Valparaiso (0-1, 0-0 PFL)
at Indiana Wesleyan (1-0, 1-0 MSFA)

Game #2 Saturday, Sept. 9, 5 p.m. CT
Wildcat Football Stadium (2,500) – Marion, Ind.

This Week in Valpo Football: 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.

Previously: A promising first half saw Valpo trail just 17-10 at the break against Youngstown State, a full-scholarship Missouri Valley Football Conference program that was ranked as high as 23^rd nationally in preseason polls. The Penguins pulled away in the second half to win 52-10. Ryan Mann had a 2-yard run that accounted for Valpo’s lone touchdown of the day late in the second quarter. That play was set up by a 53-yard connection between quarterback Michael Appel Jr. and Preseason All-PFL wide receiver Solomon Davis. Patrick Oliva’s first career field goal – a 33 yarder – accounted for the remainder of Valpo’s scoring.  

Series Notes: This will mark the third installment of a four-year agreement between these two teams. The home team has prevailed in each of the first two matchups including Valpo’s dramatic 20-17 victory in front of a large home crowd for a season-opening night game at Brown Field a year ago. Brian Bartholomew drilled a career-long 50-yard field goal in the final two minutes to account for the difference in the game. That came after a trip to Marion in 2021 that Valpo would like to forget, a game that saw the Wildcats jump out to a 21-0 lead after one quarter and never look back on their way to handing the Beacons a 28-10 defeat.

Following the Beacons: Saturday’s game will air on ESPN+. In addition, the hometown radio call will be available on 95.1 FM WVUR, The TuneIn Radio App and ValpoAthletics.com with Todd Ickow (play-by-play) and Brandon Vickrey (analyst) describing the action. For in-game updates, follow @valpoufootball on Twitter. Links to live video, audio and stats will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.

Head Coach Landon Fox: Landon Fox (14-28) is in his fifth season as the head coach of the Valparaiso University football program in 2023. Over the last three seasons, Fox has led Valpo to 12 Pioneer Football League victories, the most in a three-year period in program history. The program finished with a PFL record of .500 or better for a third consecutive season in 2022, the first time that has occurred since 1998-2000. Prior to that, Valpo had not had a stretch of three straight years with a league record of .500 or better since 1961-1964. The program won four PFL games in the same season just once in the 26 seasons prior to Fox’s arrival. Now, the program has reached that threshold in three straight seasons and three of the first four years under his direction (Spring 2021, Fall 2021, 2022). During his four years in charge of the program, Valpo has boasted 43 All-PFL honorees and 22 academic all-PFL selections.  During his second season at the helm in Spring 2021, Fox was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award – which is presented annually to the FCS National Coach of the Year – after guiding Valpo to its best winning percentage since 2003 and tying for the squad’s best winning percentage since 1999. He led his team to Pioneer Football League runner-up honors, the program’s highest finish in the league standings since the PFL championship season of 2003. Fox’s defensive roots paid dividends on that side of the football in his second year at the helm, as the team enjoyed its best defensive season in four decades. Valpo held opponents to 283.3 yards per game, the program’s best total defense in the last 40 years. In Year 1 of the Fox Era in 2019, Valpo ranked in the Top 5 in the PFL in scoring defense (32.0, fifth), total defense (381.6, fourth), rushing defense (184.2, fourth) and passing defense (197.3, fifth). After spending the previous 11 seasons as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at the University of Dayton, Fox was named the head football coach at Valpo prior to the 2019 season. He helped the Flyers finish with 10 winning seasons in his 11 years on staff and guided a defensive backfield that produced one All-American, four Academic All-Americans, two PFL Special Teams Players of the Year and three corners who were invited to NFL Rookie Minicamp. Prior to joining Dayton’s staff, Fox served as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Wayne State University in Detroit from 2005-2007. He also spent time as a defensive graduate assistant at Ball State University (2004), Dayton (2002-2003) and Lakeland College (2001). Fox began his coaching career as an assistant varsity coach at Preble Shawnee High School in Camden, Ohio during the 2000 season. During his playing days, Fox was a team captain and all-conference performer at Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio from 1995-1999 and graduated with a degree in physical education and health in May 2000 before earning his master’s degree in education from Lakeland in May 2002.

