Fans got their first look at the present while members of both the future and past looked on as the Valparaiso University football program held its annual spring game on Saturday afternoon at Brown Field.
 
With alumni, graduating seniors and incoming freshmen all in attendance, current members of the program put the finishing touches on the first spring under head coach Andy Waddle with a game between the "Brown" and "White" teams that White won 9-7.
 
After the teams exchanged punts on their opening drives, junior Max Samuel (Edina, Minn. / Edina) brought down the Brown quarterback in the end zone for a safety, giving the White team a 2-0 edge. The teams again exchanged punts as the 2-0 score held through one quarter.
 
Early in the second quarter, White made another big defensive play as redshirt sophomore Nic Lendino (Naperville, Ill. / Neuqua Valley) came up with an interception to give White the ball at the Brown 39-yard line. A holding penalty set White behind the sticks on the ensuing possession, but on third-and-11, sophomore quarterback Caron Tyler (Temecula, Calif. / Chaparral) connected with redshirt sophomore wide receiver Micah Mackay (Zionsville, Ind. / Lutheran) for a 25-yard touchdown. After redshirt sophomore kicker Liam Shepherd (Valparaiso, Ind. / Valparaiso [Ball State]) sent the extra point through the uprights, White owned a 9-0 lead.
 
The next drive for Brown started with redshirt freshman Ryan Ricketti (Rocky River, Ohio / Rocky River) hauling in a 19-yard reception from redshirt junior quarterback Rowan Keefe (Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South). After the next first down on that drive came via penalty, Amir Simmons (Baltimore, Md. / Gahanna Lincoln) ran for another Brown first down at the White 30-yard line. Back-to-back Brown sacks by redshirt freshman Nick Johnsen (Highland, Ind. / Highland) and Shawn Fester (Stevens, Pa. / Cocalico [Lebanon Valley]) snuffed out the drive, then a field-goal attempt was missed wide left.
 
The Brown defense got another stop to keep the deficit at nine, then redshirt junior Chris Gundy (Smithfield, Va. / Smithfield) hauled in a pass from Keefe for a gain of 19 to the White 15-yard line. Brown got on the board when Keefe hooked up with redshirt freshman Jacob Diver (Bradenton, Fla. / IMC) for a 15-yard touchdown. Redshirt freshman Luke Scoma (Bellevue, Wash. / Bellevue) followed with the extra point to make it 9-7, which was the score going into halftime.
 
A big run by redshirt freshman Noah Long (Liberty Hill, Texas / Liberty Hill) helped Brown reach the red zone early in the second half, but that drive resulted in a missed field goal.
 
Brown redshirt sophomore Nick Beidl (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) had a tackle on fourth-and-inches to help keep the deficit at two. Later in the half, White redshirt sophomore Marty O'Keeffe (Orland Park, Ill. / Brother Rice) made a catch from Tyler for a big gain to the Brown 31, but the Brown defense eventually forced a turnover on downs on that drive. Late in the fourth quarter, White redshirt freshman Wyatt Little (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead) made an interception at the White 36, helping White preserve the two-point victory.
 
The 2025 season will kick off on Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Virginia Lynchburg at Brown Field.