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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Valparaiso

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11/15/22 - Aaron Dawson, rSr/2023, Valparaiso + More +

NOV 14 PFL CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Aaron Dawson, Valparaiso, (RSr., RB, Westbury, New York),...Dawson was responsible for three touchdowns in Valparaiso's 45-24 PFL victory against Marist, Saturday - the Beacons' first-ever victory in Poughkeepsie. Dawson had 36 carries for 199 yards and two touchdowns and also had a touchdown reception as part of a two-reception, 36-yard outing and finished the day with 235 all-purpose yards. Dawson opened the game's scoring with a one-yard touchdown run with 52 seconds left in the first quarter. He added a 23-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter and then capped Valparaiso's scoring with a 62-yard scoring run. Dawson became the fourth Valparaiso runner to surpass 1,000 yards in a season, with Saturday's outing his fifth 100-yard effort of the year. - PFL Football

rSr/2023

RB Aaron Dawson, Valparaiso
News Source: Pioneer League Football
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11/12/22 - Aaron Dawson, rSr/2023, Valparaiso + More +

Aaron Dawson ran for 199 yards and scored twice and Valparaiso ended a two-game skid, beating Marist 45-24 on Saturday. A fifth-year senior who spent his first three collegiate years at Central Connecticut, Dawson now has 1,154 yards rushing, placing him second in school history in single-season rushing yardage. He is 204 yards shy of reaching Jeff Horton's single-season record of 1,358 set in 2005. Dawson scored the game's first touchdown when he crashed in from a yard out to end an eight-play, 80-yard drive with 52 seconds left in the first quarter.

After Marist got on the board with a 28-yard field goal from Luke Paladino on the ensuing drive, Valparaiso (5-5, 4-3 Pioneer Football League) proceeded to break it open with a field goal and a pair of touchdowns in succession. Brian Bartholomew kicked a 19 yarder with 7:58 to go before halftime, Appel threw a 13-yard score to Evan Jernegan a little more than three minutes later, then the Beacons wrapped up their second quarter scoring spree when Appel ran it in from the 6-yard line with 26 seconds remaining before intermission. Brock Bagozzi threw for 397 yards for Marist (4-6, 4-4) with two touchdowns and was intercepted twice. - Valparaiso/AP College Football

rSr/2023

RB Aaron Dawson, Valparaiso
News Source: Valparaiso/AP College Football
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10/26/22 - Aaron Dawson, rSr/2023, Valparaiso + More +

OCT 24 PIONEER FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Aaron Dawson, Valparaiso, (RSr., RB, Westbury, New York),...Dawson put together the FCS' eighth-best rushing performance of 2022, rushing for 241 yards in Valparaiso's 40-35 PFL win against Morehead State, Saturday. His 28-yard run with 5:37 remaining proved to be the eventual game-winning score as the Beacons improved to 3-1 in PFL play. Dawson also had a 45-yard touchdown run to open the second half's scoring, breaking a 21-21 halftime tie. He finished the day with 31 carries, 10 of those going for a first down or touchdown. In addition, Dawson was the PFL's lone 100-yard rusher during Week 8. He added 3 receptions for 11 yards to finish the game with 252 all-purpose yards (16th most in the FCS). - Pioneer Football

rSr/2023

RB Aaron Dawson, Valparaiso
News Source: Pioneer Football
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10/26/22 - Brian Bartholomew, rSr/2024, Valparaiso + More +

OCT 24 PIONEER FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brian Bartholomew, Valparaiso,...Bartholomew was 4-for-4 on PATs and 2-for-2 on field goals, accounting for 10 points in the eventual five-point victory. He drilled field goals from 26 and 48 yards and saw two of his eight kickoffs go for touchbacks. The senior’s perfect performance was a redemption effort after he had a rare off week in the previous week’s one-point loss to Butler. This marks the second time this season and third time in his career that Bartholomew has won the PFL Special Teams Player of the Week Award. Valpo (4-3, 3-1 PFL) will look to keep the success coming with a visit to Dayton this coming Saturday. - Valparaiso Football

rSr/2024

K Brian Bartholomew, Valparaiso
News Source: Valparaiso Football
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10/22/22 - Aaron Dawson, rSr/2023, Valparaiso + More +

Aaron Dawson's 28-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter lifted Valparaiso to a 40-35 win over Morehead State on Saturday. Dawson rushed for 241 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries for the Beacons (4-3, 3-1 Pioneer Football League). Dawson's run capped the scoring in a game that had four lead changes and four ties. The Eagles (2-5, 1-3) took their final lead after a pick-6 Cooper Krezek and Christian Graves' 73-yard TD reception before the Beacons rallied. Dawson had a 45-yard touchdown run to give the Beacons a 28-21 lead in the third quarter before the Eagles went ahead 35-31 early in the fourth. Brian Bartholomew's 48-yard field goal with 10 minutes cut the margin to one before Dawson's pivotal touchdown. Michael Appel threw for 245 yards and an interception for Valparaiso with Braden Contreras collecting 116 yards receiving with two TDs and Solomon Davis 109 yards. Morehead State's Grady Cramer was 25 of 45 for 326 yards passing with two TDs, both to Graves, and an interception. Graves had 115 yards receiving. The Beacons ended a four-game losing streak to the Eagles. - AP College Football

rSr/2023

RB Aaron Dawson, Valparaiso
News Source: AP College Football
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10/17/22 - Mason Kaplan, rSo/2026, Valparaiso + More +

