River Falls, Wis./HS, led Valpo with 7 receptions for 98 yards last Saturday. Barno (Milwaukee, Wis./Marquette) added 4 catches for 44 yards and Giancola (Whiting, Ind./HS) snagged 2 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown.

TSAHAS, CANADA LEAD PLAYMAKING DEFENSE: Two seniors - John Tsahas and Lawrence Canada - have led the early-season charge on the defensive side of the ball. Tsahas, a strong safety from Lake Station, Ind./Edison, made the biggest defensive play against Wisconsin Lutheran, intercepting a pass at Valpo's 40-yard line with the Crusaders protecting a 16-13 lead. Macchi found Giancola on the very next play for the 60-yard touchdown. Tsahas also made 3 pass breakups and 4 tackles. Canada, a middle linebacker from Mequon, Wis./Lane College, topped the Crusaders in tackles for the second straight game, recording 9 stops , including 2 for losses. Through games of Sept. 6, Canada ranks 7th in the PFL with 9.0 tackles per game.

VALPO #1 IN RUSH DEFENSE, RED ZONE OFFENSE: The Crusaders' stingy rush defense leads the PFL, allowing just 62.5 yards per game on the ground. Valpo's offense is also the best in the league inside the red zone, converting all four opportunities (2 TDs,2 FGs).

BARNO TOPS PFL IN PUNT RETURNS: Senior Ryan Barno leads the PFL in punt return average (10.8 ypr./4 ret.).

"Valparaiso University Football", head coach Tom Horne's TV Show, airs Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. on Channel 43 in Valpo.

A LOOK AT AUSTIN PEAY:

The Governors (0-2), under first-year coach Carroll McCray, have had two heartbreaking defeats thus far. Austin Peay fell to full-scholarship Tennessee-Martin 21-20 in the season opener before dropping its home opener to Campbellsville 17-14 last Saturday. A pair of sophomores, quarterback Jesse Kellogg and split end Pat Curran, have been very productive. Kellogg has completed 28 of 64 passes for 402 yards and 4 TDs (1 int.). Curran, a 6'3", 215-pounder, has made 11 receptions for 159 yards and 1 TD. Justin Henry, a senior, tops the Governors with 101 rushing yards on 23 carries. Middle linebacker Andy Zachariasen leads the PFL in tackles (24), while end Joe Bell is the PFL sack leader (4).