Valpo Football Weekly: Spring 2024

Head coach Landon Fox joined Brandon Vickrey for a special spring edition of Valpo Football Weekly, presented by Lakeshore Bone & Joint. They look back at the spring game, discuss the quarterback competition and look ahead to the summer months.

Valpo Football Holds 2024 Spring Game

The boys of fall made their final appearance of the spring on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Brown Field as the Valparaiso University football team held its annual Spring Game, winding down the 2024 spring practice slate in front of a nice crowd featuring signed incoming freshmen, prospective student-athletes, alumni and fans.

Valpo Football Set for 2024 Spring Game

The first official glimpse of the 2024 Valparaiso University football team will come on Sunday as the Beacons host their annual spring game at 1 p.m. at Brown Field.

Dozen Beacons Named to NFF Hampshire Honor Society

A dozen members of the Valparaiso University football program have earned National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society membership for their performance in the classroom.

Brewster Named Valpo Offensive Line Coach, Jarnigan Returns to Alma Mater as Tight Ends Coach

The Valparaiso University football program has welcomed two new members to its coaching staff prior to the start of the spring season as head coach Landon Fox has named former NFL offensive lineman Michael Brewster the team’s offensive line coach and welcomed alum Jack Jarnigan back to the program as tight ends coach.

Valpo Football Welcomes Incoming Freshmen During 2024 National Signing Period

As the 2024 Valparaiso University football season fast approaches, the program has announced the signing of 30 student-athletes who will continue their academic and athletic careers at Valpo beginning this fall.

Bulk of 2024 Valpo Football Schedule Revealed as PFL Announces League Slate

The majority of the 2024 Valparaiso University football schedule was revealed on Tuesday, as the Pioneer Football League announced the 2024 league docket and the Beacons disclosed three of their four nonconference games.

Valpo Football Matches Program Record for PFL Honor Roll Members

The Valparaiso University football team matched a program record based on its performance in the classroom during the 2023 fall semester.

Aaron Dawson Signs First Pro Contract with Jacksonville Sharks of IFL

After enjoying a memorable season in his lone year donning the brown and gold in 2022, former Valparaiso University football standout running Aaron Dawson has reached the professional ranks as he was recently added to the roster for the Jacksonville Sharks of the Indoor Football League (IFL).

Five Beacons Shine on Football CSC Academic All-District Team

Five members of the Valparaiso University football program received Academic All-District honors from College Sports Communicators (CSC) for their academic and athletic achievements, as announced on Tuesday morning.

Four First Teamers Among Seven Valpo Players on Phil Steele All-PFL Teams

The Valparaiso University football program featured seven representatives as Phil Steele released the publication’s All-Pioneer Football League teams this week.

Matthes Competes in FCS Bowl

Valparaiso University football sixth-year senior punter Evan Matthes (Reston, Va. / South Lakes [West Virginia]) was selected to participate in the FCS Bowl X Trillion, which was held on Sunday, Dec. 10 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Matthes Named FCS Punter of the Year Semifinalist

Valparaiso University football sixth-year senior punter Evan Matthes (Reston, Va. / South Lakes [West Virginia]) was recognized among the nation’s best at his position on Saturday as he was named a 2023 FCS Punter of the Year Award semifinalist, as announced by the Augusta Sports Council.

Valpo Football Announces 2023 Team Awards

The Valparaiso University football program has announced its team awards for the 2023 season, as revealed at the team’s annual postseason awards banquet on Sunday. The team awards were peer-selected as they were voted upon by players.

Annis Named PFL Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Leads Six Valpo Players Selected to Academic All-PFL Teams

Based on his success in the classroom and on the playing field, Valparaiso University football redshirt senior Evan Annis (Hilliard, Ohio / Hilliard Davidson) has been named the Pioneer Football League’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year, as announced by the league office on Wednesday.

