Football 11/16/2013 5:40:00 PM

Bulldogs Come Up Short In Title Game

Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS – Klay Fietcher's 3-yard TD run with 1:03 left broke a 14-all tie and lifted the #11 Indianapolis Greyhounds to the outright Great Lakes Valley Conference championship over the Truman Bulldogs on Saturday evening. The Bulldogs finished the season with a 7-4 overall record and 5-2 GLVC record.

The Bulldog offense cashed in on their first possession after a partially blocked punt gave Truman the ball at midfield. Garrett White carried the ball six times including a 5-yard TD run to put Truman up 7-0. The drive also featured an 18-yard pass to Dallas Grier and a 22-yard quarterback draw by Conrad Schottel.

However, Truman came up empty with no points on their next four redzone possessions.

Following a blocked field goal late in the first half, the Greyhounds got the equalizer when Connor Barthel found Greg Johnson for a catch and run 44-yard touchdown.

In the third quarter, Schottel connected with Grier for a 46-yard pass but the receiver was stripped of the ball near the goal line that was fortunately recovered by tight end Chico Orlando. The Greyhounds stopped the 'Dogs on three straight running plays and then kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard when Derek Koon hit the left upright on his field goal attempt.

Truman's defense responded with a three and out and the offense again moved into the UIndy redzone but failed to convert on a fourth and one from the 18.

The Greyhounds started the ensuing drive with a first and 25 following a penalty and fought back with two third down conversions before punctuating the 12-play, 81-yard drive with a 6-yard TD pass from Barthel to Reece Horn early in the fourth quarter to take a 14-7 lead.

Both teams' defenses exchanged three and outs before Truman took over at their own 39 with eight minutes left. Schottel found Grier over the middle for 19 yards and White rushed for 16 yards to the Greyhounds seven. On fourth and goal, Schottel dropped the ball to White on a screen and the junior fought into the endzone for the tie with 5:59 showing on the clock.

A short kickoff into the wind gave the Greyhounds the ball near midfield. A 19-yard reception by Horn moved it to the Truman 33 but the 'Dog defense held the Greyhounds for a field goal attempt. Scott Miller made the 44-yard field goal but Truman was offsides and UIndy took the points off the board for the first down. Four rushes by running back Klay Fietcher punched the Greyhounds into the endzone with a minute left and the 21-14 victory.

A last ditch effort by Truman came up short when Rob Dury intercepted Schottel to seal the outright GLVC title for the Greyhounds.

Both defenses were stellar on the night as Truman gained just 294 yards and the Greyhounds managed just 277 yards of total offense.

Garrett White finished five yards short of 1000 for the season as he gained 98 yards on 27 carries but still ends up with the most yards rushing for a Bulldog since Jerad Leverson's 1018 in 2003.

Dallas Grier also etched his name in the Bulldog record book with 10 catches for 132 yards. Grier passed Rich Otte for second place all-time in receptions with 214 for his career and finished third all-time in receiving yardage with 2,763 yards.

Truman wraps up their first winning season since 2007 and their first seven-win campaign since 2001.

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