Box Score The Valparaiso University football team scored to grab the lead on a dramatic 3-yard touchdown run by Dawaiian McNeely (Ceres, Calif. / Central Catholic [Wyoming]) with 1:25 remaining on Saturday night at Brown Field, but Adrian battled back with a late touchdown of its own with 26 seconds on the clock and eventually pulled down a game-ending interception to beat the Beacons 10-7.
 
How It Happened

• The Valpo defense notched an early turnover when Gabriel Batres (Fairfield, Calif. / Angelo Rodriguez) forced a fumble and De'Andre Wilborn (Chicago, Ill. / Westinghouse [Georgetown]) recovered at the Valpo 44 with 9:03 left in the opening quarter.
• The Bulldogs responded with a takeaway of their own as that Valpo drive ended with an interception. The Valpo defense forced a three-and-out and a punt, and the game was scoreless through one quarter.
• The teams exchanged punts early in the second quarter. Midway through the period, the Beacons drove into the redzone, but were stopped on fourth-and-1
• The Bulldogs converted a pair of fourth downs on their next possession, eventually getting on the board when Jack Boike nailed a 33-yard field goal with 41 seconds to go in the half.
• Adrian received the ball to start the second half and converted one fourth-down try before being stopped on fourth-and-1 at the Valpo 9.
• The Bulldogs added to their takeaway total with an interception and forced fumble in the third quarter, but the Beacon defense stood tall and kept it 3-0 through three.
• Valpo's first possession of the fourth quarter ended with a lost fumble. Adrian's ensuing drive finished with a missed field goal.
• The Beacons put together their best drive of the day. Quarterback Rowan Keefe (Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South) connected with Jay Melchiori (Marengo, Ohio / Highland [Marietta]) for passes of 12 and 15 yards while McNeely had a rush of 18. Ryan Ricketti (Rocky River, Ohio / Rocky River) also had a big catch on third down that kept the drive going. Eventually, McNeely plunged into the end zone from three yards out, and Luke Scoma (Bellevue, Wash. / Bellevue) tacked on the extra point to make it 7-3 in favor of the Beacons with 1:20 to go.
• Adrian completed passes of 30, 20 and 26 yards in succession, the third of those going for a touchdown with 26 seconds on the clock, putting the Bulldogs ahead 10-7.
• Melchiori hauled in a 34-yard grab to move the ball to the Adrian 43, but an interception concluded the contest.

Inside the Game

• The team's top tackler was Anthony Feltrinelli (Westfield, Ind. / Westfield), who racked up 14 including six solos. Nic Lendino (Naperville, Ill. / Neuqua Valley) added eight tackles, while Wilborn had 2.5 tackles for loss. The last Valpo player with more than 14 tackles in a game was Jake Birmingham on Nov. 16 of last season at Dayton (15).
• This was Valpo's first loss by three points or fewer since Oct. 14, 2023, a 24-21 setback vs. Morehead State.
• Redshirt freshman Noah Long (Liberty Hill, Texas / Liberty Hill) had 11 carries for 57 yards to lead a short-handed Beacons team, which played without star running back Michael Mansaray due to an injury.
• McNeely's touchdown was his second of the season and the fourth of his collegiate career.
• The Beacons moved the ball and punted just twice, but five turnovers were the biggest bugaboo, the team's most since Sept. 9, 2023 against Indiana Wesleyan (6).
• Melchiori, Ricketti and Chris Gundy (Smithfield, Va. / Smithfield) had four catches apiece with Melchiori's 66 receiving yards marking a team high.
• Keefe went 15-of-19 through the air for 153 yards, tying his career high for completions in a game set on Nov. 4, 2023 vs. Dayton.
• This marked Valpo's fewest points allowed in a loss since also falling 10-7 on Sept. 28, 1996 at San Diego.

Postgame Press Conference
Click here for postgame press conference.
 
Up Next
Valpo (1-1) will hit the road for the first time this season next Saturday by visiting Western Illinois for a 6 p.m. kickoff in Macomb, Ill. The game will air on ESPN+.