VALPARAISO, IND. – Butler, coming off its highest scoring performance of the season, managed just a single field goal and dropped a 17-3 decision to host Valparaiso at Brown Field on Saturday, Nov. 8.  The setback cost the Bulldogs the Hoosier Helmet Trophy and a shot at a winning season.

The Crusaders (3-7, 1-5 Pioneer Football League), who had not claimed the Hoosier Helmet rivalry trophy since 2007, scored the game's only two touchdowns in the second quarter.  Quarterback Ben Lehman hit Spencer Pennington with a four-yard scoring pass just six seconds into the second period and then found Tony Taibi with a 24-yard touchdown pass just over six minutes later.

The two scores proved to be the final margin.

Butler cut the lead to 14-3 on a 26-yard field goal by Jon Treloar on the final play of the first half.  But that was all the points the Bulldogs (4-6, 2-5 PFL) could muster.  Valparaiso added a 25-yard, Jacob Newman field goal in the fourth quarter for the final margin.

The Bulldogs, coming off a 62-point performance in a victory over Morehead State just one week earlier, only crossed the Valparaiso 20-yard line once in the game, and that drive ended with Treloar's field goal.  Butler ended the game with just 77 rushing yards and 263 total yards.

Running back Sam Schrader, who scored four touchdowns against Morehead State and was named PFL Offensive Player of the Week, was limited to just 43 rushing yards on 10 carries.  Quarterback Malcolm Weaver completed 17 of 37 passes for 186 yards, but he was sacked three times and he gave up a pass interception that led to Valparaiso's first touchdown.

Senior Derek O'Connor led Butler's pass receivers with six catches for 64 yards.

Sean Horan led Butler's defensive effort, which limited Valparaiso to just over 100 yards after intermission.  The Butler linebacker finished with a game-high 11 tackles.  Teammate Jacob Balder added nine stops and came up with a pass interception.

Butler will close out the 2014 season at home against Dayton on Saturday, Nov. 15.  The game, which will be the final home contest for Butler's seniors, will have a special 11 a.m. (ET) start time at the Butler Bowl.