Football: Kingsmen hold off Valparaiso 21-13

Colden Hernandez intercepted two passes, blocked a point-after touchdown kick and scored on a 72-yard touchdown run as Penn turned back Valparaiso, 21-13 in the 2025 Varsity Football season opener on Friday.

Valparaiso drove to the Penn 12 but Kendal Schaffer forced a fumble that Kenny Welsh recovered to end the Vikings’ threat with 1:19 left in the game.

Hernandez, a 5-foot-10, 179-pound Senior, starts at Cornerback for the Kingsmen. He made a diving interception for Penn at the Kingsmen 3 in the first half, and made a sensational leaping theft in the end zone in the fourth quarter to stop another Valpo threat.

Used for two plays on offense, Hernandez took a handoff in the first quarter, made a stunning cut and raced 72 yards for Penn’s first TD. Hernandez started as a Wildcat Quarterback on the Penn JV Team as a Sophomore.

Kingsmen quarterback Landon Hall turned in an exceptional showing, completing 11-of-17 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Hall, a 6-4, 204 Junior, commanded a Gold Rush offense that committed no turnovers.

Sophomore Mason Biernacki hauled in three passes for 100 yards receiving, including a 64-yard TD strike from Hall.

Senior Jeremiah Mitchell snared three passes for 90 yards and a 24-yard TD.

Junior Brayson Hurley caught three passes for 43 yards.