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Football

Football Notes: Truman vs. Quincy (Nov. 8 - 1:00 p.m.)

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Truman Bulldogs (5-3; 4-2 GLVC) vs. Quincy Hawks (6-3, 4-2 GLVC)
Saturday, November 8, 2014 ~ Stokes Stadium, Kirksville, Mo. ~ 1:00 p.m.
 
 
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The Truman Bulldogs will host the Quincy University Hawks for Senior Day at Stokes Stadium on Saturday with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m.  

Game Preview:  The Bulldogs will be looking to clip the wings of the high-flying Quincy Hawks that enter Saturday's game riding a four-game winning streak. Truman returned from their bye week with a 52-7 rout of Southwest Baptist while the Hawks rallied in the fourth quarter for a 20-13 win over Missouri S&T.

Garrett White earned the Great Lakes Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week award after rushing for a conference record 229 yards in Saturday's win. White finished the day with an even 1,000 for the season becoming the first Bulldog to hit that milestone since Jerard Leverson in 2003. White scored four times, three rushing touchdowns, to move into the Bulldog top four in career touchdowns with 36.

The Bulldog defense leads the conference in league games in points allowed (17.3), rushing yards allowed (109.0), third down conversions (25.3%) and redzone scores (58.1%).  Truman is also a +6 in turnover margin in league games with seven fumble recoveries and 10 interceptions.

After dropping their first two GLVC games, Quincy has reeled off four straight wins and will be looking for their first five-game winning streak since 1994. They have already clinched their fourth winning season in the last 20 years and have won the last three games in the fourth quarter.

Running back Chris Harris has rushed for 900 yards this season with 15 touchdowns and quarterback Nick Lonergan has taken every snap while completing 62% of his passes for 2,078 yards and 12 TDs. Lonergan's top target has been Eric Poindexter with 37 catches for 568 yards. Quincy's offense is third in GLVC games at 412.8 yards per game (182.8 rush/230.0 pass).

The Hawks are third in conference-only stats in rushing yards allowed per game at 120.8 and are second in redzone scoring at 72.7%.
 
Series With Quincy:
Despite the short distance and rich basketball history between the two schools, this is just the fifth meeting on the gridiron between the Bulldogs and Hawks.
Truman has won the last three games, all in convincing fashion including last season's 33-0 conference opener in the Gem City.

The Bulldogs won 51-7 in 2001 and 69-14 in 2002, the only Hawk team to play at Stokes Stadium.  The first meeting was legendary coach Red Wade's first loss on the sideline for the Bulldogs, a 43-12 defeat to close out the 1951 season.

In last year's contest, Truman held the Hawks to a -19 yards rushing with nine sacks and 13 tackles for loss in the shutout win. The Bulldogs went three and out in their first possession of the game after Quincy turned it over on downs, however Truman would score on their next five possessions and led 26-0 at half.
Garrett White had 81 yards rushing on 22 attempts and Quincy's Nick Lonergan completed 12-of-26 passes for 164 yards.
 
Coaches:
Truman is guided by Gregg Nesbitt, in his fifth year as head coach of his alma mater. Nesbitt is 24-28 during his tenure. He played and lettered for the Bulldogs in 1978 and 1979, served as the team's defensive coordinator from 1990-93 and returned to the Truman campus in 2010.

Tom Pajic is in his third season at Quincy following eight years as offensive coordinator at Bloomsburg (Pa.) University.  The Hawks were 3-8 and 2-9 in Pajic's first two years at Quincy before the team has broken out to a 6-3 start this year.
 
Bulldogs In The GLVC:
  • Truman is in their second season as members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference and are 9-4 overall in league games. The Bulldogs were 5-2 and finished in a tie for second in their inaugural run through the league last season.  
  • The team was picked second in the preseason coaches' poll behind the two-time defending champion, Indianapolis. Quincy was picked eighth in the coaches' poll after going 1-6 in the league last season.
  • The Bulldogs have outscored GLVC opponents 360-193 (+167).
  • In all-time GLVC game statistics, Truman has run for 2,470 yards (190.0/game, 4.6/rush) while allowing 1,104 opponent rushing yards (84.9/game, 2.6/rush). In total offense, Truman averages 368.5 per game and allows 284.2 per GLVC game.
  • The defense has sacked opposing GLVC quarterbacks 34 times for 228 while the Bulldog offensive line has garnered 22 sacks for 153 yards.
 
Milestone Watch
Garrett White has become the 13th Bulldog to rush for over 2,000 career rushing yards and sits eighth in rushing with 2,663 yards. White can crack the top five all-time rushing with 117 yards which would pass Lenvil Elliott (1969-72).

His 31 rushing touchdowns are tied with Steve Powell (1974-77) for fourth and his 36 total touchdowns is fourth overall in Truman lore.
White became the 12th Bulldog to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and he is currently 19th in single-season rushing yards.  He can reach the top 10 for single-season rushing yards with 343 in his final two games.

