INDIANAPOLIS – The Bulldogs scored a touchdown on the opening possession of the 2021 spring season, but would ultimately fall to Valparaiso at the Sellick Bowl 24-14. Valpo rushed for 241 yards to find the win column in the season opener. Junior Robert Washington did the heavy lifting with 199 rushing yards on 39 carries.
 
How it Happened
Butler used a 10-play, 75-yard drive to score the first points of the day, but would find themselves down at the half 14-7. Nick Orlando rushed for a TD in the first quarter from three yards out. Valpo would counter with a rushing touchdown of their own from Washington in the second quarter to tie the game.
 
A costly BU fumble would set Valpo up for points at the end of the first half. Quarterback Chris Duncan took a snap with just six seconds left on the game clock and found Deuce Larose in the corner of the end zone for six points with time expired.
 
Valpo got the ball after halftime and marched down the field. The 'Dawgs dug in defensively and would get a fourth down stop to return the ball back to the offense. Kavon Samuels broke loose on a 17-yard gain moments later and would get Butler down to the one-yard line. Orlando would take it from there with his second rushing TD of the game to tie it up at 14-14.
 
Valpo faced a fourth-and-two call in the closing moments of the third quarter and opted to kick a field goal. The decision was a good one as Brian Bartholomew split the uprights to give the visitors a three-point lead heading into the final 15 minutes.
 
The only points of the fourth quarter would go to Valpo as Duncan connected with Holden Hodge on a 20-yard pass, taking us to our final score of 24-14.
 
Stat of the Game
Valpo forced two turnovers, went 8-for-14 on third down and dominated time of possession in the second half to earn the win (18:39 to 11:21).
 
Inside the Box Score
- Kavon Samuels rushed for 117 yards on 20 carries
- Sam Brown completed 13 of his 26 pass attempts for 143 yards
- Yogi Flager caught two passes for 46 yards in his BU debut
- Mickey Kane came up with the first sack of the season for BU and made two tackles for loss
- Malachi Pike led Butler with 12 total tackles
- Mike Manning was credited with eight tackles
 
Up Next
Butler will travel to San Diego next weekend for a 4 PM contest.