Three Beacons Named to All-PFL First Team, 11 Total Valpo Players Receive Recognition

The Valparaiso University football program was well represented as the All-Pioneer Football League teams were revealed by the league office on Tuesday. Redshirt senior wide receiver Solomon Davis (Brighton, Tenn. / Brighton), redshirt junior defensive lineman Sam Hafner (Green Bay, Wis. / De Pere) and sixth-year senior punter Evan Matthes (Reston, Va. / South Lakes [West Virginia]) were named to the All-PFL First Team, while redshirt senior linebacker Evan Annis (Hilliard, Ohio / Hilliard Davidson) and redshirt senior return specialist Jashon Butler (Lynwood, Wash. / Meadowdale [Arizona]) were tabbed to the Second Team.

Valpo Football Weekly: Postseason

Head coach Landon Fox joined Brandon Vickrey for Valpo Football Weekly presented by Lakeshore Bone & Joint. They look back at Saturday's game at St. Thomas, wrap up the season and look ahead.

Valpo Threatens Nation’s Longest Home Winning Streak, St. Thomas Prevails in One-Score Game

The Valparaiso University football team never stopped battling.

Valpo Football Seeks Program's Longest Winning Streak in 20 Years on Saturday

The Valparaiso University football team will close out the 2023 season on Saturday afternoon with a visit to St. Paul, Minn. to take on defending Pioneer Football League champion and 2023 preseason favorite St. Thomas. The Beacons hope to play the role of spoiler as the Tommies can clinch a share of the 2023 PFL crown with a win and a Drake loss. Valpo has an opportunity to end a season on a three-game winning streak for the first time since 2000 and possess its first three-game winning streak at any point in the calendar since 2003.

Valpo Football Announces Week 11 Team Awards

The Valparaiso University football program has announced its team awards for Week 11 of the season following Saturday’s 23-20 overtime victory over Stetson.

Valpo Football Weekly: Week 12 at St. Thomas

Head coach Landon Fox joined Brandon Vickrey for Valpo Football Weekly, presented by Lakeshore Bone & Joint. They highlight a few of the heroes from Saturday's win over Stetson, including Ryan Hawk, Max Samuel and Evan Annis. Plus, they discuss recognizing the support of the players' family members on Senior Day and preview the season finale at St. Thomas

Max Samuel Named PFL Special Teams Player of the Week

After making two special plays in Saturday’s win over Stetson, Valparaiso University football freshman Max Samuel (Edina, Minn. / Edina) has been named the Pioneer Football League Special Teams Player of the Week.

Valpo Football Celebrates Seniors with Overtime Victory Over Stetson

Two individual redemption tales helped lead the Valparaiso University football team to one story of team celebration on Saturday.

Valpo Football Weekly: Week 11 vs. Stetson

Head coach Landon Fox joined Brandon Vickrey for Valpo Football Weekly, presented by Lakeshore Bone & Joint. They look back at Saturday's victory over Dayton, including the defense's dominance and punter Evan Matthes' role in the win. Plus, they preview Saturday's Senior Day vs. Stetson.

Football to Salute Seniors Before Saturday's Home Finale

The Valparaiso University football team will close out the home portion of the 2023 campaign on Saturday as Stetson comes to town for a noon kickoff. This will be Senior Day at Brown Field as 25 student-athletes will be recognized prior to the contest. Valpo will look to make it back-to-back wins to close out the home slate.

Valpo Football Announces Week 10 Team Awards

The Valparaiso University football program has announced its team awards for Week 10 of the season following this past weekend’s 21-7 victory over Dayton at Brown Field.

Matthes Named PFL Special Teams Player of the Week

Valparaiso University sixth-year senior punter Evan Matthes (Reston, Va. / South Lake [West Virginia]) was recognized by the Pioneer Football League office on Sunday as he was tabbed the league’s Special Teams Player of the Week.

