The Truman Bulldogs will face nationally-ranked Washburn (Kan.) University on Saturday afternoon in Topeka, Kan. The Bulldogs are coming off a 16-7 victory over Nebraska-Kearney on the road while the #19 Ichabods have won five of six this year with a 51-18 beat down over Lincoln (Mo.) in their last outing.
Truman has thrown for over 650 yards in their last two games will face the top pass defense team in the MIAA in Washburn. The Ichabods have allowed 181 yards per game through the air. Truman is looking to break a five-game streak to Washburn after last season the Ichabods spoiled Homecoming with a 42-14 win.
The Truman defense registered seven sacks and shutout out the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers in the second half in a 16-7 Bulldog win last Saturday on the road. Junior
Dallas Grier logged a career high 178 yards receiving on 11 catches and junior
Conrad Schottel tossed two TD passes in leading the 'Dogs to the win.
The Icahbods shook off a sluggish start to down Lincoln (Mo.) 51-18 in Jefferson City on Saturday. Matt Kobbeman caught four passes for 86 yards and the Ichabods converted on all six trips to the Blue Tiger redzone in the victory. Joel Piper and Mitch Buhler combine to throw for 284 yards and five scores.
The Bulldogs lead the all-time series with the Ichabods 18-10 but have dropped the last five games. This is the longest winning streak by Washburn in the series while Truman won nine straight against the Ichabods from 1990-1998.
Bulldogs Quick Glance:
Truman (4-2; 3-2 MIAA) has already matched their victory total from last season and have been led by junior quarterback
Conrad Schottel and junior receiver
Dallas Grier. Schottel has thrown from 1386 yards and 12 touchdown passes while Grier has 42 catches for 634 yards and four scores. Senior
Will Mosquera has had 98 rushing attempts for 345 yards and sophomore
Garrett White has added 51 carries for 288 yards.
Defensively, senior
Richie Schumacher leads the team with 51 tackles and senior
Patrick Blackwell has six sacks and 10 tackles for loss. The Bulldogs have picked off 11 passes and recovered seven fumbles through six games.
Truman won their first three games to start the season defeating Southwest Baptist 24-14, Lincoln 42-12 and non-conference Northwestern Oklahoma State 63-21 before dropping consecutive games at Central Missouri 38-17 and Fort Hays State 37-23. They bounced back with a 16-7 win over Nebraska-Kearney in their last outing.
Ichabods Quick Glance:
Washburn (5-1; 5-1 MIAA) has averaged 34 points per game behind quarterback Mitch Buhler and receiver Matt Kobbeman. Buhler, in his first year as a starter, has thrown for 1149 yards and 13 touchdowns after replacing Harlon Hill runner-up Dane Simoneau. Buhler's 191.5 yards passing per game is about 150 yards less per game than Simoneau's record breaking year.
Kobbeman has 19 catches for 309 yards. Hayden Groves has 82 rush attempts for 301 yards. The offensive line have allowed just six quarterback sacks through the first half-dozen games.
Defensively, Bryce Atagi leads the Ichabods with 54 tackles and 7.5 for loss with Ryan Macken second on the team with 46 stops 3.5 for loss. The Ichabods have 15 quarterback sacks.
Washburn won their first three games by scores of 24-14 over Nebraska-Kearney, 45-20 over Fort Hays (Kan.) State and 24-20 over Northeastern (Okla.) State. They were defeated on the road by Central Oklahoma 35-20 before bouncing back with wins over Southwest Baptist (Mo.) 42-14 and Lincoln (Mo.) 51-18.
About the Bulldogs:
Head Coach
Gregg Nesbitt is in his third season on the Truman sideline after two straight 4-7 campaigns. The Bulldogs return 47 juniors and seniors, 59 total letterwinners and 18 starters from 2011. Of the starters returning, five are on offense, 10 on defense and both punter and place kicker are back.
• The Bulldogs have played 952 games all-time. The Bulldogs are 538-380-34 (.583) all time.
• Truman is 4-2 in overtime games. All six games have been played at Stokes Stadium with the last being on Oct. 24, 2009 against Emporia State (Truman lost 30-24).
• The Bulldogs have finished .500 or above in 70 of the 104 seasons of football played at the University and have had five wins or more in 62 seasons.
• Truman is the winningest NCAA program all-time in the state of Missouri with the .583 win percentage. The University of Missouri has the most wins with 627 with the Bulldogs second with 538.
• Truman's 538 wins is eighth all-time in Division II.
Bulldog Upcoming Career Milestones:
Dallas Grier (122 catches, 1,781 yards, 11 touchdowns)
Is seven receptions from 6th all-time in Bulldog history (Jeff Amundson – 129; 2004-06)
Is nine receptions from 5th all-time in Bulldog history (James Walton – 131; 2002-05)
Is 173 yards away from 7th all-time in receiving yards (Geoff Jensen – 1,954; 1999-02)
Is 184 yards away from 6th all-time in receiving yards (Tom Geredine, 1965; 1969-72)
Is 198 yards away from 5th all-time in receiving yards (James Walton – 1,979; 2002-05)
Is three touchdown receptions from cracking the top 10 (Tom Geredine/Larry Tisdale)
Derek Koon (30 Fg)
Is one field goal away from tying for third all-time (Scott Bresaw; 1989-91; Jeff Klee (1996-99)
Is three extra point makes from 70 for his career.
