The Valparaiso University football program received two Pioneer Football League weekly honors when the PFL announced its Week 4 awards on Sunday following Saturday’s 31-23 double-overtime win over Roosevelt at Brown Field. Redshirt senior running back Michael Mansaray (Columbus, Ohio / Westerville South (South Dakota)) was named PFL Offensive Player of the Week, while redshirt junior kicker Ryan Hawk (Columbus, Ohio / Bishop Hartley) was named the league’s Special Teams Player of the Week.
This is the first time two Valpo players have been honored in the same week since Oct. 23, 2022, when Aaron Dawson (offense) and Brian Bartholomew (special teams) were honored following the team’s win at Morehead State. Valpo won PFL Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the second consecutive year, while Mansaray became the first Valpo player to win the award on the offensive side of the ball since Dawson on Nov. 13, 2022.
Mansaray set a season-high 123 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns in Valpo’s 31-23 victory over Roosevelt. He had a 51-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that broke a 10-10 tie and then scored an 18-yard touchdown on Valpo’s second possession of the ball in the second overtime, a play that was considered the game-winning point.
Hawk made 3 of 4 field goal attempts, including a 51-yard field goal attempt, the longest of his career. His 51-yard field goal attempt was the longest by a Valpo player since November 2003, and he became one of 19 FCS kickers this season with a field goal attempt of more than 50 yards. He became the first Valpo player with three made field goals in a game since October 2019. After Roosevelt made a field goal in the first overtime period, Hawk came through under pressure during Valpo’s first overtime possession and made a 39-yard field goal attempt to extend the game. In addition, four of Hawk’s five kickoffs resulted in touchbacks.
Valpo will be back in action Saturday at noon at Morehead State on ESPN+.
