Valparaiso Beats Presbyterian 24-7 Despite Two Lost Fumbles
Rowan Keefe lost two fumbles, threw for no touchdowns and still ended up on the winning side of 24-7. Valparaiso did it by getting out in front early and then not letting Presbyterian back in the game.
Cedric Benning III ran in from a yard out at 12:05 of the first quarter, and Russell Tye added a 10-yard run at 12:19 of the second for a 14-0 lead. Presbyterian answered when Max Holtzclaw scored from 2 yards with 56 seconds left in the half, and that was its only score. Keefe ran in from a yard out early in the fourth for 21-7, and Luke Scoma kicked a 48-yard field goal at 5:37 to make it 24-7. Valparaiso never trailed and the margin never dropped below a touchdown after that.
Presbyterian ran far more than Valparaiso: 50 carries for 226 yards, against 32 carries for 104 for Valparaiso. Holtzclaw alone had 20 carries for 102 yards, but he was 13 of 30 for 116 yards with an interception, and the team scored a single touchdown on 357 total yards. Valparaiso, meanwhile, threw for 275 yards with Keefe at 21 of 29, and did not throw an interception.
Ashton Allen turned his one catch into 69 yards and Russell Tye had 6 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown, so Valparaiso's points came from several places.
Both teams are 3-4 after the game.
Fantasy takeaway: Holtzclaw, who has played two games this year, led the game with 20.8 points. Keefe's 17.4 came despite the two fumbles.