INDIANAPOLIS - Butler defeated Valparaiso 27-20 on Saturday afternoon at the Bud & Jackie Sellick Bowl keeping the Hoosier Helmet in Indianapolis for another season. With the win, Butler wraps up the 2025 campaign at 6-6 overall and 4-4 in PFL action while Valparaiso finishes the season at 2-10 and 1-7 in conference play. 
 
ON THE RECORD WITH COACH LYNCH
"Well, it's great anytime you win the last game of the season, that's special. But then, when it's your rival and you get a trophy, like the Hoosier Helmet, and for these guys to win it four years in a row, which, as long as this helmet's been around, nobody's done that. So it's really cool for them to get that opportunity, and really happy for those guys to attain that goal. It has been a great year for a lot of those guys, and, you know, some really close games, and for us to finish that one off with the ball in our hands and be able to kneel it out, was, was definitely special. A lot of good efforts out there today. The defense made some great plays, forced turnovers, and the offense obviously, we needed to do a little bit better there, hanging onto the ball in the second half and really close them off. We were able to find a way to get it done and I am so happy for our guys to finish it off this way. This senior class has been really good to me, being in the first year of the program, and the way they worked and the way they responded to change and all that, I'm very, very thankful for those guys."
 
NOTEABLE STATS 

• Gabe Passini completed 10-of-17 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. Passini had 19 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown in the contest. 
• Ershod Jasey II led the squad in receiving with 49 yards and a touchdown on one grab. 
• Ethan Loss carried the ball seven times for 47 yards. 
• Will Mason had a team-high 11 tackles and one sack in the game. 
• Butler tallied four sacks in the contest. 
• Rowan Keefe completed 18-of-28 passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns. 
• Devin Yeats led the Beacons in receiving hauling in six catches for 73 yards and a touchdown. 
• Nic Lendino had a game-high 13 tackles. 

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Butler opened the game with a 65-yard drive that ended with an eight-yard touchdown grab from Griffin Caldwell, as the Dawgs took the early 7-0 lead. Valpo responded with a 97-yard touchdown drive fueled by an 80-yard rush from Rowan Keefe. Valpo was able to find the back of the endzone shortly after, with a four-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Ricketti. 
• After the Beacons touchdown drive, Butler strung together a drive of its own that ended with a Passini four-yard rushing touchdown as the Dawgs took the 14-7 advantage. Valparaiso then fumbled the ball at their 12-yard line and Butler was able to capitalize with a field goal from Ryan Short from 25-yards out. BU found the endzone again as Jasey II had a 49-yard touchdown grab giving the Bulldogs a 24-7 advantage. A field goal just before the break allowed the Bulldogs to take the 20-point advantage into the half. 
• The third quarter was scoreless for both sides as turnovers from each side stalled drives for the offenses. Valpo started the fourth with a 12-play, 99-yard drive that ended with a Beacons touchdown from Devin Yeats. After a turnover from BU, Valparaiso was able to find the endzone once again on a seven-yard touchdown grab from Colin Hayes. Butler was able to fend off Valpo's comeback efforts over the final minutes of the fourth quarter securing the 27-20 victory on Senior Day.