VALPARAISO (0-5, 0-1 PFL) vs. DAYTON (4-1, 1-0 PFL)

Homecoming

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 12 - 1:30 p.m. CT.
WHERE: Brown Field, Valparaiso, Indiana

RADIO: 1500-AM (WAKE) - Todd Ickow announcing. 95.1-FM (WVUR) - Tim Harwood announcing.

TV: (tape-delay) - AT&T Cable - Channel 43 in Valparaiso - Dick Harlan and Bill Koch announcing. Airs Thurs., Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. and Fri., Oct. 18 at 12:30 p.m.

THE COACHES: Valparaiso is guided by Tom Horne, who is 53-86-1 in his 14th season at Valpo. Dayton is led by Mike Kelly, who is 199-41-1 in his 22nd season.

SERIES RECORD: Dayton leads 10-1.
LAST MEETING: 2001 - Dayton won 49-3 in Dayton, Ohio.

LAST WEEK: Valpo lost to Drake 52-35 last Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa. Dayton defeated Butler 41-0 last Saturday in Dayton, Ohio..

WHAT'S NEXT: Valpo hosts Davidson Oct. 19 at noon.

VALPO PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Valpo Players of the Week (named by the coaching staff): Offense - Kevin Knutson, So., wide receiver; Defense - Lawrence Canada, Jr., linebacker; Special Teams - Brandon Sturman, Fr.; Offensive Scout Team - Dustin Shamburg, Fr., quarterback; Defensive Scout Team -Kris Lieder, Fr., linebacker.

Fresh off a record-setting passing performance, Valpo will host Dayton on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the Homecoming Game. The Crusaders (0-5, 0-1 PFL) opened the Pioneer Football league season last Saturday with a 52-35 loss at Drake, but rewrote the record books for the second straight week. David Macchi broke Valpo's single-game passing record by throwing for 446 yards and four touchdowns. The performance eclipsed the mark of 434 yards that Macchi set a week earlier against Saint Joseph's.

Three receivers also had big games against Drake as Rob Giancola (Whiting, Ind./HS) caught six passes for a career-high 166 yards and two touchdowns, tight end Greg Sommersberger (Sheboygan, Wis./South) made a career-best seven receptions for 116 yards and one touchdown, and Kevin Knutson (River Falls, Wis./HS) had a career-high five catches for 80 yards and one touchdown.

MACCHI NAMED PFL
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK;
Earns Co-National Mid-Major Honor

David Macchi was selected as the Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Week and was named Football Gazette's Co-National Mid-Major Offensive Player of the Week. A junior from San Jose, Cal./West Valley College, Macchi threw for a school-record 446 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-35 loss to Drake. Against Drake, Macchi completed 25 of 52 passes, including touchdown strikes of 56 and 6 yards to Rob Giancola, 37 yards to Greg Sommersberger and 27 yards to Kevin Knutson. The 446-yard passing performance currently ranks as the fourth-best in NCAA I-AA this season and is the third-best in PFL history. Macchi ranks 4th in NCAA I-AA in total offense (337.4 ypg.) and 9th in pass efficiency (154.5). He leads the Pioneer Football League in total offense and passing yardage per game (329.8), and stands second in pass efficiency. He stands 3rd in the nation in passing yards per game.

VALPO LEADS PFL IN PASSING OFFENSE, PUNT RETURNS

Valpo leads the PFL and ranks 3rd nationally in passing offense (337.8 ypg.)......the Crusaders also top the PFL and stand 14th in I-AA in punt return average (15.5 ypr.).....Valpo is 4th in the league and 35th nationally in total offense (398.0 ypg.)......Valpo also broke the single-game team passing yardage record with 470 yards against Drake.... .David Macchi has completed 94 of 162 passes (58.0%) for 1,649 yards and nine TDs in five games. He needs 774 yards to break Valpo's single-season mark of 2,422.....Rob Giancola ranks 3rd in the PFL and 15th nationally in receiving yards per game (104.6 ypg.). The sophomore is 5th in receptions per game (4.4, 22 rec., 3 TD)......Giancola also ranks 9th in all-purpose yards per game (104.6).......Greg Sommersberger is 10th in the PFL in receiving yards (55.6 ypg.) and 8th in receptions per game (3.4).......John Tsahas (Lake Station, Ind./Edison) leads Valpo in total tackles (35) and solo tackles (15).....junior middle linebacker Lawrence Canada (Mequon, Wis./Lane College) stands 2nd on the team with 31 tackles......Adam Hudak is 6th in the league in field goals per game (0.8, 4-for-6).......senior Bryan Hollermeier (Denver, Colo./Mullen) stands 3rd in the PFL and 21st nationally in punt returns (13.9 ypr.).......Chris Daniels (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame) is 8th in the league in all-purpose yards (107.0 ypg.) and 7th in kickoff returns (19.9 ypr.).......punter Ryan Bateman (Chester, Cal./Shasta JC) ranks 5th in the PFL with 37.1 ypp.

"Valparaiso University Football", head coach Tom Horne's TV Show, airs Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. on Channel 43 in Valpo, Thursdays at 6 p.m. on Channel 44 in Portage and at 6:30 p.m. on Channel 3 in Michigan City and Merrillville. This week's player guest is senior tight end Greg Sommersberger.

A LOOK AT DAYTON:

The Flyers (4-1, 1-0 PFL), defending PFL Champions, return a well-balanced team in 2002. Coach Mike Kelly's squad has been extremely stingy defensively and has featured an outstanding rushing attack. The offense revolves around junior quarterback Kelly Spiker, who has rushed for 179 yards and three TDs and passed for 520 yards and two scores. Tailback Cliff Sachini leads UD with 205 yards on 39 carries. Five Flyers have rushed for more than 100 yards this season. Senior Tony Hurps leads the team with five TDs. Safety Mark Kasmer has been a big playmaker with six interceptions and three fumble recoveries. Linebacker Brian Heizman tops UD with 41 tackles.