GAME NOTES | YOUTUBE | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
 
INDIANAPOLIS – The final home game of the 2019 season will be played at the Sellick Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 16 when Butler hosts Valparaiso at 12 PM. Senior day activities will take place before the game, approximately 30 minutes before kick-off.
 
Bulldog Talk
- Drew Bevelhimer hit a 27-yard field goal vs. Davidson. It was his eighth make of the season and the 44th of his BU career.
- Nick Orlando's 18-yard TD run vs. Davidson was his eighth rushing TD of the year.
- Orlando rushed for a career-high 107 yards against the Wildcats; his first 100-yard game of his BU career.
- Johnny O'Shea was the only BU wide receiver to catch a pass vs. Davidson. He ended the game with 50 yards.
- Graham Toole will be a primary kick returner in the final home game of the 2019 season.
- Toole had two kick returns vs. Davidson for 52 yards. His longest covered 33 yards.
- Bradley Magee had a tackle for loss last Saturday; his second of the season.
- Butler blocked two extra points vs. Davidson.
- Butler's first drive of the game vs. Davidson used 19 plays to cover 60 yards (9:56).
- Butler rushed the ball 12 times on the opening possession and passed six times before the FG.
 
SCOUTING VALPARAISO: The Crusaders are 1-9 overall with their lone victory coming over Stetson on Oct. 26. A sound defensive effort allowed Valpo to record a 19-10 win over the Hatters. The Crusaders trailed 10-3 after the first, but would not allow another point to secure their first win of the 2019 season. Chris Duncan leads the offensive attack for first-year head coach Landon Fox. Duncan split time with Jimmy Seewald last year, but has taken a bulk of the snaps during the 2019 campaign. He ranks seventh in the PFL in passing yards per game (145.2) and sixth in total offense. The offense is only averaging 15.2 points per game so Coach Fox will lean on his defense to keep the contest close. Fox spent the last 11 years at Dayton as the program's defensive coordinator. Three players have flourished under his direction. Jamari Booker ranks second in the PFL in tackles (87) and is tied for first in the league with four interceptions. Trejuan Purty is near the league lead in sacks with three and Nick Turner tries to live in the backfield with a team-high 8.5 tackles for loss.
 
Valpo ranks last in the PFL in scoring offense (15.2) and total offense (247.3). They rank fifth in both rushing defense (201.2) and pass defense (192.9)
 
ALL-TIME SERIES: Butler leads the all-time series over Valpo 50-27. The Crusaders have won two-straight heading into Saturday. It marked the first time Butler had dropped two-straight to their rival since 2004-2005.
 
Butler won 13-straight games against Valparaiso from 1981-1993. Valpo's best streak came from 1994-2000 with seven-straight.
 
LAST YEAR VS. VALPARAISO: Valparaiso outscored Butler 14-0 in the fourth quarter to secure a 35-17 victory at Brown Field. The Crusaders scored two first quarter touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead, but the Bulldogs countered with two passing touchdowns in the second to tie the game at half 14-14. A 97-yard kickoff return would swing the momentum back to Valpo after halftime and two rushing TD's over the final 15 minutes of action would lead Valpo to victory.
 
Brad Sznajder led Butler with 79 rushing yards in the setback. Luke Sennett highlighted the defense with a team-high 15 tackles and one interception.
 
HOOSIER HELMET TROPHY: The Hoosier Helmet Trophy was created to commemorate and intensify the long-standing rivalry between Butler and Valparaiso. The first game was played in 1927 with BU winning 58-0. The two programs have played each year since 1951.
 
OVER/UNDER: Butler's defense has allowed 35.6 points per game to the opposition this season, but the Crusaders only average 15.2 points per game.
 
Butler's defense allowed a season-low 14 points at the Sellick Bowl in their win over Jacksonville on Oct. 26.
 
BIG GAMES BY BULLDOGS: Nick Orlando recorded his first 100-yard rushing performance for BU last weekend, gaining 107 yards on 19 carries. Brad Sznajder leads Butler with two 100-yard outings. He rushed for 114 yards in the win over Indiana Wesleyan and a season-high 150 yards in the win over Jacksonville.
 
The only 100-yard receiving game by a Bulldog this year belongs to Stephen Dennis. He caught five passes for 106 yards and one TD at Stetson.
 
TRIPLE THREAT: Brad Sznajder, Nick Orlando and Kavon Samuels are all averaging over four yards per carry in 2019. Sznajder is responsible for nearly half of the rushing attempts this season. He typically takes a handoff 16 times per game.
 
Sznajder heads into Saturday with 397 career rushing attempts for 1963 yards.
 
ONE MORE: Drew Bevelhimer has hit 99 extra points in his Bulldog career, helping him score 231 total points during his time on campus (44 FG, 99 PAT).
 
Bevelhimer ranks second all-time at Butler in scoring (231).
 
UP NEXT: Butler will end the 2019 season with a road game at Dayton on Saturday, Nov. 23. Kick-off is scheduled for 1PM.
 
Dayton leads the all-time series vs. Butler 31-12-1. The Flyers have won the last five meetings.