Gessinger's kick return sparks Valparaiso past Butler 35-17
VALPARAISO, Ind. -- Bailey Gessinger took the second-half kickoff and raced 97 yards for a touchdown to spark Valparaiso to a 35-17 victory over Butler in Pioneer Football League play on Saturday.
Cody Boxrucker added three TD runs for the Crusaders (1-5, 1-2), who picked up their first win of the season and laid claim to the Hoosier Helmet for a second straight year in the battle between long-time rivals.
Valparaiso jumped out to a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter on Jimmy Seewald's 22-yard scoring strike to Griffin Norberg and Boxrucker's 1-yard TD plunge.
Butler (3-3, 1-2) pulled even at 14 in the second quarter on a pair of TD passes from Will Marty to Pace Temple covering 5 and 4 yards.
But Gessinger's kick-return score gave Valparaiso the lead for good and Boxrucker added TD runs of 5 and 2 yards in the fourth quarter.
Game Information
2023 Pioneer Football League Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Drake | 8-0 | 8-4 |
| St. Thomas-Minnesota | 7-1 | 8-3 |
| Davidson | 6-2 | 7-4 |
| Butler | 5-3 | 7-4 |
| Marist | 4-4 | 4-7 |
| San Diego | 4-4 | 4-7 |
| Morehead State | 3-5 | 4-7 |
| Presbyterian | 2-6 | 4-7 |
| Valparaiso | 2-6 | 3-8 |
| Dayton | 2-6 | 4-7 |
| Stetson | 1-7 | 3-8 |
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