Defense Dominates as Valpo Defeats Dayton

The team’s best statistical defensive performance in league play in over a decade propelled the Valparaiso University football team past Dayton 21-7 on a pleasant early-November Saturday afternoon at Brown Field. Head coach Landon Fox’s defensive unit forced eight punts and two turnovers on downs while limiting the Flyers to just 175 yards of total offense and only seven points.

Football to Host Dayton on Saturday

The calendar flips to November this week as the Valparaiso University football team returns to Brown Field for the first of back-to-back games to close out the 2023 home slate. Valpo fans have been treated to exclusively thrilling contests in each of the team’s home outings this season, a trend that could continue as head coach Landon Fox matches up with his former team with Dayton in town this week.

Valpo Football Announces Week 9 Team Awards

The Valparaiso University football program has announced its team awards for Week 9 of the season following this past weekend’s Hoosier Helmet rivalry game in Indianapolis.

Valpo Football Weekly: Week 10 vs. Dayton

Head coach Landon Fox joined Brandon Vickrey for this week's edition of Valpo Football Weekly, presented by Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute. They recap the Hoosier Helmet rivalry game, discuss the play of Wade Abrams and preview this week's game vs. Dayton.

Valpo Falls in Hoosier Helmet Rivalry Matchup

The Valparaiso University football team had the better of the play in the first half, but the two teams went into the locker room scoreless in a game that saw rival Butler pull out a 17-7 victory with all of the scoring coming after halftime. The Beacons moved the ball and created opportunities throughout the day, but did not score on their three red-zone opportunities.

Hoosier Helmet Up for Grabs on Saturday

There’s every other game, and then there’s this one for the Valparaiso University football team. Every game means a lot, but this game means the most as the Pioneer Football League’s oldest rivalry takes center stage on Saturday in Indianapolis. Valpo will seek to regain control of the Hoosier Helmet trophy in the latest clash with arch nemesis Butler.

Valpo Football Announces Week 8 Team Awards

The Valparaiso University football program has announced its team awards for Week 8 of the season following this past weekend’s contest at Davidson.

Valpo Football Weekly: Week 9 at Butler

Head coach Landon Fox joined Brandon Vickrey for Valpo Football Weekly to recap Saturday's game at Davidson, discuss the performance of redshirt freshman QB Rowan Keefe and preview this week's rivalry game for the Hoosier Helmet.

Keefe Shines in Second Half, Davidson Holds on for Victory

The Valparaiso University football team turned to redshirt freshman quarterback Rowan Keefe (Hilliard, Ohio / Hilliard Davidson) after halftime, and he appeared ready for the moment in his collegiate debut. He completed nine of his 12 pass attempts for 187 yards and three touchdowns in a game that saw host Davidson sustain a 21-0 halftime lead in a 42-21 victory at Smith Field in Davidson, N.C.

Valpo Football Weekly: Week 8 at Davidson

Head coach Landon Fox joined Brandon Vickrey for Valpo Football Weekly, presented by Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute. They looked back at Saturday's game vs. Morehead State and previewed this week's visit to Davidson.

Valpo to Face Off with First-Place Davidson on Saturday

The Valparaiso University football team will play the first of back-to-back road games this week with a visit to Davidson, N.C. to take on the Wildcats, a team that has earned the league’s automatic FCS Playoff berth in each of the last three seasons. Valpo has played five consecutive one-score games including heartbreaking setbacks in each of the first three conference contests.

Valpo Football Announces Week 7 Team Awards

The Valparaiso University football program has announced its team awards for Week 7 of the season following this past weekend’s contest against Morehead State.

Eagles Edge Beacons on Last-Second Field Goal

We’ve told you before, and we’ll tell you again today. When the Valparaiso University football team takes the field, expect a game that comes down to the final play.

Valpo to Match Up with Morehead State on Beacon's Birthday

The Valparaiso University football team will return home this weekend to clash with Morehead State for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Brown Field. It’s a loaded day of action including Beacon’s birthday celebration, a “Men’s Basketball Kickoff” open practice at the Athletics-Recreation Center with doors opening at 10 a.m. and the practice running from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and the football game against the Eagles. The Community Tailgate Lot near Brown Field will open early with a 9:30 a.m. start time. Plus, the All-Star Stunt Dogs will have a “pawtastic” display of pure fun as part of a halftime show that fans won’t want to miss.