SEPT 26 FEDEX GROUND FCS NATIONAL FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Mason Kaplan, Valparaiso, QB, R-Fr., 6-3, 220, Peachtree Corners, Georgia,...After entering the game with Valpo trailing 14-0, Kaplan helped the Beacons knock off defending PFL co-champion San Diego 28-21 – just their second win in the series since 2003. Kaplan scored on a two-yard run midway through the second quarter and passed for two- and 44-yard touchdowns in the second half. He finished with 146 yards of total offense, completing four of six passes. Honorable Mention: Vinson Davis, WR/RS, Charleston Southern; Sam Franklin, RB, UT Martin; Gevani McCoy, QB, Idaho; Joshua Pitsenberger, RB, Yale. - STATS FCS Football

rSo/2026

QB Mason Kaplan, Valparaiso
News Source: STATS FCS Football
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10/09/22 - Aaron Dawson, rSr/2023, Valparaiso + More +

Aaron Dawson ran for two touchdowns, including a 60-yard sprint for the final score of the game, and Valparaiso scored four unanswered touchdowns in the second half to down Presbyterian, 41-21 on Saturday. Tyler Wesley ran for two touchdowns and passed for a third to stake the Blue Hose to a 21-14 lead at intermission, but the Valparaiso defense allowed just 108 rushing yards, turned a second-half interception into the tying touchdown and stopped Presbyterian on fourth down twice in the fourth quarter. After Dylan Thibault was picked off on the second play of Presbyterian's first possession of the second half, Mikey Appel tied the game by hitting Solomon Davis with a 30-yard strike.

Mason Kaplan came in at quarterback on the next series for the Beacons (3-2, 2-0 Pioneer League), hitting Matt Ross from 11 yards out to take the lead to start the fourth quarter. Jahni Clark added a short touchdown run and Dawson sidestepped a would-be tackler at the line of scrimmage, bounced outside and raced down the sideline 60 yards for the final score. Appel completed 8 of 11 pass attempts for 127 yards and two touchdowns and Kaplan was 10 of 14 for 113 yards and a score. Dawson finished with 23 carries and 163 yards. Wesley finished 11 of 17 for 230 yards with a touchdown for Presbyterian (1-5, 0-3). - AP College Football

rSr/2023

RB Aaron Dawson, Valparaiso
News Source: AP College Football
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09/24/22 - Mason Kaplan, rSo/2026, Valparaiso + More +

Mason Kaplan threw for two touchdowns, ran for another and Valparaiso rallied to beat San Diego 28-21 on Saturday in a Pioneer Football League opener. Kaplan threw a 2-yard TD pass to Barret Labus to give the Beacons (2-2, 1-0) their first lead at 20-14 in the third quarter and connected with Solomon Davis on a 44-yarder to extend the lead early in the fourth. The Toreros recovered a fumble and scored on a 21-yard pass from Judd Erickson to Ja'seem Reed with under two minutes left but couldn't recover an onside kick. USD (1-3, 0-1) scored the game's first two touchdowns before Valparaiso rallied to cut the Toreros' lead to 14-13 at halftime. Kaplan - who shared quarterback duties with Michael Appel Jr. - entered the game in the second quarter and was 4-of-6 passing for 102 yards and added 44 yards on the ground. Davis had five catches for 118 yards and Labus had two TD catches. Erickson had two of USD's three touchdown passes. Reed had two TD catches. - AP College Football

rSo/2026

QB Mason Kaplan, Valparaiso
News Source: AP College Football
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09/07/22 - Brian Bartholomew, rSr/2024, Valparaiso + More +

SEPT 5 PIONEER LEAGUE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brian Bartholomew, Valparaiso, (RSr., K, Sugar Grove, Illinois),...Bartholomew's 50-yard field goal with 1:36 remaining helped Valparaiso down NAIA foe Indiana Wesleyan, 20-17, Saturday. His 50-yarder was one of only two 50-yard field goals in the FCS during the opening week and was the longest field goal of his career. Bartholomew also had a 30-yard field goal to tie the game in the first quarter and connected on his two PATs. He also handled kickoff duties with three touchbacks on five kickoffs. - Pioneer League Football

rSr/2024

K Brian Bartholomew, Valparaiso
News Source: Pioneer League Football
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09/05/22 - Michael Appel Jr., rJr/2026, Valparaiso + More +

