Football 11/2/2013 5:50:00 PM

Big First Half Propels Bulldogs To Lucky Number Seven

Box Score

OWENSBORO, Ky. – Garrett White rushed for a career-high 158 yards and three touchdowns as the Truman Bulldogs won their fifth straight to remain in a tie for first place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings with a 35-27 road victory over Kentucky Wesleyan College on Saturday.

White opened the scoring with a 57-yard run on the Bulldogs first possession of the game and scored twice more in the second quarter as Truman led 28-7 at the half.

Dahn Kemp reeled in a 20-yard touchdown pass in the opening drive of the second half to push the Bulldog lead to 35-7 before the Panthers made things interesting.

Kentucky Wesleyan started their first drive at their own one and used a fake punt on fourth and seven, converted a fourth and two for 22 yards and scored on third and goal from the Truman two to go the length of the field and gain momentum.

Following the Bulldogs first punt of the game in the fourth quarter, the Panthers' Will Barnes completed passes of 39 and 35 yards on consecutive plays to make the score 35-20 with the point after attempt failing.

Truman picked up a first down as the starters returned to the field but three straight incompletions, including an incomplete fourth down play on the Panthers' 36 turned the ball back over to Kentucky Wesleyan with 6:28 left to play.

Jeff Ward caught a 47-yard pass from Barnes on fourth and five to make it a one possession game at 35-27 with 3:42 left. The Panthers then recovered the onsides kick but the Bulldog defense dialed up the pressure and forced the turnover on downs to cap the victory.

The Panthers' resiliency was evident following White's opening score. Keelan Cole took the ensuing kickoff following the 57-yard rush by White 95-yards to tie the game at seven apiece.

Truman's ground attack was the story in the first half with 178 of their season-high 285 yards gained rushing during the first 30 minutes. Aaron Hartfield followed White's touchdown with a 14-yard run to put the Bulldogs up 14-7 and White added scores of six and 16 yards for the halftime lead.

White finished with 158 yards and three TDs with Hartfield adding 81 yards on 14 carries.

Conrad Schottel completed 11 of 19 passes for 130 yards to go over 4,000 for his career. Five receivers caught two passes apiece and Dallas Grier caught one. Tony Pucci led the corps with 42 yards receiving.

Matthew Bell had nine total tackles with 3.5 for loss and two sacks. Truman's defense limited the Panthers to a negative 10 yards rushing but gave up 330 yards through the air.

Truman will host Saint Joseph's (Ind.) College next Saturday in the home finale at Stokes Stadium in Kirksville. The Pumas nearly upset co-league leader Indianapolis (Ind.) on Saturday falling 27-24 to the #20th ranked Greyhounds. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

Game Notes:

The Bulldogs gained 415 yards of total offense and have put up over 400 yards in three of the last five games played.
It was the fourth time this season Truman has held an opponent to under 100 yards rushing and second time the Bulldogs have allowed negative rushing yards.
Truman did not force a turnover for the second time this season and lost both fumbles for a negative turnover margin.
The Bulldogs were 3-of-8 on third downs while the Panthers were 4-of-17. KWC converted on four of seven fourth down attempts.
Truman started four drives on the KWC side of the 50 yardline with two touchdowns, a missed field goal and a turnover on downs and started their second drive all season inside their own 10 when they began a fourth quarter possession following a punt at their own five.
Truman's seven wins on the season matches the most wins by the Bulldogs since the 2001 season.
It was Garrett White's second straight 100-yard rushing day, his fourth of the season and gave his 803 yards with two games remaining in the regular season. It was the first three TD rushing game by a Bulldog since Will Mosquera had three against Lincoln last season.
The 95-yard kick return was the first by an opponent since Pittsburg State's Jon Brown ran a 91-yard kick back in 2010.

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