On the Road Again

• Valpo starts the season with back-to-back road games for the seventh time in the last 15 years. The last five times Valpo started with consecutive road dates, the Beacons found themselves 0-2 leading into their home opener.
• Because this week’s game at Indiana Wesleyan is followed by an early bye week, Valpo will have to wait until the Sept. 23 homecoming game vs. Marist to kick off the home slate. This will mark Valpo’s latest home opener since 2009 (Sept. 26).
• The nonconference season provides a challenging gauntlet again this year with Youngstown State and Indiana Wesleyan on the road before a home date with Southwest Minnesota State.
• Valpo is looking to snap an eight-game road nonconference losing streak that dates back to Sept. 16, 2017 at Trinity International.

Just for Kicks

• Valpo punter Evan Matthes averaged 45.8 yards per attempt over five efforts in Week 1 at Youngstown State.
• His day was highlighted by a 70-yard boot, the longest of his career and the longest by a Valpo player since Ben Niesner’s 72 yarder on April 17, 2021 vs. San Diego.
• Matthes owns the second-longest punt in the FCS nation this season behind Kylan Dupre of Nicholls, who booted one 71 yards. Matthes and Dupre join Matt Hayball of Vanderbilt (71) and Tyler Perkins of Iowa State (70) as the only punters in the Division-I nation (FBS or FCS) with an effort of 70 yards or more this season.
• Valpo debuted a new-look placekicking situation in Week 1 as redshirt senior Patrick Oliva sent one through the uprights from 30 yards out on his first career field-goal attempt while also knocking through a PAT. In addition, redshirt sophomore Ryan Hawk, who had played in two games over his first two seasons, handled kickoffs and averaged 61.0 yards per kick and one touchback on three attempts.

Receiver Room

• A trio of Beacons had three catches or more in the season opener, led by Preseason All-PFL honoree Solomon Davis, who hauled in four catches for 56 yards. The bulk of Davis’ damage came on a 53-yard connection from quarterback Michael Appel Jr. late in the first half for Valpo’s longest play of the day.
• This marked Davis’ fourth career catch of 50 yards or more, with the others all coming last season – Oct. 29 at Dayton (67), Sept. 3 vs. Indiana Wesleyan (58) and Nov. 5 vs. St. Thomas (55).
• Davis’ familiar face was joined by a pair of newcomers to form a trio of Beacons who shined in the pass catching game. Transfers Brandon Jimenez (four catches, 52 yards) and Moise Tezzo (three catches, 21 yards) played a factor in their Valpo debuts.

Other Notes Wrapping Up Week 1: Youngstown State 52, Valpo 10

• The two-yard TD plunge by Ryan Mann represented his first score in a Valpo uniform.
• Youngstown State improved to 41-2 in its last 43 nonleague home games. They brought back the bulk of their starters from a team that went 7-4 overall and 5-3 in the MVFC.
• This marked Valpo’s first Thursday night game since 2019 at Eastern Kentucky, the first game of the Landon Fox head coaching era.
• The defense was paced by Colin Graves, who accumulated eight tackles, while Evan Annis registered seven in his return to the gridiron after missing all of last season with a knee injury.

Scouting the Opponent – Indiana Wesleyan

• Started the season with a 56-7 victory over Lawrence Tech (Mich.) on Saturday.
• Ranked fifth nationally in NAIA.
• After falling at Valpo in last year’s season opener, won 11 straight games before losing at Northwestern College (Iowa) in the NAIA national semifinal.
• Under the direction of first-year head coach Andrew Rode after former head coach Jordan Langs departed to become the running backs coach and special teams coordinator at Iowa State.

Preseason Picks

• Valpo was picked sixth of 11 in the preseason poll.
• WR Solomon Davis and TE Evan Jernegan were recognized with Preseason All-PFL honors.
• Evan Matthes was named to the FCS Punter of the Year Award Watch List.
• Six Valpo players earned Phil Steele First All-PFL honors – WR Solomon Davis on the first team; TE Evan Jernegan, DL Sam Hafner, DL Kevin Spelman and P Evan Matthes on the second team and LB Evan Annis along with Spelman (as a long snapper) on the third team.