Is three points away from 160 for his career.
Michael Elliott (11 INTs)
Is one INT away from tying for fourth all-time (Kelvin Cunningham; 1979-82; Pat Fine; 1984-87)
Is two away from third all-time (Darren Blair; 1979-82)
Is three away from second all-time (Freddy Thompson; 1980-83)
Is four away from first all-time (Gary Evans; 1972-75)
Richie Schumacher (295 Total Tackles)
Is five away for 300 for his career.
Is nine away from cracking the top ten (Craig O'Sadnick 1970-73; John Naeve 1997-00)
Is 15 away from seventh all-time (Tim Stull 1981-84; Ricky Ruff 1986-88)
Patrick Blackwell (19.5 sacks)
Is 1.5 sacks away from sixth all-time (Mike Roos 1990-93)
Is 2.5 sacks away from fourth all-time (Pete Grathwohl 1975-78; Tim Gildehaus 1980-82)
Is 4.5 sacks away from second all-time (Mark Sobol 1975-78; Ligo Letuli 1979-82)
Bulldogs In The MIAA/NCAA Statistics:
The Bulldogs are first in the MIAA in sacks with 24 and fourth in Division II. Pittsburg State has a higher national ranking with 23 sacks in one less game as the Bulldogs.
Truman is tied for second in turnover margin at a plus-6 and are tied for tops with 18 turnovers gained this year with Lindenwood (Mo.). The 11 interceptions is tied with Northwest Missouri.
Individually,
Patrick Blackwell leads the league with six sacks and is tied for 23rd nationally.
Michael Elliott is tied for first in interceptions per game with five but trails Lindenwood's Pierre Desir by one for the outright INT lead.
Dallas Grier is first in receptions per game at 7.0, second in receiving yards per game at 105.7 and second in punt return average at 14.5. Grier is tied for 11th nationally in yards per game, 20th in receptions and 12th in punt returns.
Conrad Schottel is fifth in the MIAA in total offense per game and passing yards per game.
Truman/Nebraska-Kearney Footnotes:
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The 66-yard touchdown pass from Conrad Schottel to Dallas Grier was the longest scoring TD pass since Albert Coker and Matt Ticich hooked up for a 73-yard connection in October 2008 against Emporia State.
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Schottel has now thrown a touchdown pass in all seven games played when starting.
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The 38-yard kick return by Garrett White was the longest by a Bulldog this season.
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The Truman defense recorded seven sacks on the day with three coming on third downs. The Lopers finished the game 4-of-15 on third down while Truman was 6-of-19.
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Robert Gayden's 80-yard interception return at the end of the first half was the second longest for the Bulldogs since 1997. Eric Sternberg holds the school record with a 98-yard return at Southwest Baptist exactly five years to the date of Gayden's pick.
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Truman had four drives start on the Lopes side of the 50 yardline coming away with one touchdown. The Bulldogs average starting field position was their 38 while UNK started on average at their own 19.
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The Bulldogs dominated the third quarter with over 10 minutes of possession time and finished the game with a season-high 33:31 time of possession. Truman had the ball for nearly 18 of the 30 minutes in the second half alone.
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It was the first game this season that Truman did not have a turnover and the fifth straight in which the Bulldogs had forced more turnovers than given up.
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The seven points the Bulldogs allowed was the fewest Nebraska-Kearney had been held to since a 2008 NCAA playoff game against Minnesota-Duluth and a 2002 regular season game against Western State (Colo.).
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It was the first Truman football win in the state of Nebraska in their fourth attempt. The three previous roads games were all played against the University of Nebraska-Omaha team (1981, 1983 and 2009).
Up Next:
The Bulldogs will return for Homecoming next Saturday and face one of the nation's undefeated teams heading into week seven. Truman will host Emporia State (Kan.) at 2:00 p.m. at Stokes Stadium. The Hornets are a perfect 6-0 on the season before hosting Lindenwood (Mo.) this week.
Offensive Notebook:
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Senior Will Mosquera is leading the team in rushing with 345 yards on 98 carries (3.5/rush). He has four rushing touchdowns with a 57.5 yards per game average. Sophomore Garrett White has 51 rushes for 288 yards and five touchdowns.
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Junior quarterback Conrad Schottel has completed 56% of his passes (115-of-202) with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has an efficiency rating of 129.2and has thrown for 1386 yards.
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Junior Dallas Grier has been the top target with 42 catches for 634 yards. Redshirt freshman Chico Orlando has caught 14 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Paul Taylor also had three TD receptions and sophomore Jared Haferbier has 16 catches for 125 yards.
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The Bulldog offensive line has allowed 16 sacks for 99 yards and 37 tackles for loss for 146 yards.
