NOTES: Senior Night On Tap As Truman Hosts Hawks

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KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Senior Day will take place under the lights of Stokes Stadium when the Truman Bulldogs host the Quincy University Hawks for a 6 p.m. Great Lakes Valley Conference game on Saturday.

The Hawks pulled a cruel "Trick" on the Bulldogs last year on Halloween when they scored 17 fourth quarter points, including 10 in the final two minutes to upset the Bulldogs 23-19 last year in the Gem City.

Quincy brings the second ranked offense and first ranked defense in terms of yards into the game while the Bulldogs have the top defense in points allowed in the GLVC. The Hawks are also tops in time of possession having averaged nearly 35 minutes per game this season. The Hawks are ranked second in the GLVC in rushing offense at 178.5 per game and fourth in passing offense (241.1/game) and are successful on third downs 48% of the time. On the other side of the ball, Quincy gives up 21.5 points, 314.8 yards and has held opponents to 31% on third downs.

The Bulldogs are atop the GLVC standings and the only undefeated team in the conference at 5-0. Truman is not only first in scoring defense (19.0/game) but also first in rushing defense (104.6/game) and second in redzone defense (58%). Truman also averages over 30 minutes a game in possession time, are second in the conference in third down conversions at 45% and among the leaders in several special teams categories.

Truman survived a scare for winless William Jewell on Saturday for Homecoming. The Cardinals took the early lead on a 99-yard kick return for a touchdown, the first in a game involving the 'Dogs since 1981, however Truman scored five of their next seven possessions with the other two ending inside Jewell territory to lead 31-17. The Cardinals were denied to two straight first and goal situations before cashing in on a third chance late in the fourth. Drew Slager recovered the onsides kick to seal the 31-24 win for Truman.

Slager made the most of his six catches for 65 yards. Five went for a first down, including three on third downs and another was an 11-yard TD strike to tie the game at seven. Jaden Barr completed his first five passes and finished 17-of-26 for 270 yards and three touchdowns.

Quincy stepped outside of conference and were defeated on the road 14-10 at NAIA Davenport (Mich.). The Hawks held the Panthers to under 300 yards of total offense but couldn't convert an a pair of redzone chances in the loss.

Running back Jaylen James is third in the GLVC in rushing yards (82.1/game) and quarterback Robbie Kelley is third in passing (229.0/game). His top target is Eric Poindexter at six receptions per game and a league leading 113.4 yards.

UP NEXT:
Truman will head out on the road for their final two regular season games. The Bulldogs play at Saint Joseph's College next Saturday in Rensselaer, Indiana at noon.

YOUNG PUPS:
The Bulldogs have had eight true freshmen make their debuts this season. They are running back Jordan Salima, receivers Drew Slager and Cam Nisbet, full back Hayden Holt, offensive lineman James Mitchell, defensive lineman Jake Floyd and defensive backs Lawrence Woods and Jordan Siegel.

The top four leaders in total offense, Barr, Salima Andy Satulla and Malique Robbins and five of the seven all-purpose yardage leaders are in either their first or second year playing.

Of the 63 players that have taken the field this season 60% or 38 are listed as true freshmen, redshirt freshmen or sophomores.

BLOCK PARTY:
The Bulldogs are second in Division II with four blocked punts this season. Central State (Ohio) leads the nation with six. They have blocked a punt in three of the last four games.

Two belong to redshirt freshman Taylor Manes (against Grand Valley St and Southwest Baptist) and one each by junior Jordan Brown (Midwestern St.) and sophomore Jake Hays (Indianapolis).

COUNTDOWN TO 1,000:
The final game of the 2016 season at McKendree will be the 1,000^th game in Truman Football history. The Bulldogs began playing football in 1900 and have won 562 games, second most of any NCAA school in the state of Missouri and 10^th among all Division II schools in wins. Truman's overall record is 562-401-34 (.580).

MILESTONE WATCHES:
Senior defensive back Austin Zoda is just the 12^th player since 1972 to go over 300 career tackles (301). He will enter the all-time Top 10 at 304.

Senior Joey Schenck has 121 pass receptions and is now tied for ninth on the Truman career list with Geoff Jensen (1998-02). Next of the radar is John Busby's 125 catches from 1981-85. Schenck has 1,234 receiving yards, just outside the top 25 among all receivers.

Junior place kicker Nick Dolezal has 17 career field goals which is ninth on the career list . Next up is 24 by Dave Austinson from 1981-82.

TARGETING:
Schenck has been targeted 50 times by Bulldog quarterbacks making 31 catches for 381 yards. Drew Slager has been thrown to 42 times; making 31 catches for 502 yards and two touchdowns.

A total of 15 receivers and backs have had passes their direction this season with 13 making receptions.

The 14 touchdown passes this season, all by Jaden Barr, is the most since the 2013 campaign.