2022 Valpo Football Feats

• Winning on the road is never easy, but Valpo finished out a successful season in terms of Pioneer Football League games away from Brown Field with the 45-24 win at Marist in Week 11. The team finished 3-1 in league road games, the first time Valpo has won three PFL road games in the same season since the league was founded in 1993.
• In addition, 2022 marks the first time Valpo has won three league road games in the same season since 1962.
• Valpo finished with a PFL record of .500 or better for a third consecutive season. This is the program’s first such stretch since 1998-2000. Prior to that, Valpo had not had a league record of .500 or better in three straight years since doing so in four straight seasons from 1961-1964.
• The program has won four PFL games in the same season for the third straight year and just the fourth time ever. Prior to the Spring 2021 season, Valpo had won four league games in a season just once since 1968, with the one instance coming in 2017.
• To put the last note in further perspective, Valpo had won four Pioneer Football League games once in 26 seasons prior to Fox’s arrival. Now, the program has reached that threshold for league wins in three of his first four seasons. (Although, in fairness, the program played only four to five league games per year in each of its first 13 PFL seasons.)
• Fox’s team achieved yet another program first with the Week 11 win at Marist. That marked the program’s first-ever win in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (previously 0-4) and the team’s second win over Marist in any location (previously 1-9, last win in 2017 at Brown Field.)
• That one was the latest on a growing list of the program’s feats, as earlier in the season Valpo garnered the program’s first win at Morehead State since 2006.
• Also during the Fox Era, Valpo has achieved its first-ever win at Drake, its first win over Drake in any location since 2003 and its first win over San Diego since 2003.
• During the 2021 campaign, Valpo prevailed 47-3 in a game at rival Butler, setting a program record for margin of victory in a game against a Division-I opponent. Valpo and Butler are instate foes who play for the Hoosier Helmet rivalry trophy.

2022 PFL Postseason Plaudits

• Seven members of Valpo’s program earned All-PFL First or Second Team status, while three others received Honorable Mention nods as the league announced its postseason awards on Tuesday, Nov. 29.
• Redshirt junior wide receiver Solomon Davis, fifth-year senior running back Aaron Dawson, redshirt senior offensive lineman Aaron Byrd and redshirt senior linebacker Ben Hines were named to the All-PFL First Team.
• Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Sam Hafner, fifth-year senior defensive back Kohlton Sherman and redshirt senior punter Evan Matthes were tabbed to the All-PFL Second Team.
• Redshirt freshman tight end Evan Jernigan, redshirt junior wide receiver Matt Ross and redshirt freshman defensive lineman and long snapper Kevin Spelman (at both positions) received PFL Honorable Mention.
• All 10 players recognized were first time All-PFL honorees, with the exception of Byrd, who had earned All-PFL Honorable Mention twice previously but was a first time First Team choice.

2022 Academic Accolades

• ­Five members of the program were recognized as Academic All-District selections by College Sports Communicators (CSC, formerly known as CoSIDA).
• Redshirt sophomore linebacker James Doerer (communication), redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Sam Hafner (biology), junior defensive lineman Kurt Kessen (mechanical engineering), redshirt junior wide receiver Matt Ross (digital media) and fifth-year senior defensive back Kohlton Sherman (business) were all recognized.
• In order to qualify for the honor, an individual must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average, be a starter or important reserve, have reached at least sophomore academic and athletic status and have been at their institution for at least one calendar year.
• Valpo shattered a program record for PFL Honor Roll members in 2022, placing 64 individuals on the honor roll. The previous program record of 60 was established in 2018 and tied in 2021.

Inside the Staff: Head coach Landon Fox has welcomed several newcomers to his staff for the 2023 campaign.