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Through six games, Truman is averaging 30.8 points per game, up from 23.0/game 2011 and from 22.1 in 2010.
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On the ground, the Bulldogs are averaging 128.5/g and have 771 yards rushing through six games. Passing, the Bulldogs are averaging 249.7/g (1498 yards) with an average of 378.6/g (2269 yards) in total offense. Last season, the team gained 1,389 yards on the ground (126.3/g), 2,422 yards passing (220.1) for a total offensive mark of 3,811 (346.4/g).
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The longest plays from scrimmage are a 66-yard pass from Conrad Schottel to Dallas Grier against Nebraksa-Kearney and a 55-yard rush by Garrett White against Lincoln (Mo.) University. Last year it was a 69-yard rush by J.B. Clark against Missouri Southern and a 61-yard pass from Clark to Kurt Loyd against Central Missouri.
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The Bulldogs, though six games, have turned the ball over 11 times (five interceptions and six fumbles lost). Opposing teams have scored five times following a Bulldog turnover. Last season, Truman turned the ball over 24 times with 16 interceptions and eight fumbles. Of those turnovers, opposing teams scored 11 times (10 touchdowns and one field goal).
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Truman converted in the redzone this season 66% of the time with 17 touchdowns and four field goals out of 32 trips. Last year, the Bulldogs scored 80% of the time. They were 28 of 35 with 16 touchdowns.
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The Bulldogs have started nearly a third of their total drives (30 of97) on the plus side of the 50 yardline. They have scored 13 touchdowns and one field goal (47%) when starting a drive in their opponent's territory.
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The offense has converted 36% of their third downs in 2012 from the 34% last season.
Defensive Notebook:
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Senior Richie Schumacher leads the Bulldogs with 51 total tackles while nine Truman defenders have over 20 tackles through six games.
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The Bulldog defense has 24 sacks for 170 yards and 47 tackles for loss for 227 yards. Last season, Truman had 21 sacks for 145 yards and 56 tackles for loss. Senior Patrick Blackwell leads the team with six sacks. His 19.5 career sacks is seventh all-time in Truman history.
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Truman allows 21.5 points per game through six this season after allowing 32.5/g last year.
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The team has allowed 850 yards rushing (141.7/g), 1375 yards passing (229.2/g) and 2225 yards of total offense (370.8). In 2011, the Bulldogs allowed 2,188 yards on the ground (198.9/g) , 2,703 yards passing (245.7/g) for a total defensive mark of 4,891 (444.6/g).
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The Bulldogs have allowed 11 plays from scrimmage over 30 yards this year the longest being a 67-yard rush and 53-yard pass by Fort Hays St. In 2011, the Bulldogs allowed 24 plays from scrimmage of 30-yards or more.
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The Bulldogs defense has forced 18 turnovers, 11 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries. The offense has scored touchdowns on five of the 18 turnovers forced with another coming on a defensive pick-six against Central Missouri. Last season they forced 27 turnovers with nine interceptions and 18 fumble recoveries. Of the 27 turnovers, 10 resulted in scores for the Bulldogs with two scores directly credited to the defense.
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Opponents have been in the redzone 18 times out of 98 drives this season but have converted for touchdowns in 15 trips (89%). Last year, opponents were successful 72.3% of the time with 34 of 47 with 28 touchdowns.
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The opposing offenses are 39% successful on third down after going 39% in 2011.
Special Teams Notebook:
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Junior Derek Koon is 4-of-11 in field goals in 2012 with a long from 37 and three blocked. For his career, he is 30-for-46 in field goals with a long 42 yards against Fort Hays State and Central Missouri in 2011. He has also converted on 67-of-77 extra point attempts.
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Koon made 12 straight field goals to start the 2011 season, breaking the school record of Scott Bresaw's 10 set in 1990 and tied Bresaw's 1990 single-season record of 15 field goals made. Koon also broke Josh Barcus' (Pittsburg State) MIAA record for consecutive field goal. Koon's streak snapped when he missed a 51-yard field goal against Missouri Southern. That record was broken by Missouri Western's Greg Zuerlien also during the 2011 season.
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Senior Eric Phillips has had 39 punts in 2012 for an average of 40.2/punt. His long this season is 58 yards while his career long is 75 against Southwest Baptist in 2011. Last year, Phillips was second in the nation in punting with an average of 42.9/punt.
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Phillips has had five punts this season downed inside the opponents one-yardline and 19 finishing inside the opponents 20 with four touchbacks.
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The Bulldogs have blocked two punts this season and four in the last two years.
Academic Success:
• The Bulldogs had 48 players earn distinction on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll last year, the most of any conference program. To be eligible, a player must have a cumulative grade-point average above a 3.00. The team had a cumulative grade-point average of 3.02 following the 2012 spring semester and an average ACT score of 24.
• Truman had an 88% Academic Success Rate in football according to data released by the NCAA last year. It was the highest ASR rate in the MIAA and one of the top percentages of all Division II public institutions. The Truman Athletics department had an overall ASR of 95%.