White has nine career 100+ yard games with a high of 229 against Southwest Baptist and a long rush of 80 against William Penn.

Nic Abbate is tied for all-time career mark in tackles for loss with 37.5 with former line mate Patrick Blackwell.

Devin Gillespie has 12.5 tackles for loss, good for seventh in single-season history.  The school record is 17 set by Blackwell during the 2012 campaign.

Jacob Lamp had 98 career punts and averages 40.4 yards per punt. He is right behind Bob Fletcher (40.5) for the career punting lead. Fletcher punted for the Bulldogs in 1978 and 1979.

Southwest Baptist Game Highlights:
  • The Bearcats got 219 of their 280 yards of total offense in the final three drives of the game, including their only touchdown. SBU had seven "three and outs" and one other possession that ended in a turnover on downs after just four plays.
  • Truman's first three drives consumed 30 plays and 184 yards and resulted in 17 points.
  • SBU did not have a successful third down conversion until the third quarter and finished 3-of-15 while the Bulldogs were 4-of-7 in the first half and 5-of-11 for the game.
  • It was the first time Truman went over 500 yards of total offense since September of 2012 when they had 515 against Northwestern Oklahoma State and first time in a conference game since they went for 615 against Lincoln in 2011.
  • The 350 yards rushing was the most since 336 against Nebraska-Omaha in 2010.
  • Devonte Black completed 13 of 23 passes for 123 yards with a long of 36 to Jared Haferbier.
  • Kurt Loyd and Garrett White each had three catches with Loyd going for 25 yards and White for nine.  
  • Derek Hammann had the longest kick return of the season with a 64-yard return in the fourth quarter.
  • Vince Garcia and Scott Schwend each had their first rushing touchdowns. Garcia scored the game's first touchdown from two yards out and then had a 35-yard score while Schwend took his first snap from scrimmage for a 20-yard touchdown run.
  • Roger Howard converted on all seven point-after attempts and has made his last 13 straight and 15-of-16 on the season.
  • Chris Jackson and D'Anthony Knight each recorded their first career interception.
  • The Bulldogs are +8 in turnovers in the last two games with four gained and one lost against Southwest Baptist.
 
Thrillers/Heartbreakers:
The Bulldogs have had 11 of their last 19 games, including five of eight this season, (6-5 Record) in which the final score was within single-digits. Seven of the previous 33 games (21%) fell within that margin in the previous three years (3-4 Record) and since 2000, the Bulldogs averaged three games a season (26% of all games)in which the outcome was a one-possession game (17-12 Record).

The Bulldogs biggest fourth quarter comeback was on October 12, 1985 when they entered the final 15 minutes trailing 20-0 and won 21-20 over Missouri S&T.

The biggest overall comeback was 21 points on two occasions, November 8, 2003 against Missouri S&T, they trailed 21-0 early in the second quarter and won 35-28 and on September 3, 1988 they trailed Grand Valley (Mich.) State 28-7 midway through the second quarter and won 36-35.

On the flip side, the largest fourth quarter lead lost was 14 points that happened on two occasions. They led 20-6 on October 18, 2014 against Indianapolis and lost 23-20 and on October 7, 1979 led by the same 20-6 score against Cameron (Okla.) and the game ended in a 20-all tie.

The most points overcome by an opponent was  a 23-0 lead held by Truman over Missouri Southern midway through the second quarter on October 2, 1993 in a game they lost 41-37.
 
In The Classroom:
The Bulldogs had 36 players named to the Academic All-GLVC list last season, most of any school in the conference. To earn Academic All-GLVC, a player must have a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average or have posted a 3.40 over two semesters. The team's cumulative GPA last season was 2.94 for over 100 members of the squad.
 
Bulldog Pedigree:
  • Truman has won 550 games in 106 years of football which is 8th all-time in Division II in terms of wins. The 1931-35 Bulldogs, under Coach Don Faurot, still have the eighth longest winning streak and 25th longest unbeaten streak among Division II schools.
  • This will be the 977th game in Truman Football history. The Bulldogs' .581 winning percentage is tops among the 15 NCAA (FBS, FCS, II, III) schools in the state of Missouri.
  • Truman is 4-3 in overtime games.  Six of the seven games have been played at home with the last being a road overtime loss to Drake 13-7 on September 6, 2014.
 