• Matthew Symmes (offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach) is in his first season. He has an impressive resume that features Power-5 FBS and NFL coaching experience. Prior to his most recent assignment as senior defensive analyst/assistant linebackers coach at East Carolina University, he was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers coaching staff from 2018-2020, serving as quarterbacks coach and offensive assistant. He was the NFL’s youngest QB coach in 2019, and helped the Steelers to the 2020 AFC North Championship. He was also on staff at ECU when the team went to bowl games in 2021 and 2022.
• David Marquis (defensive coordinator / defensive backs coach) is in his first season at Valpo after previously serving as defensive coordinator at Wittenberg University. He was the linebackers coach at Dayton under then Flyers defensive coordinator Landon Fox from May 2017 to March 2019.
• RJ Ghilarducci (co-defensive coordinator / recruiting coordinator / linebackers coach) is in his fourth season at Valpo, the staff’s longest-tenured assistant. He was promoted to co-defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator prior to the 2023 campaign and shifted to linebackers coach after previously working with the defensive line.
• Andrew Prevost (offensive line coach / run game coordinator / assistant head coach) is in his first season at Valpo after a stint on staff at the University of South Dakota since 2016. He helped the Coyotes reach the FCS Playoffs in 2017 and 2021. Prevost was elevated to offensive line coach at South Dakota in 2018.
• Other offensive coaches include Bryan Parker (wide receivers), Trevor McConnell (running backs), Nate Van Asperen (tight ends) and Cam Burnette (quality control). Other defensive coaches include Jackson Smith (defensive line), Curtis Harper (assistant defensive line) and Owen Chandler (assistant defensive backs).
• Symmes, Van Asperen and Burnette will be in the press box for the offensive staff, while Prevost, Parker and McConnell will be on the field.
• Ghilarducci and Chandler will be in the press box for the defensive staff, while Marquis, Smith and Harper will be on the field.
• The staff also features Nathan Richards (Director of Football Operations), Luke Campbell (Associate Director of Sports Performance), Nicole Mioduski (primary football athletic trainer) and Mason Williams (head equipment management).

Transfer Tracker: While developing homegrown talent remains a key element of Valpo’s program, the team has also found success recruiting via the transfer portal. Defensive back Tyler Geiman (Dubuque), linebacker Mohamed Kamara (Hope), wide receiver Johnny Foley (Lehigh), linebacker Kobey Fitzgerald (UCLA), wide receiver Brandon Jimenez (Albany), wide receiver Brandon Barthel (American River), linebacker Jimmy Pouba (College of the Sequoias), defensive back Kalil Brown (Albion), wide receiver Moise Tezzo (Millsaps), running back Jashon Butler (Arizona), tight end Mike York, offensive lineman Ryan Pauley (Presbyterian), kicker Liam Shepherd (Ball State) and defensive lineman Onye Nwosisi (Miskingum) have all joined the program as transfers.

Roster Rundown: The program has continued to bring in talent from all over the United States. This year’s roster features athletes from nearly half of the 50 states as 22 states are represented. Illinois is the state most represented on Valpo’s roster as 21 players hail from the Land of Lincoln. Other states in double figures are Indiana (17), California (15) and Ohio (14). The program has over doubled its instate talent, featuring 17 Hoosiers this year after having eight a year ago.

Who’s Back: The 2023 Beacons boast five returning starters on offense and seven on defense.

