VALPARAISO, Ind. – Redshirt sophomore wideout Jalen Jones totaled a PC DI record with 239 receiving yards and five touchdowns, however it was not enough as Valparaiso defeated the Blue Hose 65-55 on Saturday afternoon at Brown Field. Jones had six grabs for a Blue Hose DI record of 239 yards and five scores.

Final Score: Valparaiso 65, Presbyterian 55   
Location: Brown Field (Valparaiso, Ind.)
Records: Presbyterian (2-7, 0-6) | Valparaiso (3-6, 3-3)

COACH KELLEY THOUGHTS
"I know everyone wants a win and we as a team do too. But I was really proud of the fight after we got down early.  We are so young and it's easy for a team to stay down but today we took a stand more than we have all year.  Football is already tough and Valparaiso is a large team.  Our guys although outsized, found a way to keep battling in all facets of the game.  We are glad to be coming home next week for Senior Day."
 
OPENING KICK

• Jalen Jones had a career day with five receiving scores becoming the first player in PC DI history to record five receiving scores in a single game. Jones finished the day with six receptions, 239 yards, and five touchdowns
• Jones's five receiving scores on Saturday make him the fourth different Blue Hose receiver to record 2+ receiving touchdowns in a game in 2021. Jalyn Witcher has done it three times as Matthew Rivera and Kiaran Turner each have done it once.
• Ren Hefley finished the day with 44 completions for 544 yards and seven touchdowns while adding a rushing score as well. Hefley has totaled three games with 500+ yards passing this season.
• Delvecchio Powell totaled a team-high 11 grabs for 70 yards which matched his season-high against Morehead State.
• Futa Shinkawa totaled a team-high 10 tackles including six solo stops. Shinkawa also recovered both onside kicks for PC on Saturday.
• Alex Herriott added eight tackles including seven solo stops along with his third sack of the season.
• Witcher had nine receptions for 86 yards while pulling down his 11th touchdown of the season.

 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• PC got off to a fast start as Hefley scampered 49 yards for the score and quickly pushed it to 8-0 with Hefley connecting on the two-pointer with Turner.
• The Beacons quickly answered with a four-yard score to make it 8-7 Blue Hose just five minutes into the contest.
• Valpo extended the lead on three consecutive drives with three rushing scores capped by a 61-yard rushing touchdown to make it 28-8 late in the first quarter.
• The Blue Hose cut into the Beacons lead with a 12-yard receiving score as Hefley connected with Polson to make it 28-14.
• PC continued to put the pressure on Valpo with a 12-play drive capped by a nine-yard score from Hefley to Jones to cut it to 28-22 after Hefley connected with Rivera.
• Valpo connected on a 37-yard field goal to take a nine-point advantage, 31-22 with 2:31 to play in the opening half.
• Jones and Hefley connected once more from 75 yards out to cut it to a six-point game, 31-28.
• The Beacons added a two-yard rushing TD to close out the first half at 38-28.
• Valpo pushed the advantage to 45-28 in the third quarter with a five-yard rushing score.
• Hefley and Jones connected for a third time to cut it to 45-34 as the matchup headed for the final 15 minutes.
• Valpo opened the fourth quarter with a quick score before Hefley and Jones connected once again to cut it to 52-40.
• The Beacons had another quick strike to push it back to 58-40 five minutes into the fourth quarter.
• Hefley and Jones connect for the fifth time and cut it to a 58-48 contest.
• Following an onside kick recovery, PC marched down and cut it to a three-point game at 58-55 with 7:43 to play as Hefley connected with Witcher.
• The Beacons rushed one in on the ensuing drive to push it back to a 10-point game at 65-55 as the hosts earned the victory by that same margin.

 
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose return home next Saturday for their final home game of the 2021 season as PC welcomes in Marist at 1 pm from Bailey Memorial Stadium.