VALPARAISO (0-8, 0-3 PFL) vs. BUTLER (3-5, 1-2 PFL)

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 2 - 1 p.m. CST.
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., Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. and Fri., Nov. 8 at 12:30 p.m.

THE COACHES: Valparaiso is guided by Tom Horne, who is 53-89-1 in his 14th season at Valpo. Butler is led by Kit Cartwright, who is 3-5 in his 1st season.

SERIES RECORD: Butler leads 39-21.
LAST MEETING: 2001 - Butler won 38-21.

LAST WEEK: Valpo lost to San Diego 59-27 last Saturday in San Diego. Butler defeated Drake 48-44 last Saturday in Indianapolis.

WHAT'S NEXT: Valpo hosts Lindenwood Nov. 9 at noon CST.

VALPO PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Valpo Players of the Week (named by the coaching staff): Co-Offense - Tom Byrne, Sr., center; Bryan Hollermeier, Sr., running back; Defense - Adam Oas, So., defensive back; Special Teams - Matt Van Daele, So.; Offensive Scout Team - Andy Golitko, Fr., quarterback; Defensive Scout Team - Chad Shelton, So., defensive line.

Valpo will begin a three-game homestand by hosting Butler Saturday at 1 p.m. on Parents' Day. The Crusaders concluded their road slate with a 59-27 loss to San Diego in California. David Macchi threw for 427 yards and broke Valpo's single-season records for passing yards and total yards. With three games remaining, Macchi has 2,484 passing yards, surpassing previous recordholder Scott Lange's mark of 2,422 in 1983. Macchi also has 2,588 total yards, eclipsing Nick Browder's record of 2,318 in 1995. The Crusaders (0-8, 0-3 PFL), who amassed 539 yards in total offense against USD, received touchdown connections between Macchi and Bryan Hollermeier (61 yards), Kevin Knutson (54 yards) and Rob Giancola (20 yards).

Macchi Ranks 2nd Nationally in Passing Yardage, 4th in Total Offense

David Macchi ranks 2nd in NCAA I-AA in passing yardage (310.5 ypg.) and 4th in total offense (323.5 ypg.). The junior from San Jose, Cal./West Valley College/Willow Glen HS leads the Pioneer Football League in passing yardage and stands second in total offense. He also ranks 5th in the PFL in pass efficiency (138.41) and 21st nationally.

Giancola 22nd in NCAA I-AA in
Receiving Yards; Valpo 3rd in Passing

Rob Giancola (Whiting, Ind./HS) ranks 4th in the PFL and 22nd nationally in receiving yards per game (87.6 ypg., 701 total). The sophomore is 6th in the league in receptions per game (4.1, 33 rec., 6 TD).....Valpo leads the PFL and ranks 3rd nationally in passing offense (319.6 ypg.)......the Crusaders also top the PFL and stand 19th in I-AA in punt return average (12.8 ypr.).....Valpo is 4th in the league in total offense (377.5 ypg.)......David Macchi has completed 152 of 279 passes (54.5%) for 2,484 yards and 15 TDs in eight games. He needs six touchdown passes to break Valpo's single-season record of 20 (Scott Lange, 1983). Macchi, in his first season, has moved into 10th place on Valpo's all-time total offense list with 2,588 yards....senior Bryan Hollermeier (Denver, Colo./Mullen) stands 4th in the PFL and 27th nationally in punt returns (11.8 ypr.) ......Chris Daniels (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame) is 5th in the league in all-purpose yards (117.5 ypg.) and 6th in kickoff returns (20.1 ypr.)......Kevin Knutson (River Falls, Wis./HS) is 10th in the PFL in receiving yards (59.5 ypg.) and Ryan Barno (Milwaukee, Wis./Marquette) is 10th in receptions (3.1 pg.)......John Tsahas (Lake Station, Ind./Edison) leads the team with 70 tackles and eight pass breakups......junior middle linebacker Lawrence Canada (Mequon, Wis./Lane College) is second on the Crusaders with 51 tackles....Adam Hudak (Lowell, Ind./HS) is 5th in the league in field goals per game (0.9, 7-for-10).......punter Ryan Bateman (Chester, Cal./Shasta JC) ranks 5th in the PFL with 35.8 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 guest is associate head coach Sam Bernardi.

A LOOK AT BUTLER:

The Bulldogs (3-5, 1-2 PFL) snapped a four-game losing streak last week with a 48-44 win over Drake. First year head coach Kit Cartwright's team features a solid rushing attack which is complemented by an efficient passing game. Dale Jennings, a senior halfback, ranks second in the PFL and 28th nationally in rushing (93.6 ypg.) with 749 yards and 12 touchdowns on 146 carries. He has also caught 22 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore Ian Nelson has completed 55 of 98 passes for 638 yards and two touchdowns. Butler's most productive receiver has been senior Adam Lafferty, who has 29 receptions for 576 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, linebacker Parker Smith leads the Bulldogs with 83 tackles, including 11 for losses. Linebacker Lou Capizzi has made 77 tackles.