Family Tree

• LB Evan Annis has a pair of older brothers who played college football. Brett played at Division-III Capital, while Kyle played at – and we’re going to whisper this one – Butler.
• Wide receiver Cam Livingston is a third-generation Division-I football player. His grandfather Brian played at Ohio State and his father Robert played for – here we go again – Butler.
• QB Michael Appel Jr. has two family members who played football at Morehead State University – father Mike (1993-1997) and uncle Jim (1989-1992)… The Morehead State annual academic award is named after his father and uncle as both were Academic All-Americans at MSU.
• Kicker Patrick Oliva’s cousin is Tad Boyle, the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Colorado.
• WR EJ Locke’s father Eric Locke Sr. played football at Illinois State, Valpo’s Week 2 opponent.
• LB Hayden Bedell’s cousin is former Valpo offensive lineman Drew Parrish.
• DB Etwood Williams’ father Arthur played football at Illinois State from 1991-1993, cousin Rodney Peete played at USC and went on to a long NFL career from 1989-2004. His cousin Shawn Buchanon played baseball at Nebraska and went on to a five-year minor league career in the Chicago White Sox organization.
• DL Amar Elmore’s cousin Markus Wheaton played college football at Oregon State and went on to play in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2013-2016), Chicago Bears (2017) and Philadelphia Eagles (2018).
• TE Jalen Jones’ uncle Derrick Coleman was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft. Coleman went on to play in the NBA from 1990-2005, was the 1991 NBA Rookie of the Year and was an NBA All-Star in 1994.
• DL Sam Hafner’s great aunt Louise Erickson played professional women’s basketball for three years (Racine Belles one year, Rockford Peaches two years).
• DL Logan Chastain’s father Dan was a catcher at the University of Portland, was drafted out of high school by the Montreal Expos in the 57th round of the 1991 MLB Draft and played minor league baseball in the Marlins organization.
• QB Caron Tyler’s father is rapper Aaron Tyler, better known by stage name MC Eiht.
• DB Mark Johnson’s father Mark played football at Vanderbilt form 1986-91.
• OL James Owsley’s father Kent played football at Iowa from 1986-1990.
• WR Bennett McCormick’s paternal grandfather Thomas McCormick signed to play football at Wisconsin when they had a freshman football team before he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies, but instead left to join the Korean War.

Did You Know? #BeaconBits

• Quarterback Jeffrey Jackson was a 2010 Jiu-Jitsu World Champion.
• Linebacker Evan Annis played lacrosse for 10 years.
• Both of WR Solomon Davis’ parents retired from the Navy.
• DB Ousmane Dabo is ambidextrous, as is OL James Owsley.
• DB Austin Chilton lives a few minutes from Walt Disney World and can hear the Magic Kingdom Fireworks from his neighborhood every night. His career goal is to design and build rollercoasters for Disney World.
• DB Andy Cole was adopted from Ethiopia, Africa when he was 8 years old.
• LB Justin Jurmu’s oldest brother Jordan was a national finalist in the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship in 2015 at Augusta National.
• DL Alex Goworowski has never seen Star Wars, Rocky, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones or Caddyshack.
• DL Dawson Rye had a pet aquatic frog for over 15 years.
• TE Evan Jernegan has built out the biggest Lego set, the UCS Millennium Falcon.
• DL Kurt Kessen was his high school’s valedictorian.
• K Ryan Hawk is a certified advanced scuba diver.
• NFL QB Colt McCoy came to DB Johnny Bebie’s house and drove him and his brothers to school in first grade.
• OL Noah Kline’s extended family is so large that at one point he had a relative living in every state except Maine.

Player-by-Player Quick Hits – Projected Offensive Starters

*Based on two-deep, starters subject to change

• WR-x #10 Solomon Davis, R-Sr. – Ranked among the PFL leaders in receptions per game (3.48, ninth), receiving yards per game (62.33, fifth), yards per catch (17.4, fifth), total receptions (43, fifth) and total receiving yards (748, second) last season after he had just one career catch in his first three seasons on Valpo’s campus… Preseason All-PFL choice, Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL First Team... Hauled in a 53-yard catch in Week 1 at Youngstown State.
• LT #55 Brett Gray, R-So. – Played in 11 games and made eight starts in 2022.
• C #62 Carter Woody, Sr. – Started all 12 games in 2022.
• QB #12 Michael Appel Jr., R-So. – During the 2022 campaign, had the best single-game passing output by a Valpo player in five years with a career-high 323 passing yards in Week 9 at Dayton… Ranked among the PFL leaders in the following categories in 2022 – total offense (155.36, seventh), passing yards per game (170.7, fifth), total passing yards (1,878; fifth), pass efficiency (129.55, fifth), pass attempts (253, sixth), yards per completion (12.6, third), completions (149, fifth), yards per attempt (7.42, third), passing TDs (10, eighth) and completion percentage (58.89, third).
• LG #50 Nico Paic, R-Fr. – Was converted from offensive line to defensive line prior to the 2023 campaign.
• RG #65 Mason Smith, R-Fr. – Saw action in two games in 2022 including the season finale at New Mexico State.
• RT #78 Keith Szczepanski, R-Jr. – Played in all 12 games and made four starts in 2022.
• TE #89 Jake Vickers, R-Jr. – Made seven catches for 105 yards and one touchdown while playing in nine games in 2022.
• WR-z #8 Brandon Jimenez, Jr. – Joined the program prior to the 2023 season as a transfer from Albany.
• RB #34 Ryan Mann, R-So. – Played in all 12 games in 2022 after transferring from Northern Illinois... Scored his first career touchdown, plunging in from two yards out, in Week 1 at Youngstown State.

