The Valparaiso University football team scored a pair of third-quarter touchdowns, but an early deficit was too much in a 42-17 defeat to San Diego on Saturday afternoon at Torero Stadium. Chris Duncan (Woodland Hills, Calif. / Woodland Hills-Taft) went 16-of-26 through the air for 182 yards. Eight different Valpo players recorded a reception in the game.  

How It Happened

• San Diego opened the scoring immediately with an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Reid Sinnett to Alex Spadone after a Valpo turnover.
• Valpo responded with a field goal with just over three minutes left in the first quarter after a short punt by San Diego set up favorable field position. Dimitrios Latsonas (Westmont, Ill. / Westmont) converted the field goal from 38 yards out.
• Valpo forced two punts to end the first quarter down only 7-3.
• Sinnett threw his second passing touchdown of the day on a two-play, 65-yard drive with Michael Bandy on the TD catch.
• After a Valpo punt, the Toreros would embark on a 13-play, 78-yard scoring drive that ended in an eight-yard pass to Bandy for his second score, upping the lead to 21-3.
• The Valpo offense fumbled on the first play of the next drive with under a minute left in the half, and San Diego took only 13 seconds to score, extending the lead to 28-3.
• Valpo started the second half strong, scoring on its first possession. The team went 75 yards in nine plays which featured Duncan breaking a tackle and diving into the endzone for a 12-yard score. The Brown & Gold pulled within 18 at 28-10.
• The Toreros didn’t take long to respond as they threw a 75-yard pass to Bandy for his third score of the day, making it 35-10.
• Duncan again led the Valpo offense on its second drive of the second half. That possession ended with the quarterback’s second rushing TD of the day to cap an eight-play, 75-yard drive to make it 35-17.
• San Diego again responded with a scramble by Sinnett from 15 yards out that capped the scoring.

Inside the Game

• Duncan completed 61 percent of his passes for 182 yards while also rushing for 36 yards and two TDs.
• Ollie Reese (Franklin, Tenn. / Battle Ground) had six receptions for a season-high 78 yards.
• Elias Earley (Land O’Lakes, Fla. / Carrollwood Day) led the team in rushing with 38 yards on 11 carries. He had the longest rush of the game at 31 yards.  
• Oscar Lopez (Chelsea, Mass. / Revere [Vermilion CC]) had his longest reception of the season with a 34-yard catch in the third quarter to set up Valpo’s second touchdown of the game.
• Deuce Larose (Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Cardinal Gibbons) was second on team in receptions with three for 30 yards and a long of 16.
• The Valpo defense forced San Diego to punt four times in the first five possessions.
• Jamari Booker (Kentwood, Mich. / East Kentwood) had a nine-tackle output to lead the team.

Up Next

Valpo (0-7, 0-3 PFL) will return home to face Stetson next week. The game will kick off at noon on ESPN+ and 95.1 FM Valparaiso – WVUR. Links to live coverage will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.