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.

Samuel became the eighth player in FCS and 11^th nationally in Division-I (FCS and FBS) to block two kicks in a single game this season, turning away a pair of punts in Valpo’s 23-20 overtime victory over Stetson on Saturday. He blocked a first-quarter punt that the Beacons recovered in the end zone for their first touchdown of the game, before blocking another in the fourth quarter that Valpo returned 51 yards to set up a go-ahead score.

Samuel is now tied for fifth in program history for blocked kicks in a season, joining Brett Bittner (Fall 2021) and Adam Rundh (2008) with three apiece. This marks the second straight week that Valpo has claimed PFL Special Teams Player of the Week honors after Evan Matthes received the nod last week.

The Beacons, who have won back-to-back games, will close out the season on Saturday, Nov. 18 at St. Thomas at 1 p.m.