Second Straight Rally Falls Just Shy in One-Score, Season-Closing Setback

Second Straight Rally Falls Just Shy in One-Score, Season-Closing Setback

A week after a miraculous win from 24-0 down that marked the largest rally in program history, the Valparaiso University football team put together a valiant comeback effort yet again, scoring 13 unanswered, fourth-quarter points but falling shy in a 27-20 setback to arch rival Butler at the Sellick Bowl in Indianapolis in the annual Battle for the Hoosier Helmet. The offense had to work for their points as the scoring drives went 97 and 99 yards, while the defense made two interceptions and had a goal-line stand to force a turnover on downs.  

How It Happened

• Butler received the opening kickoff and put together a scoring drive that finished with QB Reagan Andrew completing an 8-yard touchdown pass to Griffin Caldwell with 10:36 left in the first quarter to make it 7-0 Bulldogs.
• The Beacons took over on their own 3-yard line after the kickoff, and went 97 yards on just five plays on a game-tying scoring drive. The big play of the drive was an 80-yard run by redshirt junior quarterback Rowan Keefe (Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South), and then Keefe connected with redshirt freshman Ryan Ricketti (Rocky River, Ohio / Rocky River) for a four-yard touchdown to make it 7-7 with 7:21 left in the first.
• Late in the first quarter and on the first play of the second quarter, Valpo’s defense put together an impressive goal-line stand. It was second-and-goal from the 1-yard line and the Bulldogs were stonewalled on three straight plays to force a turnover on downs.
• After a short punt by the Beacons, Butler took advantage of a short field with a quick four-play, 35-yard scoring drive that finished with QB Passini rushing it in from four yards out.
• The Beacons lost a fumble to give Butler favorable field position again, but the defense limited the Bulldogs to a field goal from 25 yards out that made it 17-7 with 7:30 left in the second.
• A key 56-yard punt by Nate Hillenburg (Indianapolis, Ind. / Cathedral [Cornell]) pinned Butler at its own 3, but a 45-yard run by Caldwell and 49-yard pass to Jasey in succession put Butler in the end zone, lifting the lead to 24-7 with 3:37 left in the half. The Bulldogs tacked on a 32-yard field goal to make it 27-7 at the break.
• Valpo began to move the ball, but lost a fumble near midfield on its first drive of the second half. The teams exchanged punts for much of the third quarter until Nic Lendino (Naperville, Ill. / Neuqua Valley) made an interception at the Valpo 1-yard line with 2:10 left in the third.
• After a 95-yard TD drive late in last week’s game and a 97-yard TD drive earlier in this game, Valpo outdid itself yet again with a 99-yard scoring drive. Keefe was sharp in the series, as most of the damage came through the air including a 13-yard touchdown to Devin Yeats (Hampshire, Ill. / Hampshire). The PAT was blocked, but Valpo was still within two scores at 27-13 with 11:55 to play.
• The Valpo defense forced a turnover for the second straight possession as Lendino put pressure on the quarterback, and the ball was intercepted by defensive lineman Antony Morris (Cincinnati, Ohio / St. Xavier), to give the Beacons possession with 6:51 left in the fourth chasing two scores.
• Keefe had another big drive, leading an eight-play, 68-yard effort that finished with Colin Hayes (Bloomington, Ill. / Bloomington Central Catholic) making a 7-yard touchdown grab to shrink the deficit to seven at 27-20 with 2:59 left.
• Passin ran the ball with success on Butler’s next drive, and then Loss narrowly converted a first down on third-and-1 from the 10 with 1:05 remaining to send Butler into victory formation. Valpo challenged the spot of the ball on the first down, but the call was upheld upon review and the rally fell short as the Hoosier Helmet rivalry trophy remained in Indianapolis.

Inside the Game

• Lendino had a huge day, as he was credited with 13 tackles to go along with the interception. He finished the season with 86 tackles and a team-high three interceptions, lifting his career interception number to five and his tackle total to 141. The 13 tackles marked a career high, eclipsing 12 from Oct. 4 at Drake.
• Junior Mark Johnson (Nashville, Tenn. / Lipscomb Academy) joined Lendino with a double-figure tackle total as he was credited with 10. The 10 stops marked a season high and tied a career high set last season at Marist.
• Redshirt freshman Anthony Feltrinelli (Westfield, Ind. / Westfield) had seven tackles in the finale to finish the season with an even 100, leading the team.
• Keefe went 18-of-28 through the air for 184 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Keefe completed 17 passes or more in each of the final four games of the season, had multiple passing touchdowns in each of the final three contests, and tied a career high with the three passing TDs against the Bulldogs.  
• Keefe also served as the team’s leading rusher as he had 10 carries for 78 yards.
• Yeats, Ricketti and Hayes all hauled in touchdown passes. Yeats had the third of his career, all this season. Ricketti also had his third career score, all this season, and for Hayes, it was his second.
• Yeats snagged a team-high six receptions for 73 yards. He had career highs in both receiving yards and receptions in Saturday’s season finale.
• Morris’ interception was the first of his career.
• Hillenburg averaged 43.2 yards per punt on five attempts with a long of 56.
• Valpo had 184 passing yards to Butler’s 156, but the Bulldogs outgained the Beacons on the ground 291-173.
• Valpo fell to 1-3 on the season in one-score games. Seven of Butler’s eight league games were decided by one score.
• Seven of the last eight Hoosier Helmet rivalry games have been decided by 10 points or fewer including each of the last four dropped by the Beacons, three of them one-score games. 

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