VALPARAISO, IN - The Hoosier Helmet will go home to Indianapolis with Butler after the 26-25 victory over Valparaiso on Saturday afternoon.
The Beacons opened the scoring with two early scores in the first. Valparaiso got on the board first with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Michael Appel Jr. to Matt Ross. The second touchdown came from a 15-yard Mason Kaplan pass to Jahni Clarke but, the Bulldogs blocked Brian Bartholomew's kick to limit the damage. The score at the half would be 13-0 as the Beacons led the Bulldogs with 237 yards total in the first, holding Butler to 117 yards.
Luka Zurak nailed a 35-yarder to start the second half to get the Bulldogs on the board 13-3. Zurak would do it again at the end of the third to make it 13-6 with a 22-yard field goal. The Beacons would respond as Mason Kaplan takes it in himself to take advantage of the scoreboard 19-6. Brian Bartholomew's kick was blocked again, this time by
Connor Reid, the Bulldog's defense limits the damage once again.
Early in the fourth, Butler gets their first touchdown of the game to cap off a 5-play, 75-yard drive to cut the Beacon's lead to six. Valparaiso's next possession resulted in another score with a 99-yard rushing touchdown to stay in front of Butler 25-13 — failing a two-point conversion.
Bret Bushka connected to
Jared Suchevits for 4-yards to make it 25-19,
Luka Zurak's kick was blocked by the Beacons Kurt Kessen.
Bret Bushka found the endzone with less than two minutes to go with the extra point from
Luka Zurak to take the lead 26-25. The Bulldogs defense intercepts the ball with less than 10 seconds to go to secure the win over The Beacons.
Butler put up 426 yards averaging 5.5 yards per play in the victory over Valpo.
Bret Bushka led the Bulldogs with 259 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Luke Wooten had himself a day for Butler with 95 receiving yards, 7 receptions, 21 rushing yards, and a touchdown.
Butler will host the Marist Red Foxes next Saturday on homecoming. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 PM on Oct. 22.
