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INDIANAPOLIS – Butler will host Valparaiso in the Spring 2021 season opener. Action at the Sellick Bowl will get underway at 12 PM. Those unable to attend are encouraged to watch the game on the Butler YouTube channel.
 
Go 'Dawgs
- Butler opens the 2021 season at home for the first time since 2011 (W, 31-17 vs. Albion).
- Butler has won seven of the last 10 meetings vs. Valparaiso.
- Butler has played more games vs. Valparaiso than any other opponent in program history (78).
- BU and Valpo have met every year since 1951.
- Skyler Spetter was placed on the 2021 Preseason All-PFL Watch List.
- Butler was picked sixth in the Preseason PFL Poll.
- Nick Orlando led the team with 14 rushing touchdowns last season. He also threw one.
- Sam Brown passed for 1,293 yards last year, averaging 143.7 yards per game.
- Butler ranked third in the PFL in red zone offense last year, scoring points on 31 of their 35 trips.
- BU added 35 student-athletes to the roster with their 2020 recruiting class.
- Butler will play Valparaiso and Morehead State twice this season; Dayton and Marist each opted out of the 2021 spring campaign.
 
SCOUTING VALPARAISO: The Valparaiso Football Team had five players named to the Spring 2021 Preseason All-PFL Watch List. Wide receiver Deuce Larose, punter Ben Niesner, linebacker Jaxon Peifer, defensive end Trejuan Purty and wide receiver Ollie Reese. Chris Duncan also returns for Valpo under center. The redshirt-senior ranks in the Top 10 in program history in both passing yards and total offense.
 
Duncan is 275 yards away from becoming the eighth player in Valpo history to reach 4,000 passing yards.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES: Butler leads the all-time series over Valpo 51-27.
 
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: Drew Bevelhimer hit a 38-yard field goal with no time remaining on the game clock to give BU a 24-21 win over Valparaiso last year on Senior Day. Butler traveled 44 yards on just three plays in 19 seconds to record the victory. Valparaiso had tied the game at 21-21 late in the fourth quarter on an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. BU would get 28 yards on the kickoff return from AJ Deinhart and a 15-yard pass from Sam Brown to Stephen Dennis put the ball at the Don Benbow 50-yard line with 10 seconds to play. Chaos would follow on the next play as Brown tucked the ball away and scrambled for a gain of nine yards. Valpo would be flagged for a 15-yard personal foul, moving the ball into field goal range. Bevelhimer lined up from 43-yards out on his first attempt, but the kick was short. The 'Dawgs got another chance at the win because Valpo was flagged for an offsides call. Two Valpo timeouts would follow the missed kick, but in the end Bevelhimer connected from 38-yards out to give Butler the win.
 
BU outscored Valpo 17-7 in the second half to win the game. Sam Brown threw touchdown passes to Stephen Dennis and Johnny O'Shea. Nick Orlando also rushed for a TD.
 
TEAM CAPTAINS: Devin Aguilar, Trevor Scott, Sam Brown and Mike Manning were named team captains for the 2021 Spring Season.
 
Mike Manning is Butler's first sophomore captain under Coach Voris!!! (15 Seasons, 46 Captains)
 
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.
 
Butler and Valparaiso play twice this season, but the official Hoosier Helmet game for the Spring 2021 season will be played in Valparaiso on Saturday, March 27.
 
NEW SEASON, NEW NUMBER: Butler had multiple student-athletes change numbers for the 2021 season. Those players slated to start that made a change include Kavon Samuels (#6) Johnny O'Shea (#7) Thomas Rousseau (#10) Luka Zurak (#46) and Michael Dunn (#51).
 
RETURNING STARTERS: Butler returns four starters on offense and three on defense. Sam Brown, Trevor Scott, Austin Schwantz and Brad Huth all started for BU in 2019 in the season opener vs. #1 NDSU. On defense, BU returns Mickey Kane, Bradley Magee and Devin Aguilar.
 
COACH VORIS: Head Coach Jeff Voris enters his 15th season at Butler in 2021. He has recorded 77 wins since taking over the program in 2006.
 
UP NEXT: Butler will play at San Diego on Saturday, March 20.
 
San Diego leads the all-time series vs. Butler 19-5. Butler's last win came in 2009, 25-24.