Valpo Football Announces Week 6 Team Awards

The Valparaiso University football program has announced its team awards for Week 6 of the season following this past weekend’s visit to Drake.

Valpo Football Weekly: Week 7 vs. Morehead State

Valpo’s Fourth-Quarter Rally Falls Shy at Drake

The Valparaiso University football team rallied late to cut into a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit, but host Drake survived the fight from the Beacons to hang on for a 20-14 victory at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday. The Valpo defense played well throughout the day and the offense scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to give the team a chance late, but the Beacons fell just short in their fourth consecutive game that has come down to the wire.

‘A Day at Brown Field’ to Feature Men’s Basketball Open Practice, Football vs. Morehead State

The Valparaiso University Department of Athletics has announced details for an action-packed day of festivities on Saturday, Oct. 14, an event dubbed “A Day at Brown Field.”

Football Set for First PFL Road Trip at Drake

The Valparaiso University football team will make its first Pioneer Football League road trip of the season on Saturday afternoon as the Beacons head to Des Moines, Iowa for a matchup with Drake. Valpo will look to make it back-to-back wins after closing the nonleague slate in victorious fashion while also extending its recent run of success in games played at Drake.

Valpo Football Weekly: Week 6 at Drake

Head coach Landon Fox joined Brandon Vickrey for this week's edition of Valpo Football Weekly, presented by Lakeshore Bone & Joint. They look back at Saturday's victory over Southwest Minnesota State, highlighting the play of the defense and special teams. Plus, they look ahead to the first Pioneer Football League road trip of the season at Drake.

Football Rallies to Edge SMSU, Prevails in Latest Thriller

The Valparaiso University football team rallied from 15-0 down to score 16 unanswered points, edging Southwest Minnesota State 16-15 in the nonconference finale on a sun-splashed Saturday at Brown Field. The Valpo defense permitted just six points all game (the other nine were scored with Valpo’s offense on the field) and the unit came through in a big way after halftime, compiling a shutout over the game’s final 30 minutes.

Football to Step Outside of PFL Play vs. SMSU

The Valparaiso University football team will play its second of back-to-back home games this week as Southwest Minnesota State comes to town for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday afternoon. After opening Pioneer Football League play last week, the Beacons will step outside of league action for the nonconference finale against a first-time opponent. The first 250 Valpo students will receive free student section t-shirts.

Valpo Football Announces Week 4 Team Awards

The Valparaiso University football program has announced its team awards for Week 4 of the season following this weekend’s game vs. Marist at Brown Field.

Valpo Football Weekly: Week 5 vs. Southwest Minnesota State

Marist Edges Valpo in OT Thriller

A heroic blocked PAT by Kurt Kessen (Shelby Township, Mich. / Utica) sent Saturday’s Valparaiso University football game to overtime, but Marist scored a game-winning touchdown in the first extra period to edge the hosts 36-30 on homecoming Saturday at Brown Field. Solomon Davis (Brighton, Tenn. / Brighton) had 10 catches for 175 yards to lead the Beacons in the Pioneer Football League opener and first home date of 2023.

Valpo Football Weekly: Week 4 vs. Marist

Head coach Landon Fox joined Brandon Vickrey for Valpo Football Weekly presented by Lakeshore Bone & Joint to look back at the team's bye week, discuss the 20-year anniversary of Valpo's 2003 Pioneer Football League championship and preview Saturday's homecoming game vs. Marist.

Tailgate Lot, Rally Towel Giveaway to Add to Excitement at Brown Field on Saturday

The Valparaiso University football team will take on Marist on Saturday at noon at Brown Field as part of an action-packed homecoming weekend on Valpo’s campus.

