VALPARAISO (3-6, 0-3 PFL) vs. BUTLER (1-8, 0-3 PFL)

PARENTS' DAY

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 6 - 1 p.m. CT
WHERE: Brown Field, Valparaiso, Indiana

TV: (tape-delay) - Channel 43 in Valparaiso. Airs on Thursday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. - Dick Harlan and Bill Koch announcing.

RADIO: 95.1 (WVUR-FM) - Andrew Stem and Baron Brendel announcing. Webcast at www.valpo.edu.

THE COACHES: Valparaiso is guided by Tom Horne, who is 65-101-1 in his 16th season at Valpo. Butler is led by Kit Cartwright who is 7-23 in his 3rd season at Butler.

SERIES RECORD: Butler leads 41-21
LAST MEETING: 2003 - Butler won 25-21 in Indianapolis.

LAST WEEK: Valpo was idle last week. Butler lost to San Diego 41-12 in Indianapolis.

On Saturday, the annual rivalry game at 1 p.m. between Valpo and Butler at Valpo's Brown Field carries an extra incentive. The winner of the Parents' Day contest will earn its first Pioneer Football League victory of the season in the final conference game of the 2004 campaign.

Valpo (3-6, 0-3 PFL), which was idle last Saturday, is attempting to snap a four-game losing skid. Butler (1-8, 0-3 PFL) also owns a four-game losing streak after falling to San Diego 41-12 last Saturday in Indianapolis.

STREAKY: The last 10 games of the Valpo-Butler series have produced winning streaks by both programs. Valpo won seven straight from 1994-00, while the Bulldogs have been victorious the last three years. Butler leads the all-time series 41-21.

ONE MORE TD.........

GIANCOLA NEEDS FIVE POINTS TO BECOME VALPO'S ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER: With one touchdown, Rob Giancola will become Valpo's all-time leading scorer. With 230 career points, Giancola needs 5 to eclipse the 53-year-old record of 234 held by Joe Pahr (1949-51).

CRUSADERS vs. BULLDOGS - Butler 25, Valpo 21 - Nov. 8, 2003 in Indianapolis

After capturing a share of the PFL North title and the right to host the 2003 PFL Championship Game, Valpo felt the sting of a loss to Butler. The Crusaders, undefeated in North Division play prior to the game, jumped out to a 19-7 halftime lead against the winless Bulldogs. David Macchi connected with fullback Jeffrey Vlk for a 10-yard touchdown and Andrew McCawley added 31, 28, 20 and 52-yard (career-long) field goals to account for the first-half points. As a result of his performance, McCawley was named the league's Special Teams Player of the Week.

Butler began the second half with a 39-yard kickoff return by Justin Campbell, followed by a 12-play, 58-yard drive that ended with Campbell's 2-yard touchdown run.

Valpo's offense was held in check in the second half and Butler took the lead with 5:19 left in the game on Billy Nardini's 3-yard run. Butler's Collin McGann intercepted a Macchi pass and the Bulldogs added a 41-yard field goal by Eric Neumeier with 2:10 remaining.

The Crusaders' final drive ended with 1:05 left and Butler ran out the final seconds by taking a safety with no time remaining.

INSIDE VU FOOTBALL, head coach Tom Horne's TV show, airs every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. on Channel 43 in Valparaiso.

STANDOUTS AGAINST DRAKE: Wesley Kosko recovered two fumbles, the second setting up Joe Milazzo's 5-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. John Schaekel, Douglas Howard and Brandon Sturman forced one fumble each for the Crusaders. Brad Smeja led Valpo with seven tackles, while Mike Jones made six tackles, including an 8-yard sack. Seungyeup Ro blocked a field goal attempt.

VALPO INDIVIDUALS AMONG PFL LEADERS: Rob Giancola ranks 4th in receiving yards (65.2 ypg.) and 8th in receptions (3.3 pg.)....Kevin Knutson stands 6th in the league in receiving yards (51.9 ypg.) and 7th in receptions (3.6 pg.). Jeff Horton is 7th in rushing (55.7 ypg.) and 10th in all-purpose yardage (75.9 pg.). Quarterback Joe Milazzo stands 9th in the PFL in total offense (125.6 ypg.).......Joe Blahowicz is 3rd in punting (37.3 ypp.)......Wesley Kosko is tied for 4th in fumbles recovered (2).

NEXT GAME:
Valpo will host Aurora next Saturday, Nov. 13 at 12:30 p.m. in the season finale.