Campbell (1-2, 0-0 PFL)
at Valparaiso (0-2, 0-0 PFL)
Game #4: Saturday, Sep. 28, 1 p.m.
Brown Field (5,000 - ProGrass) - Valparaiso, Ind.
This Week in Crusader Football: The first full week of Pioneer Football League play begins this Saturday when the Campbell Fighting Camels come to town for Homecoming weekend. The Crusaders are looking for their first win of 2013 and a date with the Camels may be just what the doctor ordered. Valpo won a 41-21 contest in Buies Creek, North Carolina last November. The Crusaders also defeated the Camels 34-31 on Brown Field in the final home game of the regular season in 2011.
On the Air: For the eighth straight season, the Valpo Sports Radio Network will be home to all 11 Crusader football games in 2013. All 11 games can be heard live on WVUR (95.1FM, Valparaiso), online through www.valpoathletics.com. Todd Ickow will handle all the play-by-play, with David Huseman adding the color commentary this week. Saturday’s game will feature free video streaming available on valpoathletics.com which will appear on game day. Live stats will also be available through www.valpoathletics.com.
Head Coach Dale Carlson: Dale Carlson is 2-34 in his fourth season with the Crusaders, and 112-137-3 overall in his 25th season as a collegiate head coach. He arrived at Valpo from Ohio Dominican where he began the Ohio Dominican program from scratch in 2004, just as he did at Tri-State University prior to his tenure with the Panthers. He is the 16th head coach in Valpo history, and just the seventh since 1946.
All-Time Series: This will be the sixth meeting between Campbell and Valparaiso on the gridiron. The Crusaders lead the all-time series 3-2. The Brown and Gold’s last two wins have come at the expense of the Fighting Camels.
Wrapping Up 2012: The Crusaders captured their only win of the season on the road last year by defeating Campbell, 41-21. Valpo ended the season 1-10 and 1-7 in PFL play, but returns plenty of experience for 2013, as the Crusaders bring back eight starters on both sides of the ball.
Scouting Campbell: The Camels made headlines last November when they hired former Carolina Panther safety Mike Minter as head coach. A two-time national champion while at the University of Nebraska (1994, 1995) and a Super Bowl XXXVIII participant, Minter brings a wealth of success and experience to a Campbell squad that struggled through a 1-10 season in 2012. Campbell returns ten offensive and seven defensive starters from a year ago, but 35 newcomers decorate the roster as well. The Camels fell 52-7 to Charlotte in their season opener, but defeated Virginia-Wise 56-21 the following week before giving Charleston Southern (FCS scholarship) a 20-point game. Operating under a two-quarterback system, Campbell averages more than two rushes for each pass attempt (148 rush, 67 pass). Six different Camel ball carriers have recorded touchdowns already in 2013.
Week in Review: Valpo’s bye week was last week. Jacksonville hosted Morehead State in the PFL opener last Saturday. The Dolphins won in a 69-19 rout over the Eagles.
Broken Record: Redshirt junior quarterback Eric Hoffman is in his third season as the starting quarterback. Hoffman broke David Macchi’s previous record for passing yards in a single game with 495 in Valpo’s 36-34 loss to William Jewell in Week 3. In 118 pass attempts this season, Hoffman has thrown just one interception.
Oh Captain, My Captain: Valpo has three captains for the 2013 season. Redshirt sophomore running back Jake Hutson will represent the offense, while senior defensive back Alex Grask and sophomore linebacker Alex Green will represent the Crusader defense.
Crusaders Picked 10th in Preseason Poll: The head coaches selected Valparaiso to finish 10th in the Pioneer Football League this season according to the preseason poll. The prognosticators selected San Diego to take home the 2013 championship.
Jake the Snake: Sophomore running back Jake Hutson made a name for himself as a redshirt freshman in 2012. Hutson is averaging over four yards per carry while establishing himself as a legitimate receiving option. He has 11 receptions so far, second most on the team.
Spread the Wealth: Eleven different receivers caught passes in Week 3’s 36-34 home loss. For a second consecutive week, redshirt junior Fred Gladney led the way with ten catches - one for a TD - and 183 yards. Tanner Kuramata also had a 100+ yard receiving day with five receptions spanning 128 yards. Freshman Denzell Conway caught a touchdown pass in his Crusader debut as part of a five-catch game.
Just for Kicks: The kicking and punting game for the Crusaders has been a revolving door at times. Sophomore Josh Young and freshman Jacob Newman have both been called upon in field goal situations. Newman made his only attempt - a 37-yarder at Saint Joseph’s in Week 2 - but Young got the nod in Week 3 on a 29-yard effort. Alex Kozlowski seems to have nailed down the punting job. He has handled the duties the past two games after missing Week 1.
Alexander the Greats: Alex Green and Alex Grask both did their part in Week 3. Green recorded 17 tackles (9 solo) including one for a loss. His 34 tackles puts him two behind the current PFL leaders. Grask finished the William Jewell game with nine tackles and his first interception of the season. Green and Grask are one and two in team tackles with 34 and 19, respectively.
Coach To Cure MD: Dale Carlson and his coaching staff are participating in the Coach To Cure MD program this Saturday to raise awareness for Duchenne MD. Fans can do their part by texting the word “CURE” to 90999. By doing so, a $5 donation will be automatically added to your next phone bill.
