On Sept. 26, the 22nd edition of the Battle for the Hoosier Helmet saw Butler come back from a double-digit deficit to soil the Valparaiso Beacons’ Homecoming and notch its first conference win of the year, 33-28.
On the Beacons’ first drive, junior defensive lineman Dantu Gardner Jr. got the Dawgs started early by picking off redshirt senior quarterback Rowan Keefe, which set up a 41-yard field goal by junior kicker Beck Janki. After both offenses traded stagnant drives, Valparaiso got back on track with a 10-play, 58-yard drive that culminated in a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Keefe.
The second quarter began with shock and awe as sophomore running back Michael Rumoro exploded through the Bulldog defense for a 78-yard rushing touchdown. Butler looked to respond on its next drive but fell short after junior quarterback Gabe Passini was sacked at Valpo’s 20-yard line and Janki’s ensuing field goal attempt drifted wide right.
After the Beacons went three-and-out, Butler capitalized on the defense’s effort by way of a 35-yard touchdown pass from Passini to senior wide receiver Nick Munson, who made an impressive diving catch in the back of the end zone. The Bulldogs entered halftime down 14-10.
Butler opened the third quarter where they left off, with Passini finding a wide-open Munson once again for a 40-yard touchdown grab. Keefe and the Beacon offense responded on the next drive with a 7-yard passing touchdown to redshirt senior wide receiver Devin Yeats.
A 26-yard rush by graduate running back Desmin Jackson and an 18-yard completion to Munson helped set up another Passini-to-Munson touchdown connection, this time for 14 yards through the air, and the Bulldogs took a 24-21 lead.
The final five minutes of the game were what people expected to see from this rivalry. Jackson cashed in six more points for the Dawgs with a 17-yard rushing touchdown, followed by a failed two-point conversion. Then, the Beacons had their best offensive drive of the second half, which resulted in a touchdown pass to redshirt junior wide receiver Micah Mackay in the corner of the end zone.
Butler got the ball again, but the Beacons’ defense forced them to punt. Keefe led Valpo down into Bulldog territory, absorbing a vicious hit from graduate linebacker Will Beesley along the way — which got Beesley ejected. On the final play of the game, Keefe tried to target Yeats once again, but the pass was broken up by first-year cornerback Kian Kelly to seal the win.
This win marks the fifth consecutive year that Butler has kept the Hoosier Helmet in Indianapolis. The 4-1 Dawgs will have next week off but will return on Oct. 10 to face the San Diego Toreros at home. Valparaiso drops to 1-3 on the year and hopes to get back in the win column against Morehead State on Oct. 3.