The Valparaiso University football program has announced its team awards for the opening week of the 2022 season after a 20-17 victory over Indiana Wesleyan on Saturday night at Brown Field.

Fifth-year senior running back Aaron Dawson (Westbury, N.Y. / W.T. Clarke / Milford Prep [Central Connecticut]) was named the Offensive Player of the Week, while redshirt freshman defensive lineman Kevin Spelman (New Lenox, Ill. / Providence Catholic) garnered Defensive Player of the Week recognition and redshirt senior kicker Brian Bartholomew (Sugar Grove, Ill. / Kaneland) received the squad’s Special Teams Player of the Week nod.

In addition, the program announced the following Scout Team Players of the Week – freshman running back Andre Tarver Jr. (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Kalamazoo Central) on offense, freshman linebacker Matthew Cotterman (Germantown, Ohio / Valley View) on defense and freshman wide receiver Jacob Stewart (Brooklyn, N.Y. / St. Joseph by the Sea) on special teams.

Dawson had 147 yards on 22 carries in his Valpo debut, while Spelman had five tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Bartholomew went 2-for-2 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra points on a night that was highlighted by a career-long 50-yard field goal that snapped a 17-all tie with 1:36 remaining. He was also named PFL Special Teams Player of the Week.