Sunday, November 23, 2003

OFFICIAL STATISTICS

Valparaiso, Ind. � David Macchi threw for four touchdowns and rushed for two scores as Valparaiso won the Pioneer Football League Championship Game, defeating Morehead State 54-42. The victory gave the Crusaders their first outright PFL title since joining the league as a charter member in 1993. Valparaiso won a share of the 2000 title prior to the championship game format that began in 2001.

Macchi, a senior, finished his final collegiate game with 448 total yards � 360 through the air and 88 on 17 carries. He completed 22 of 34 passes without an interception. A major factor in the contest was that the Crusaders did not commit a turnover and turned one of Morehead State�s two miscues into a 76-yard fumble return for a touchdown by James Riker in the first quarter.

The game was an offensive showcase as the two teams combined for 956 yards � 488 by Valparaiso and 468 by MSU. Valparaiso�s Rob Giancola, who ranks 2nd in I-AA in receiving yards, caught five passes for 140 yards and Kevin Knutson made five receptions for 107 yards. David Caudill completed 21 of 37 passes for 331 yards for the Eagles.

The championship caps off an inspiring campaign as Valparaiso (8-4) rebounded from a 1-10 record in 2002 and defeated the likes of perennial PFL champion Dayton, as well as San Diego and Drake, to capture a PFL North Division Co-Championship. Morehead State (8-3), the PFL South Division Champion, entered the game as the #1 ranked team in all three NCAA I-AA mid-major polls.

The Crusaders, who led the entire game, endured an offensive shootout in the second half that featured 70 combined points � 35 by each team. Leading 19-15 with 14:11 left in the third quarter, Valparaiso scored 14 unanswered points after three significant plays. Following a 49-yard kickoff return by Kevin Grimoldby, Macchi connected with Giancola who made a fingertip catch at the 4-yard line for a 38-yard gain to set up Macchi�s 1-yard plunge. After Valparaiso�s defense stopped Morehead State on three plays, the Crusaders benefited from perhaps the game-changing play of the day. The Eagles were setting up to punt when the ball was snapped over the head of punter Aaron Charles who was penalized for illegally kicking the ball back at the Eagle 2-yard line. Following the 1-yard, half-the-distance-to-the-goal-line penalty, Macchi�s second straight quarterback sneak resulted in another 1-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 33-15.

Morehead State, behind senior quarterback Caudill, came roaring back with 15 consecutive points. Caudill hooked up with running back Eli Parkes on three passes for 64 yards to set up a 1-yard scamper by Caudill. Parkes then hauled in a pass from Caudill for a two-point conversion to cut the Eagle deficit to 33-23 with 6:26 remaining in the third quarter. After a three-and-out for the Valparaiso offense, Caudill directed a six-play, 47-yard drive that culminated with Daniel Morrison�s 2-yard touchdown run.

After each team punted, the fourth quarter began with a bang as Giancola made a sensational grab of a Macchi pass at the MSU 40-yard line and sprinted the rest of the way for an 88-yard touchdown. Making the play even more impressive was that Macchi was hit hard by an Eagle defender just after releasing the ball. The play diffused MSU�s momentum as the Eagles could not move the ball on their next possession. The big play during that sequence was a 12-yard sack of Caudill by freshman Michael Schnoor.

Macchi used his legs and two passes to Knutson to push Valparaiso�s lead to 17 points with 10:08 remaining. Macchi completed an 11-yard pass to Knutson on a third-and-12. Then, with a full-house backfield and the ends in tight on fourth-and-one, Macchi executed a bootleg around the right side for 22 yards. After rushing for 15 yards, Macchi found Knutson in the short left corner of the end zone for a 15-yard score.

Morehead State�s next drive was set up by a 40-yard kickoff return by Charles Byrd. Daniel Morrison, who led the Eagles with 57 yards, gained 11 yards and then caught a Caudill pass for 19 more. Following a 17-yard aerial to Drew Driskell, Caudill ran in from five yards to bring MSU within 11 (47-36).

In perhaps Valparaiso�s most significant possession of the year, Macchi guided the Crusaders on a 10-play, 75-yard drive that used nearly five minutes and ended with Nick Reid�s 1-yard touchdown run. Matt Van Daele caught two Macchi passes for 52 yards during the drive that expanded Valparaiso�s advantage to 54-36 with 3:42 remaining.

Adrian King completed an eight-play drive with a 3-yard scoring run and MSU�s onside kick was booted out-of-bounds. After MSU used its final timeout, Macchi ran nine yards for a first down and the Crusaders took a knee in victory formation on the game�s final three plays.

In the first quarter, Schnoor forced a fumble by Jabari McGee that Riker grabbed in mid-air and outraced the MSU offense 76 yards into the end zone.

In the second quarter, Valparaiso increased its lead to 13-0 when Knutson�s 34-yard reception from Macchi set up a 4-yard scoring pass from Macchi to tight end Tom Schmidt.

Macchi and Caudill matched each other on the next two possessions. Caudill struck quickly on three plays with a 47-yard touchdown pass to Chris Ginter, while Macchi finished an eight-play, 80-yard drive with a 2-yard pass to another tight end, Kenny Keil, to give Valparaiso a 19-7 halftime lead.

Valparaiso outpassed the Eagles 360 to 331 and each team�s rushing attack offset the other as MSU had 137 yards to Valparaiso�s 128. The time of possession was almost even as MSU held the ball 30:05 to Valparaiso�s 29:55. MSU had 26 first downs to 22 for the Crusaders.

Seniors John Tsahas and Lawrence Canada led Valparaiso with 11 tackles each. Schnoor added 10 stops and Nick Hausmann, a senior defensive tackle, made his first career interception. Byrd led MSU with eight tackles.