The 2018 Stetson football season has been the best in almost 70 years for the Hatters, but the squad has one more challenge to face before the season goes into the record books.
 
Stetson, which is coming off a 28-23 loss at Butler last week, will try to close the season by earning a program record-tying eighth victory when the Hatters host Valparaiso on Saturday at Spec Martin Stadium. Stetson comes into the game with a 7-2 overall record and is tied for second place in the Pioneer Football League with a 5-2 league mark.
 
Valpo (2-8, 2-5) is coming off a victory over Jacksonville last week and owns a 2-1 series lead over the Hatters, having won each of the last two meetings by three points.
 
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Evan Weston and Robert Goldberg set to call the action.
 
Pregame festivities will include recognition for the Hatters' 13 seniors – a group that has contributed to the program in numerous ways over the last four, and for some five, years.
 
Those seniors are:

• Defensive back Rob Armand is a two-time PFL Academic Honor Roll member who has seen action in six varsity games in his career. Will graduate in May with a degree in Finance.
• Running back Arkee Brown was named to the PFL Academic Honor Roll in 2016 and was a starter in three games as a freshman. Has become a special teams stalwart, having played in 38 career games with 408 career rushing yards. Is an active leader in Stetson's Student-Athlete Advisory Council and will graduate in May with a degree in English.
• Defensive back Jackie Johnson will play his final game at Spec Martin Stadium after calling the facility home for virtually his entire football playing life. A three-time PFL Academic Honor Roll selection, Johnson goes into his final collegiate game with 92 career tackles in 38 games played. He will receive his degree in History in May.
• Offensive lineman Juwuan Livingston was named to the PFL Academic Honor roll in 2015. Has seen action in eight games in his career on the offensive line, including three starts. Will graduate in May with a degree in Finance.
• Offensive lineman Jim McCammon has been an anchor on the offensive line for Stetson for four years and will make his team-high 36^th career start on Saturday. Has played every position on the line, including center for the last two seasons. Will receive his degree in Business Administration in May.
• Luke McDermott has seen action in eight games over the last two seasons after switching from quarterback to receiver. Has been an important special teams performer throughout his four seasons. Will receive his degree in Communication and Media Studies in May.
• Record-setting quarterback Colin McGovern enters play this weekend needing 78 passing yards to become the all-time leading passer in program history. He is a three-year team captain and has been named to the PFL Academic Honor Roll three times. Owns virtually every Stetson passing record for a game, season and career. Will receive his degree in Sport Business in December.
• While on the subject of record setters, tight end Donald Parham has done plenty in his career. A candidate for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the top offensive player in FCS, Parham ranks among the best in the country this year in receptions, yards and touchdowns. A virtual lock for All-America honors, Parham will receive his degree in Communication and Media Studies in May.
• Offensive lineman Andrew Rogalski is second only to McCammon in terms of career starts on the current Stetson squad with 27 entering his final game, including 24 straight. Despite playing most of his career with a bad shoulder, has been a consistent force on the right side of the line for the last three years while earning PFL Academic Honor Roll honors each year. Will receive his degree in Communication and Media Studies in May.
• Defensive tackle Zane Smith, a regular at nose tackle for four seasons, will play in his 41^st career game for the Hatters on Saturday. In an thankless role, Smith has helped past players like Donald Payne, Jeb Boudreaux and David Lazear pile up impressive tackle totals by occupying two linemen at a time. He will receive his degree in Finance with a Sales minor in May, having also earned a Certification for Community Service.
• Defensive end Regis Steighner is a three-time PFL Academic Honor Roll selection who has battled through injuries throughout his career to come into his own as a starter this year. He has 27 career tackles, including a pair of sacks. Will receive his degree in Economics in the spring.
• Kicker Matthew Sweeney has been a standout performer in the classroom throughout his career. He is a three-time PFL Academic Honor Roll selection who entered the fall semester with a 3.97 GPA as a double major in Mathematics and Finance with a minor in accounting. Is a J. Ollie Edmunds Distinguished Scholar and a Public Trustee of the Roland George Investments Program in addition to being a member of the University Honor Council. Saw his first action on the field this year, connecting on a field goal and two PAT kicks.
• Running back Matt Taft has come into his own this year as a running back after being a prominent special teams player the last two years. Has played in 31 games in his career, ranking fourth in the modern era in career rushing yards. Will receive his degree in Sport Business in May.

 
In addition to recognizing those senior players, the Hatters will have a pair of special guests on the field for the pregame coin toss. Long-time former men's basketball coach Glenn Wilkes, who also served as Director of Athletics at Stetson for many years, will be joined by Bob Weikel, who not only served as the Hatters head golf coach for many years, but also spent time at Stetson as head baseball coach and assistant basketball coach for Wilkes.
 
Wilkes and Weikel will both be celebrating milestone birthdays in December with Wilkes turning 90 years old and Weikel hitting the 80-year mark.
 
When all the pre-game festivities are done, the focus will be on finishing the season with a win. Three turnovers cost the Hatters a chance to defeat the Crusaders last year in Indiana, but Stetson comes into play this week ranked 13^th in the nation in turnover margin at plus seven while Valpo is minus three on the year.
 
The Crusaders have struggled to run the ball effectively this year and allowed 439 rushing yards to Jacksonville last week in a 48-30 victory over the Dolphins. Valpo quarterback Chris Duncan threw for 302 yards and three touchdowns in that game.
 
Valpo is also dangerous on special teams, having returned kickoffs for touchdowns against both Butler and Morehead State. Senior linebacker Drew Snouffer not only leads the Crusaders with 106 tackles, he has also returned both an interception and fumble for touchdowns this year.
 
Stetson will be looking to win a season-finale for the first time since restarting the program in 2013. The Hatters are also looking to win on Senior Day for the first time.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.