Football to Host PFL Opener on Homecoming Saturday

A Look Back at the 2003 Valpo Football Championship Team 20 Years Later

If you’ve read the game notes and stories during the Valparaiso University football program’s surge in recent years, you’ve seen references to the year.

Valpo Football Weekly: Week 3 (Bye Week)

Valpo Football Announces Week 2 Team Awards

The Valparaiso University football program has announced its team awards for Week 2 of the season following this weekend’s game at Indiana Wesleyan.

Valpo Edged by Indiana Wesleyan in Road Thriller

Redshirt junior Tytus Ragle (New Castle, Ind. / New Castle) made several huge catches down the final stretch on Saturday night, the last of which was a 14-yard touchdown grab from Michael Appel Jr. (Springboro, Ohio / Springboro) with seven seconds remaining that gave the Valparaiso University football team an opportunity to tie the game with a 2-point conversion. Appel completed the pass to Ryan Mann (Vernon Hills, Ill. / Vernon Hills [Northern Illinois]) on the 2-point try, but Mann was tripped up just shy of the goal line as host Indiana Wesleyan held on for a 24-22 victory over the Beacons at Wildcat Stadium in Marion, Ind.

Valpo Football Weekly: Week 2

Football Set for Instate Trip to Indiana Wesleyan

The Valparaiso University football team will continue a challenging nonconference schedule this week with a visit to NAIA powerhouse Indiana Wesleyan on Saturday evening. The Wildcats are ranked fifth nationally in NAIA. This will mark the second of back-to-back road games to begin the season before the Beacons finally kick off the home slate on Sept. 23 vs. Marist.

Valpo Falls at Youngstown State Despite Promising First Half

A touchdown just before halftime helped the Valparaiso University football program enter the break with significant momentum and confidence, trailing by just seven at 17-10 against full-scholarship, Missouri Valley Football Conference foe Youngstown State, a team that entered the season ranked as high as 23rd nationally. However, the Penguins scored five unanswered touchdowns in the second half, four of which came in the third quarter, to prevail 52-10 in Thursday’s season opener at Stambaugh Stadium in Youngstown, Ohio.

Football to Kick Off Season Under Thursday Night Lights

The 2023 Valparaiso University football season will kick off under the lights on Thursday evening in Youngstown, Ohio as the Beacons clash with full-scholarship, Missouri Valley Football Conference foe Youngstown State, a team receiving votes nationally in the Preseason FCS Coaches Poll and Preseason Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and ranked No. 23 in the Hero Sports Preseason Top 25. This marks the start of the fifth season of Landon Fox’s head coaching tenure, a regime that has seen the program take steps forward each year.

Season Preview: Countdown to Kickoff Continues as Valpo Football Looks to Sustain Forward Momentum

Over the last three seasons, the Valparaiso University football program has notched its highest Pioneer Football League win total in a three-year period in program history.

Matthes Named to FCS Punter of the Year Preseason Watch List

Valparaiso University football sixth-year senior Evan Matthes (Reston, Va. / South Lakes [West Virginia]) has been named to the FCS Punter of the Year Award Watch List, as announced on Wednesday by the Augusta Sports Council.

Davis, Jernegan Earn Preseason All-PFL Honors

A pair of Valparaiso University football players earned recognition on Wednesday as redshirt senior wide receiver Solomon Davis (Brighton, Tenn. / Brighton) and sophomore tight end Evan Jernegan (Altadena, Calif. / St. Francis) were named to the Preseason All-Pioneer Football League Team.

PFL Releases Preseason Poll

The Valparaiso University football team has been tabbed to finish sixth of 11 in the Pioneer Football League preseason poll, which was released by the league office on Tuesday.

Half Dozen Valpo Players Recognized as Phil Steele Announces Preseason All-PFL Picks

Six members of the Valparaiso University football program were recognized on Friday as Phil Steele announced its 2023 Preseason All-Pioneer Football League teams.