Valparaiso linebacker Nick Turner, left, chases down Charleston wide receiver Tremaine Ross during UC's 19-13 win over Valpo, Sept. 29, 2019. (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)
Box Score VALPARAISO, Ind. – Early scoring including touchdowns by each team within the first ten minutes of the game led the scoring, but it was field goals that proved to be the difference in Charleston's 19-13 victory over Valpo on Saturday afternoon at Brown Field. Despite three first-half turnovers for Charleston, the Golden Eagles improved to 3-1 (2-1 MEC) on the season in a win that marks the first time a MEC team has defeated an FCS opponent.
JUST THE BASICS
SCORE: Charleston 19, Valparaiso 13
LOCATION: Valparaiso, Ind.
TEAM RECORDS: Charleston (3-1, 2-1 MEC), Valparaiso (0-4, 0-0 PFL)
Despite four field goals from Freshman Kicker Tim McCutchen, Charleston's defense proved worthy, holding the Crusaders to just 121 yards of total offense, 72 on the ground and 49 in the air. On the defensive side of the ball, Kal-El Williams led the Golden Eagle defense with 12 tackles while Senior Jeremy Bell recorded two interceptions. In addition, Reggie Collins recorded nine tackles while Kenny Randall recorded six tackles (3.5 TFL) and a sack.
Offensively, UC was led by McCutchen who accounted for 13 of the 19 UC points as he went 4-for-4 on field goals including one from 41 yards out. Senior Quarterback Brant Grisel finished the day 30-for-45 with 333 yards and a touchdown including two interceptions. Tremaine Ross recorded 118 receiving yards on seven catches with a touchdown while Xzavion Gordon recorded eight catches for 102 yards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a Charleston fumble allowed for Valpo to recover and begin their first scoring drive with 10:14 left in the first quarter on the 15-yard line, Alex Kluck was able to score on a 3-yard pass from Crusader Quarterback Jimmy Seewald to put Valparaiso ahead 7-0. Charleston was able to strike right back as Grisel found Ross for a 10-yard score to cap off a seven-play, 75-yard drive to tie the game at 7-7.
With just under 13 minutes to play in the first half, Jamari Booker was able to pick off Grisel and bring the ball to the Charleston 30-yard line before converting a field goal to put the Crusaders ahead 10-7. After another Valpo field goal brought the game to 13-7, Booker once again intercepted Grisel in the end-zone to end the Charleston threat with under two minutes in the half. The Golden Eagles cut the Valpo lead to just three as for the second consecutive week, McCutchen was able to hit a field goal on the final play of the half, this time from 28-yards, to bring the score to 13-10.
UC's defense forced Valpo to punt on their first two drives of the second half and McCutchen was able to capitalize on a pair of three-pointers, a 39 yarder to tie the game and a 20-yarder to give the Golden Eagles a 16-13 lead with 3:00 remaining in the third quarter. McCutchen concluded the Charleston scoring as he pushed a 41-yard attempt through the uprights with 14:42 remaining in the game to give UC a 19-13 lead.
Potentially the biggest play of the game came on a punt from Junior Kicker Oscar Gonzalez, who was able to pin the Valpo offense to their 1-yard line on a 46-yard punt with 4:38 remaining in the game. The Crusaders were able to move the ball 46 yards before being halted by the UC defense to end the game and end an 11 play, 52-yard drive.
Charleston will hit the road again this week as they head to Wheeling University (0-4, 0-4 MEC) to face off against the Cardinals with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