Defensive Notes:
  • The defense has allowed 16.1 points per game through eight games in 2014 after allowing 20.4 points per game last season. The total was the lowest average since the 1994 campaign of 17.6 per game.  
  • Opponents average 3.5 yards per rush this season with 935 yards and nine rushing touchdowns.  Last year, Truman allowed 1334 yards rushing (121.3/g).
  • Quarterbacks have completed 164-of-282 (58%) passes against the defense for 1731 yards (216.4 per game average). They have completed eight touchdown pass.
  • The defense has not allowed 400 yards of total offense in 13 of their last 15 games.
  • Truman has forced 107 turnovers since Coach Kellen Nesbitt has taken over as defensive coordinator in 2010. The Bulldogs have gained a turnover in 44 of 52 games played and went 33 straight from 2010-2013 forcing a turnover.  
  • Opponents are successful 28% of the time on third downs converting 32 of-115 attempts and 39% on fourth down with seven of 21 attempts.
  • Austin Zoda leads in tackles with 52 through the eight games. Zoda leads the team with 30 solo stops.
  • Devin Gillespie leads the team with 12.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks this season.
  • The team has 17 sacks for 107 yards and 57 tackles for loss for 232 yards.
  • Ben Chaney and Chris Stanton led the defense with two interceptions apiece. The Bulldogs average 13.2 yards on interception returns (10 for 132 yards with a long of 50).
Offensive Notes:
  • On the ground, Truman has averaged 207.1 yards per game and 4.7 yards per rush this season. Last year, Truman averaged 153.5 yards and in 2011 averaged 115.5 yards on the ground. The last time they averaged over 200 yards on a ground per game for a season was 1997.
  • Truman has 2872 yards of total offense with 359.0 per game and 5.1 per play. They have converted 37% on third down going 42-of-115 and are 8-of-16 on fourth down conversions.
  • Garrett White leads the team with 168 rushes for 1,000 yards. He has nine 100-yard rushing games for his career and 10 runs from scrimmage over 40 yards. White has 11 rushing TDs this season.
  • Vince Garcia has 53 attempts for 285 yards and two touchdowns.  
  • Devonte Black has completed 61.4% of his passes in his first year as a starter for the Bulldogs. He has thrown for 1070 yards and rushed for another 270.
  • Black's top receiving target has been Kurt Loyd with 26 catches for 262 yards and Chico Orlando with 25 for 233. Loyd has four touchdowns catches and averages 10.1 yards per reception.
  • The offensive line has allowed 22 sacks for 139 yards after allowing 11 all of 2013.
 
Special Forces Notes:
  • Jacob Lamp is averaging 39.5 yards in 43 punts in 2014 with 12 inside the 20 and a season-long 70-yard boot against Langston (Okla.).
  • Roger Howard is averaging 52.9 yards per kickoff on 41 attempts and is 6-for-10 on field goals made with a long of 36. Howard is 15-of-16 on extra point attempts.
  • Nick Dolezal has made 7-of-10 extra point attempts and a field goal of 29 yards.
  • Derek Hammann has returned 18 kickoffs for 411 yards (22.8./return) with a long of 64.
  • Kurt Loyd has been able to return nine punts for 49 yards (5.4/return) with a long of 18.
  • Chris Stanton has the team's field goal block this season against Langston (Okla.).
Upcoming:
The Bulldogs will close out the 2014 campaign with a road trip to Saint Joseph's (Ind.) College next Saturday. Truman will be looking to avenge a 6-3 home loss to the Pumas in week 10 last year that derailed Truman's conference title hopes.
Saint Joseph's 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the GLVC with a road trip to William Jewell scheduled for Saturday.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Nic Abbate

#92 Nic Abbate

DE
6' 2"
Senior
Devonte Black

#9 Devonte Black

QB
5' 11"
Sophomore
Ben Chaney

#19 Ben Chaney

DB
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Nick Dolezal

#42 Nick Dolezal

K
5' 10"
Redshirt Freshman
Vince Garcia

#22 Vince Garcia

RB
5' 6"
Redshirt Freshman
Devin Gillespie

#59 Devin Gillespie

DE
5' 11"
Junior
Jared Haferbier

#88 Jared Haferbier

WR
6' 0"
Senior
Roger Howard

#38 Roger Howard

K/P
6' 0"
Redshirt Freshman
Chris Jackson

#20 Chris Jackson

DB
5' 11"
Sophomore
Jacob Lamp

#13 Jacob Lamp

P
6' 1"
Senior
Kurt Loyd

#27 Kurt Loyd

WR
5' 11"
Senior
Chico Orlando

#84 Chico Orlando

TE
6' 2"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Nic Abbate

#92 Nic Abbate

6' 2"
Senior
DE
Devonte Black

#9 Devonte Black

5' 11"
Sophomore
QB
Ben Chaney

#19 Ben Chaney

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
DB
Nick Dolezal

#42 Nick Dolezal

5' 10"
Redshirt Freshman
K
Vince Garcia

#22 Vince Garcia

5' 6"
Redshirt Freshman
RB
Devin Gillespie

#59 Devin Gillespie

5' 11"
Junior
DE
Jared Haferbier

#88 Jared Haferbier

6' 0"
Senior
WR
Roger Howard

#38 Roger Howard

6' 0"
Redshirt Freshman
K/P
Chris Jackson

#20 Chris Jackson

5' 11"
Sophomore
DB
Jacob Lamp

#13 Jacob Lamp

6' 1"
Senior
P
Kurt Loyd

#27 Kurt Loyd

5' 11"
Senior
WR
Chico Orlando

#84 Chico Orlando

6' 2"
Senior
TE