Was a tall task to pick off #9 NAIA Indiana Wesleyan. Valpo moves from that task to #29 FCS team (Massey Rating) Illinois State coming off a 38-0 loss to Wisconsin. Looking back on the last few ISU - Pioneer games the average score is about 42-10.
Zach Annexstead the former University of Minnesota starter will be at QB. 3 year starter Zeke Vandenbugh is name to know on defense at LB. 10 FBS transfers.
If Mikey Appel is questionable he should not touch the field in this game. Might be smart to limit Aaron Dawson reps as well.
Final Prediction: 35-3 Illinois State
Valpo Current FCS Rank Massey: 116/130 FCS
Prediction? Pain.
Prediction? cash baby cash!
Wee are a 33 point dog. :(
Not terrible so far , D with a sack , down 7 n driving on Redbirds 21
Tie game 7-7!!
7-7 end of First. Run defense is for real.
Broken play on the score. Fox built this in 4 years with covid.
I think other programs will come calling this summer
I know it's early but our first quarter defense has been outstanding other than the one blown coverage.
These Illinois State announcers are horrible. Not sure why I can't get Todd on the view our stream but I'm getting an error.
BOOOOM, Let's go !!!! 14-7 Valpo after a muffed punt !
Are you kidding me!!! Play of the week!
JEEEEEZUS 14-14 after a redbird kick return
21-14 beat deep again. Would be great if we could take this score into half
Where are the Fox trolls now? 89, re-thinking Valpo football? Very well coached and clearly a vast improvement at OC. One questionable call away from a tie at half from a full scholarship team that won the National Championship in 2015. Let's finish strong!
28-14 mid-late 3rd , would love continued fighting and keeping team under forty. Very admirable performance so far
Really fun game to watch, and I expected a beating, just like everyone else. It reminds me of the game against Montana a few seasons back, but I think that we have played even better than that game. Very impressed with what Kaplan did today. It didn't seem like he had much of an arm in prior games, but he has shown that ability moving forward, outside of just being able to run the ball. Defense is legit.
On side RECOVERY??? TBD , Give us a chance !
That was a horseshit call on the WR hold, but we can't complain overall, as we played well
A great team performance and very telling about what Coach Fox has built at Valpo! Congrats on a great game!
28-21 , without the blocked kicks and kick return for touchdown valpo was still one score away.
Some thoughts:
-Kaplan does not have arm talent Appel does but this man is a gamer, took every hit and stood right back up. Fought his butt off.
-Labus and Clarke showed some real promise
-Jernegan has had some critical catches so far this season
-Ross / Contreras looked good
-OL fought and didn't fall apart when Parrish got hurt.
-Fleming motioned into/ ran 3-4 formations I had not seen
-DL/LBs once again held a scholarship team to 3ish yards a pop.
- Horton got burnt a few times, had critical PI. Has been solid for 2 years will bounce back
- Colin Graves for being 170 fills hard on runs and is a sure tackler.
Great fight. Bodes well for PFL season.I'm sure between tonight and last years game Dartmouth has us on radar.
Excellent effort. Both QBs who've played look better than any QB other than Seewald in recent years.
It is true that we aren't sneaking up on Dartmouth again.
and Dartmouth has not played yet! They will get to see 2 game films on us... and we get nothing to setup for other than last-years' experience.
The new offensive coordinator is making a HUGE difference! Creative schemes and no fear of throwing the ball down field. Gotta love Coach Fox's zero interest in a "participation" trophy, He was pissed that we had a chance to win and didn't.
Looks like This football program is in the right direction. Let's see how they do in the conference - maybe they win the conference and get a trip to Fargo!
VU72 very well said. Down the field......big play right before the half if the qb has just a half second they are down inside the five or score. Also, the attitude by the coaches and team of not just showing up for a pay day ass whooping was relevant. They were there too win the game. Very proud of both the team and coaches performance. Its been crickets from the naysayer(s). Well done men!
I like what Paul reported in The Victory Bell about how unhappy this team was after the game. While some of us are sounding optimistic tones because of the close score against a very strong opponent, the players were PO'd that they didn't win.
They're not satisfied with symbolic victories. They believe they're good enough to beat these teams.
Valpo is only going to get stronger, I'm sure Dartmouth will come prepared, but so will we, lol. Hopefully Appel will be ready by then.
Great effort by the team! Enjoyed watching the game on the Marquee Network. This should be a fun season for our fans.