<p>INDIANAPOLIS — Robert Washington amassed a career-high 199 yards rushing and ran for a touchdown and Valparaiso won the season-opening and Pioneer-Football League opening game with a 24-14 win over Butler on Saturday.</p>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/valpoufootball/status/1370796062341013505?s=20">Washington’s 7-yard touchdown run off right tackle</a> pulled Valpo into a tie at seven with seven minutes before halftime.</p>
<p>Washington, who played a Charlotte in 2016 and Old Dominion in 2019, ran for a mere 135 yards on 49 carries and two touchdowns with ODU in which he played in 12 games starting in three.</p>
<p>Valparaiso took the lead as time expired at halftime when Chris Duncan threw a 15-yard scoring pass to Deuce Larose. The offense’s 5-play, 30-yard drive occurred complements of the defense when <a href="https://twitter.com/valpoufootball/status/1370798324975075331?s=20"> Jaxon Peifer forced a fumble on Kavon Samuels. Keyon Turner scooped the ball and ran 35 yards to set up the score</a>.</p>
<p>Butler knotted it at 14-all after stopping Valpo on downs then going on a 10-play, 60-yard scoring drive that ended when Nick Orlando crashed in from a yard out.</p>
<p>Brian Bartholomew kicked a 19-yard field goal with 39 seconds left in the third and Valpo sealed it when Duncan threw a 20-yard score to Holden Hodge to seal it.</p>
<p>Samuels ran for 117 yards for Butler and Orlando had both scores.</p>
<p>Butler hadn’t started the season at home since 2011 and had won seven of its last 10 against Valpo prior to Saturday.</p>
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<p>More AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/tag/Collegefootball">https://apnews.com/tag/Collegefootball</a></p>
