The Stetson football team has figured out the formula for earning victories at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium, and the Hatters have done so in their last 11 home outings – the fifth longest such active streak in FCS football.
 
But, at least for the next two weeks and for three of the final five games of the 2019 season, Stetson will take its high-scoring show on the road where wins have been much more difficult to come by. The Hatters have lost their last two road games, including a 26-23 heart-breaker at Marist earlier this year, and are just 10-21 in road games since restarting the program in 2013.
 
The first opportunity to reverse that trend comes on Saturday when the Hatters (5-1, 2-1) visit Valparaiso (0-7, 0-3). The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. ET start and will be available on ESPN+ with Todd Ickow and Dave Huseman on the call. The game will also be available on the Stetson Radio Network with Kenny Schierlinger on the call.
 
The game time forecast in northern Indiana for Saturday is 52 degrees with a 55 percent chance of showers and wind from the ESE at 11 miles per hour.
 
The Hatters and Crusaders are teams that seem to be headed in opposite directions. Stetson, under seventh year head coach Roger Hughes, leads all FCS football in both scoring and total offense this year. The Crusaders, under first year head coach Landon Fox, have struggled offensively and are among the worst in the nation at protecting the ball.
 
The programs have had an interesting series of games over the last four seasons, with both teams winning twice, once at home and once on the road. Stetson won the game last year 45-31 on senior day by setting a program record with 498 passing yards. The Hatters came out on fire for the second half, outscoring Valpo 21-0 in that quarter.
 
The last time Stetson visited Valpo, in 2017, the Crusaders led throughout, but needed an interception with 1:50 to play to end the Hatters' hopes in a 27-24 final.
 
Hughes has focused his efforts this week on making sure his team knows this is a business trip. There will be no side trips to see local landmarks, just a walk-though at Brown Field on Friday and an early trip to the field on Saturday.
 
In addition to leading the country in scoring offense and total offense, averaging 43.8 points and 529 yards per game, the Hatters are also among the FCS leaders in 3rd down conversions (11th), blocked punts (5th), defensive first downs (13th), kickoff returns (17th), red zone offense (11th), rushing offense (7th), fewest sacks allowed (16th), fewest tackles for loss allowed (9th) and winning percentage (11th).
 
Valpo ranks near the bottom of FCS (124 teams) in total offense (123), pass efficiency (124), passes intercepted (124), red zone offense (123), scoring offense (119) and turnover margin (121).
 
Turnovers are always an emphasis for the Hatters. Stetson has turned 12 opponent turnovers into 48 points this year while Valpo has allowed 55 points off its 18 turnovers.
 
Stetson Notes

• Jalon - Jalen - Jaylon: No matter how you spell the name, the Hatters' trio of Js have been keys to Stetson success this year. Senior Jalon Scott at corner has two interceptions, freshman Jalen Leary is the Hatters' leading rusher and freshman Jaylon Johnson is leading the team in kickoff and punt return yards in addition to his play on defense where he also has an interception.
• Freshman Jaylon Johnson, in just six games, is just 48 yards away from the program's modern record for punt return yards. He also stands seventh in career kickoff return yards.
• Freshman Jalen Leary not only recorded the third longest run in modern program history – an 81-yard TD run in the third quarter – he also established a new program single-game record for rushing yards, finishing with 220 yards on 19 carries. He surpassed the mark of 213 yards by Jareem Westcott set last year against Davidson.
• Senior Jalon Scott has 13 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups despite missing almost two full games with an injury.
• Graduate QB Gaven DeFilippo is closing in on some career milestones. In just 18 career games (13 starts) he needs three TD passes for 30 and is eight TD passes from the Stetson career record. He is 82 passing yards away from 3,000 and is 23 completions away from 300.
• Senior linebacker Colby Duncan enters play this week 36 tackles away from second on the Stetson career list. When he reaches that milestone he will still be 280 tackles behind Donald Payne for the Stetson record.
• Freshman Davion Maxwell has now blocked two punts this season, which ranks second in the nation.

 
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.