Freshman Dawson Pierson kicked a 50-yard field goal with 1:36 remaining and Valparaiso escaped with a 20-17 victory over NAIA-member Indiana Wesleyan in a season opener on Saturday. Freshman Michael Appel Jr. connected with Solomon Davis for a 58-yard score to give Valparaiso a 10-3 lead early in the second quarter. Freshman Mason Kaplan ran 20 yards for a TD on his only carry of the first half and the Beacons led 17-3 at halftime. Xander Stokes passed to freshman Markell Stephens-Peppers for a 72-yard score in the third quarter to get Indiana Wesleyan within 17-10. Daniel Weems, another freshman, scored on an 8-yard run following a 59-yard punt return by Justin Johnson to knot the score at 17-17. Indiana Wesleyan beat Valparaiso 28-10 to open last season in the only other meeting between the schools. - AP College Football

rJr/2026

QB Michael Appel Jr., Valparaiso
News Source: AP College Football
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08/08/22 - Brian Bartholomew, rSr/2024, Valparaiso + More +

2022 PRESEASON ALL-PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE TEAM (COACHES): PK Brian Bartholomew, Valparaiso,...Bartholomew was an All-PFL First Team selection last season while also earning Phil Steele All-PFL First Team honors. He was named the PFL Special Teams Player of the Week on Nov. 6. Last season marked Bartholomew's second straight All-PFL First Team nod, as he also earned that recognition in Spring 2021, when he was named the team's Most-Improved Player as well. Bartholomew finished the Fall 2021 season tied for second in single-season program history with 12 made field goals and fifth in the program record book with 32 made PATs. He led the PFL in both field-goal percentage and made field goals per game. He had a streak of 40 consecutive made PATs that ended on Nov. 13 at Butler, when his lone miss of the season came from added distance after a 15-yard penalty. - Valparaiso Football

rSr/2024

K Brian Bartholomew, Valparaiso
News Source: Valparaiso Football
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08/08/22 - Aaron Byrd, rJr/2023, Valparaiso + More +

2022 PRESEASON ALL-PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE TEAM (COACHES): OL Aaron Byrd, Valparaiso,...Byrd was named All-PFL Honorable Mention each of the last two seasons while also earning All-PFL Second Team in each of those years. Furthermore, Byrd was named the Sever Award Winner in both Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 as that award is bestowed upon the team's top offensive lineman. The leader of Valpo's offensive line, Byrd was also named to the Phil Steele All-PFL Fourth Team in Fall 2021. - Valparaiso Football

rJr/2023

OG Aaron Byrd, Valparaiso
News Source: Valparaiso Football
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08/08/22 - Chuck Maxwell, Jr/2025, Valparaiso + More +

2022 PRESEASON ALL-PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE TEAM (COACHES): RS Chuck Maxwell, Valparaiso,...Maxwell was tabbed All-PFL Second Team each of the last two seasons and was Phil Steele All-PFL First Team last fall. He was named a Freshman All-American by HERO Sports following the Spring 2021 campaign. In Spring 2021, Maxwell finished as the national leader in kickoff return average at 29.8 yards per return. In Fall 2021, he ranked 13th nationally in total kick return yards and 22nd in kickoff return average while leading the league in both total kickoff return yards (599) and kickoff return average (24.96). - Valparaiso Football

Jr/2025

WR Chuck Maxwell, Valparaiso
News Source: Valparaiso Football
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11/13/21 - Ben Nimz, rSr/2024, Valparaiso + More +

Ben Nimz threw three touchdown passes, Robert Washington ran for two scores, and Valparaiso rolled past Butler 47-3 on Saturday. Nimz completed 19 of 24 passes for 241 yards. His touchdowns were 6 yards to Connor Hebbeler, 15 yards to Barret Labus and 38 yards to Matt Ross, all in the first half. Nimz scored on a 7-yard run, also in the first half, as the Beacons (4-6, 4-3 Pioneer Football League) built a 30-3 lead. Washington had 14 carries for 102 yards. Both of his touchdowns came in the second half, on runs of 1 and 6 yards. Butler (2-8, 0-7) managed just 191 yards of total offense. Bret Bushka completed 9 of 18 passes for 82 yards and was the Bulldogs' leading rusher with 39 yards. The Beacons had 421 yards of total offense. - AP College Football

rSr/2024

QB Ben Nimz, Valparaiso
News Source: AP College Football
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11/06/21 - Ollie Reese, Sr/2022, Valparaiso + More +

Nick Orekoya, who had one touchdown this season and two for his career, ran for four including the game-clincher Saturday as Valparaiso fended off Presbyterian 65-55 on Saturday. Orekoya tied a program record with his four rushing touchdowns and Valparaiso's total of eight rushing TDs bested the program record of seven. In the combined 120 points, Valparaiso's 65 are the most since 1986 and fifth-highest in program history. Robert Washington carried 26 times for 234 yards and three touchdowns for Valparaiso (3-6, 3-3 Pioneer Football League). Orekoya had 15 carries for 54 yards. The Beacons survived 11 penalties for 105 yards.

Presbyterian's Jalen Jones caught six passes for 239 yards and five touchdowns - both program records in Division I competition. Jones pulled in a 50-yard pass midway through the fourth quarter and Jalyn Witcher scored on a 27-yarder after an onside kick, pulling the Blue Hose to within 58-55 with 7:43 left to play. The Beacons stopped Presbyterian (2-7, 0-6) on downs two more times to hold onto the win. Presbyterian's Ren Hefley completed 44 of 68 passes for 544 yards and seven touchdowns. He was intercepted three times. - AP College Football

Sr/2022