The Hoosier Helmet rivalry game took fans and players alike on a rollercoaster of emotions that we've come to anticipate from the Pioneer Football League's only instate rivalry. Despite a strong defensive effort against a team that entered the day with a PFL-best scoring average of 37.8 points per game that ranked sixth nationally, the Valparaiso University football team fell 24-17 to arch rival Butler on Saturday afternoon at Brown Field. Valpo had the ball in Butler territory with hopes of assembling a game-tying (or even go-ahead) scoring drive in the closing minutes, but a turnover sealed the deal in gut-wrenching fashion.
 
How It Happened

• The Valpo defense appeared to make its second straight stop to start the game against one of the top offenses in FCS as the Bulldogs faced fourth-and-6 from their own 35. After an offside penalty with Butler lined up to punt, the Bulldogs elected to go for it, and that drive eventually resulted in the game's first score, a 1-yard touchdown run by Nick Howard to cap an 11-play, 80-yard journey.
• The guests added a 41-yard field goal early in the second quarter to extend the lead to 10-0.
• The Beacons picked up a key takeaway when Colin Graves (Seattle, Wash. / Bishop Blanchet) forced a fumble and Kevin Spelman (New Lenox, Ill. / Providence Catholic) recovered at the Butler 43 with 9:27 left in the second quarter. That play set up a quick four-play scoring strike that saw Valpo – facing third-and-five – connect on a 33-yard TD pass from quarterback Caron Tyler (Temecula, Calif. / Chaparral) to freshman Gary Givens III (Tampa, Fla. / Jesuit), making it 10-7.
• Butler had a response, as the ensuing drive went 78 yards on seven plays and culminated with a 1-yard plunge by Reagan Andrew to make it 17-7.
• Valpo moved the ball on the final drive of the half, as Tyler hit Givens for 24 yards and Chris Gundy (Smithfield, Va. / Smithfield) for 17 to account for the two big plays. Ryan Hawk (Columbus, Ohio / Bishop Hartley) eventually drilled a field goal to shrink the lead to seven at 17-10 at the half.
• Valpo went for it on fourth-and-2 from the Butler 35 on the opening drive of the second half, but turned it over on downs. Both defenses continued to shine as the two teams exchanged punts for the rest of a scoreless third quarter.
• Butler's Joey Sucha broke free for a 36-yard TD run on fourth-and-2 from the Valpo 36 early in the fourth, building the lead to 24-10 with 12:15 to play.
• Another big play to Givens – this time for 36 yards – gave Valpo a boost on its next drive. Michael Mansaray (Columbus, Ohio / Westerville South [South Dakota]) finished that series by bulldozing into the end zone from five yards out to make it a one-score game at 24-17.
• With just over five minutes left in the fourth, Butler attempted a 44-yard field goal that would have extended the lead to two possessions. Onye Nowosisi (Indianapolis, Ind. / Cardinal Ridge [Muskingum]) blocked the kick, keeping hope alive for the Beacons.
• A pair of big rushes from Tyler – one for 11 yards and the other for nine – helped Valpo push the ball into Butler territory with under two minutes remaining. Then, an unforced fumble gave the Bulldogs possession of the football, and possession of the Hoosier Helmet rivalry trophy.  

Inside the Game

• This marked the 29^th one-score game of Landon Fox's head coaching regime and fourth against Butler.  
• Givens hauled in three catches for 96 yards, while Gundy had three for 42. Tyler went 8-of-16 through the air for 158 yards and a touchdown.
• Mansaray totaled 82 rushing yards and one score on 23 carries.
• Fifth-year senior Sam Johnson (Birmingham, Ala. / Oak Mountain [Jackson State / Alabama]) averaged 47.2 yards per punt on five attempts.
• Junior Jeffery Vercher (Nashville, Tenn. / Franklin Road Academy) had two kick returns for 62 yards with a long of 37.
• Redshirt junior Ryan Hawk (Columbus, Ohio / Bishop Hartley) made his only field-goal try, went 2-for-2 on PATs and had two of his four kickoffs go for touchbacks. He is 10-for-13 on field goals this season and 14-of-20 in his career. He is one made field goal away from cracking the program's single-season top five. Hawk is a perfect 13-for-13 on PATs this year.
• Redshirt junior Jake Birmingham (River Forest, Ill. / Oak Park and River Forest) boasted a career-high 12 tackles to lead the team, followed by Max Franco (La Habra, Calif. / La Habra) with nine and Sam Hafner (Green Bay, Wis. / De Pere) with eight. Franco's total marked the second highest of his career and highest since Oct. 15, 2022, also vs. Butler. Birmingham's tackle total was the highest by a Beacon since Will Abrams (13) on Oct. 28, 2023 at Butler.
• Graves had his first career forced fumble, Spelman had his first career fumble recovery and Nwosisi notched his second blocked kick of the season.
• Mansaray's rushing touchdown was his seventh of the year, while Givens had the second TD grab of his rookie campaign.
• Valpo went 9-of-16 on third down.
• Only four combined penalty flags were thrown in the contest, two against each team.

Postgame Press Conference
Click here for postgame press conference.
 
Up Next
Valpo (3-6, 1-5 PFL) will play the final road game of the 2024 season on Saturday, Nov. 16 at Dayton at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on Facebook Live with links to live video, audio and stats available on ValpoAthletics.com.