VALPARAISO (0-9) vs. LINDENWOOD (1-8)

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 9 - noon 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. 14 at 7 p.m. and Fri., Nov. 15 at 12:30 p.m.

THE COACHES: Valparaiso is guided by Tom Horne, who is 53-90-1 in his 14th season at Valpo. Lindenwood is led by Rick Gorzynski, who is 4-16 in his 2nd season.

SERIES RECORD: First Meeting

LAST WEEK: Valpo lost to Butler 52-22 last Saturday in Valparaiso. Lindenwood lost to Evangel 37-14 last Saturday.

WHAT'S NEXT: Valpo hosts Austin Peay next Saturday at noon in the season finale.

VALPO PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Valpo Players of the Week (named by the coaching staff): Offense - Kevin Knutson So., wide receiver; Defense - Ross Connor, So., end; Special Teams - Matt Van Daele, So.; Offensive Scout Team - Jake Feit, Fr., tight end; Defensive Scout Team - Matt Markowski, Fr., defensive back.

Valpo will host Lindenwood on Saturday at noon in the second game of a three-game homestand. The Crusaders (0-9) lost to Butler 52-22 last Saturday. Kevin Knutson, a sophomore wide receiver from River Falls, Wis./HS, caught seven passes for 82 yards, including two touchdowns of 25 and 16 yards from Joe Milazzo. Two other Valpo receivers also had productive games as Rob Giancola made four receptions for 163 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown, and Ryan Barno made five catches for 79 yards. Bryan Hollermeier, a senior halfback, rushed for a career-high 84 yards on 17 carries. A milestone was achieved last Saturday as senior offensive guard Tom Byrne started his 42nd consecutive game, breaking the Valpo record set by Eric Rodbro (1995-98). Lindenwood (1-8) lost to Evangel 37-14 last Saturday.

Macchi Ranks 3rd Nationally in Passing Yardage, 4th in Total Offense

David Macchi ranks 2nd in NCAA I-AA in passing yardage (308.8 ypg.) and 5th in total offense (321.4 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 (136.09) and 25th nationally.

Giancola 17th in NCAA I-AA in
Receiving Yards; Valpo 4th in Passing

Rob Giancola (Whiting, Ind./HS) ranks 3rd in the PFL and 17th nationally in receiving yards per game (96.0 ypg., 864 total). The sophomore is 6th in the league in receptions per game (4.1, 37 rec., 7 TD).....Valpo leads the PFL and ranks 4th nationally in passing offense (324.2 ypg.)......the Crusaders also top the PFL and stand 22nd in I-AA in punt return average (12.2 ypr.).....Valpo is 4th in the league in total offense (388.4 ypg.)......David Macchi has completed 169 of 311 passes (54.3%) for 2,779 yards and 16 TDs in nine games. He needs five touchdown passes to break Valpo's single-season record of 20 (Scott Lange, 1983). Macchi, in his first season, has moved into 7th place on Valpo's all-time passing yards list (2,779) and 9th place on the all-time total offense list with 2,893 yards....Chris Daniels (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame) is 7th in the league in all-purpose yards (111.7 ypg.) and 8th in kickoff returns (19.8 ypr.)......Kevin Knutson (River Falls, Wis./HS) is 9th in the PFL in receptions per game (3.4, 31 rec., 558 yards) and 10th in receiving yards (62.0 ypg.).....Ryan Barno (Milwaukee, Wis./Marquette) has made 30 receptions for 500 yards and three touchdowns......John Tsahas (Lake Station, Ind./Edison) leads the team and ranks 8th in the PFL in tackles (7.89 pg., 71 total). He stands tied for 9th in passes defended (1.0 pg.)......junior middle linebacker Lawrence Canada (Mequon, Wis./Lane College) is second on the Crusaders and 9th in the PFL in tackles (7.88 pg., 63 total)....Adam Hudak (Lowell, Ind./HS) is 5th in the league in field goals per game (0.9, 8-for-11).......punter Ryan Bateman (Chester, Cal./Shasta JC) ranks 5th in the PFL with 36.3 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 offensive coordinator Stacy Adams.

A LOOK AT LINDENWOOD:

The Lions (1-8) are affiliated with the NAIA and compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. After beginning the season with five straight losses, Lindenwood defeated Graceland University (33-6) on Oct. 12. Currently on a three-game losing streak, LU lost to Evangel 37-14 last Saturday. Coach Rick Gorzynski depends upon his defense to set the tone. Ends Mike Sullivan and Mike Harry, as well as linebacker Tony Sanders spearhead the attack. Offensively, quarterback Frank McGinty, running back Sherwin Ellis and split end Barrett Taylor are the key players. The Lions have been shut out three times and average 11 points per game. Over the last four games, Lindenwood is averaging 19.0 points.