Beacons don't back down against the Leathernecks

FB: Late surge gives Valparaiso encouragement moving forward

Caron Tyler throws a pass against Virginia Lynchburg earlier this season. Tyler threw for 137 yards and added another 79 on the ground against Western Illinois.

MACOMB - There were two different feelings of déjà vu taking place for the Valparaiso football team on Saturday night.

The first came when Western Illinois jumped out to a 38-3 lead against the Beacons and looked poised to coast to yet another blowout win after outscoring Valparaiso 90-6 in two previous meetings.

The second feeling of déjà vu came when Caron Tyler sparked the offense in a reserve role similar to what he did against Youngstown State last season, another FCS-scholarship program on the same level as the Leathernecks.

While Valparaiso ultimately fell to Western Illinois 51-30 at Hanson Field on Saturday night, the second half showed that the Beacons weren’t simply going to crawl in a hole after losing to Division III Adrian last weekend and then coming out slow against the Leathernecks.