Valparaiso University's offense showed signs of life Saturday afternoon, but it wasn't nearly enough to defeat Pioneer Football League foe Jacksonville.
The host Dolphins erupted for 28 second-half points and cruised 49-20 over the Crusaders (1-8, 0-6), who lost their seventh straight.
Crusaders quarterback Nate Goergen passed for a career-high 261 yards and two scores. Goergen's 4-yard strike to Ryan Myers and a subsequent 2-yard touchdown run by Nick Jones cut Jacksonville's first-half lead to 14-13. Unfortunately for VU, the PAT was blocked. Prior to the back-to-back touchdowns, VU missed a field goal.
"We left four points on the field in the first half due to our kicking game," Adams said in a news release. "We will have to strive to improve in that area next week."
Jacksonville (5-4, 3-2) scored a touchdown before the end of half and strung together three straight scores in the second half to build a 42-13 lead.
Goergen added a 21-yard scoring pass to Sean McCarty in the fourth quarter. Prior to Saturday's contest, Goergen completed just nine passes for 108 yards, but he was 21-of-35 against Jacksonville.
"Nate really led us offensively," Adams said. "He had a really good game. We're starting to get more consistent offensively."
VU amassed 323 total yards of offense, its second-highest total of the season.
On defense, Merrillville grad Anthony Curry had two interceptions. Both were at VU's 10, stopping potential scoring drives.
"That's what you need from your senior captain," Adams said.
Laurence Treadaway led VU with eight tackles.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Jacksonsville 49, Valparaiso 20
VU's Nate Goergen threw for a career-high 261 yards.
