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Caron Tyler and Brian Thomas share a moment during Valparaiso’s game at Youngstown State earlier this month (Brian Chilton)

Brian Thomas came sprinting off the field last Saturday and immediately locked eyes with Caron Tyler.

The latter had just connected with Thomas on an early 21-yard touchdown strike in Valparaiso’s win over Roosevelt and now the former wanted to celebrate.

Thomas, a running back from Florida, and Tyler, a quarterback from California, shared an embrace and then a handshake that was 13 months in the making.

This was the moment the pair had been talking about since they first met in preseason training camp in August of 2023.