Player-by-Player Quick Hits – Projected Defensive Starters

*Based two-deep, starters subject to change

• DE #90 Sam Hafner, R-Jr. – Named to the All-PFL Second Team, Academic All-PFL First Team and CSC Academic All-District Team in 2022... Played in all 12 games... Had 65 tackles (26 solos), nine TFL, five sacks, three forced fumbles and three QB hurries... Ranked ninth in the PFL in sacks per game at 0.42... Tied for the PFL lead with three forced fumbles... Had a season-high 10 tackles in the Sept. 3, 2022 opener vs. Indiana Wesleyan
• DT #93 Kurt Kessen, Sr. – Named to the Academic All-PFL First Team, CSC Academic All-District Team and was the team’s Scholar-Athlete Award winner last season... Played in all 12 games, totaling 46 tackles (12 solos), a sack, eight QB hurries, three pass breakups and one blocked kick... Accrued a season-high 10 tackles on Sept. 24, 2022 vs. San Diego... Blocked an extra point on Oct. 15 vs. Butler.
• NG #96 Logan Chastain, So. – Named the team’s Newcomer of the Year last season... Played in all 12 games in 2022 and had 23 tackles (eight solos), 2.5 TFL, two sacks and three QB hurries... Had two sacks on Oct. 8 at Presbyterian.
• DE #91 Kevin Spelman, R-So. – Was the only PFL player and one of 25 players nationally named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List for the honor presented annually to the nation’s top FCS freshman last season… Tied for fifth in the PFL in sacks and was one of nine players in the league with multiple forced fumbles in 2022... Ranked fourth in the nation in sacks by a freshman in 2022... Earned All-PFL Honorable Mention at both defensive line and long snapper last season.
• LB (W) #40 Wade Abrams, R-Fr. – Played in three games during his first year on campus in 2022, retaining four seasons of eligibility.
• LB (M) #2 Evan Annis, R-Sr. – Earned all PFL honors in Spring 2021 (Second Team) and Fall 2021 (HM) but missed all of last season with a knee injury.
• LB (nickel) #3 Mohamed Kamara, Sr. – Transfer from Hope College, where he was MIAA all-conference.
• CB #6 Caleb Rao, R-So. – Had an interception and a fumble return touchdown in Week 2 of 2022 at Illinois State… Recorded 22 tackles (16 solos), had 1.5 TFL, two fumble recoveries, five pass breakups and an interception last season.
• S #20 Austin Chilton, R-Sr. – Had 28 tackles (16 solos) while seeing action in all 12 games last season.
• S #26 Colin Graves, Jr. – Had 61 tackles (23 solos), four TFL, 0.5 sacks, an interception and four pass breakups last season... Paced the team with eight tackles in Week 1 at Youngstown State.
• CB #1 Tyler Geiman, R-Sr. – Transfer who was a Division-III All-American at Dubuque.

Specialist Quick Hits – Projected Starters

• P #11 Evan Matthes, 6^th – Ranked second in the league in punting average at 41.38 yards per punt last season... Named to the All-PFL Second Team, the Phil Steele All-PFL Second Team and was tabbed the team’s Special Teams Player of the Year in 2022... Booted a 70-yard punt in Week 1 at Youngstown State, the second-longest punt in the FCS nation that week.
• K #99 Ryan Hawk, R-So. – Did not see game action last year… Played in two games in Fall 2021.
• K #21 Patrick Oliva, R-So. – Has played in one career game prior to this year, Sept. 18, 2021 vs. Dartmouth, when he made one kickoff... Made his first career field goal in Week 1 at Youngstown State, a 33 yarder.