PATH TO THE NCAA:
The first regional ranking was released on Monday and the Bulldogs are 8^th in Super Region 4 (see page 5 for explanations). The top seven in the region in the final poll will be selected for the NCAA Division II Tournament on November 13.

The Bulldogs have a 6-2 overall and Division II in-region record and their opponent's strength of schedule is currently 32-32 (not counting the opponent's winning percentage in the final three games).

Truman last made the NCAA Division II tournament in 1994.

MONEY PLAYS:
Slager leads Truman with 25 "Money" receptions. Those are plays that result in either a first down or touchdown. So 25 of Slager's 31 catches have resulted in first downs or touchdowns this year with 15 coming on third downs.

Jordan Salima has 29 rushes that have resulted in first down or touchdowns.

GLVC GAMES:
Truman is 19-9 since joining the GLVC in 2013 and has outscored opponents by 226 points. The Bulldogs have held opponents to 97.7 yards rushing per game and have had 30 sacks more than opposing defenses.

In the first half of league games, Truman has outscored GLVC foes by 273 points (421-162) and has only allowed 47 first quarter points in the 27 league games (1.4 points per quarter).

THIRD DOWNS:
This season, Truman has converted on third downs 45% of the time, up from 35% last season. In the first quarter of games, the success rate is 52% (20-of-38) while opponents in the first quarter is at 23% (6-of-26).

The offense has had 21 "three and outs" through the first eight weeks, last year through the same eight week span, the Bulldogs had 32 three and outs.

OTHER NUMBERS:

The Bulldogs are ranked first in the GLVC in the following stat categories: Fourth Down Conversions (58%), Blocked Kicks (4), Blocked Punts (4), Fumbles Lost (2), Passes Intercepted (4), Rushing Defense (104.6/game), Scoring Defense (19.0/game) and Turnovers Lost (6).
Truman is one of six teams in Division II with only six turnovers this season.

The Bulldog defense has allowed only five individual opponents in conference to rush over 100 yards since joining the GLVC in 2013 (a span of 35 games). Last year, Bubba Jenkins of Southwest Baptist has the most by an opposing back with 125 yards.
The offense has already scored as many points this season (219) than they did last year (193).

William Jewell Post Scripts:

Anthony Mullins 99-yard kick return on the game's first play was the second longest return by an opponent since 1979 and first opening kick return for a TD since Billy Blaylock of Tennessee Tech against Truman in 1981.
It was the second week in-a-row that Truman allowed a 50+ FG. Brandon Womack's 52-yard boot. It was just the eighth 50-yard FG by an opponent against Truman since 1979.
Mullins finished with 192 all-purpose yards while Jordan Salima led Truman with 127 all-purpose yards.
Austin Zoda went over 300 career tackles with 10 on the afternoon. He is only the 12^th Truman defensive player since 1972 to hit 300.
The Bulldogs had 11 tackles for loss (33-yards) with Ben Chaney registering two.
Truman scored points on five of their first seven possessions with one turnover for downs at the WJC 42 and a punt at the WJC 38.
The 17-play drive by the Bulldogs late in the second quarter was the longest in terms of plays this season. Truman had an 18-play drive last year against Southwest Baptist.
The Bulldogs are now 46-26-2 in Homecoming games in Kirksville having won their last two.

PLAYER NOTES:
Running Backs:
Freshman Jordan Salima leads team with 540 yards on 154 rushing attempts. He has four rushing touchdowns and one TD receiving…he had one, 100-yard rushing game (125 vs. Lincoln) and is averaging 19.5 carries per game…third in receptions with 21 for 168 and two touchdowns…he has 11 kick returns for 342 yards (31.1/return) with a long of 76…was the GLVC Special Teams Player of the Week following the September 17^th game against Missouri S&T and the GLVC Offensive Player of the Week following the September 24^th game against Lincoln…currently ranked 49th in Division II in All-Purpose Yards/game (131.2) and sixth in Kick Returns (31.1).

Sophomore Andy Satulla has 176 yards on 45 attempts (3.9/carry) with two touchdowns…has three catches for 28 yards…longest rush of the season was 25 against Lincoln and most yards on the day was 54 also against the Blue Tigers…had a career best 172 yards last season against St. Francis and scored four touchdowns against William Jewell to earn GLVC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Sophomore Malique Robbins has 39 carries for 140 yards and a long run of 16 against William Jewell…has five receptions for 40 yards…has 11 kick returns for an 18.5 yards per return average and a long of 40…single game high is 17 rushes for 77 yards against Lincoln.

Quarterbacks:
Redshirt freshman Jaden Barr has started the last seven games (6-1 record) and has completed 121 of 196 passes (61%)…in the first quarter of games, Barr has completed 44-of-65 passes (67%)…he has 89 rushing attempts for 183 yards and a long of 24…has five rushing touchdowns and 14 passing TDs…single game highs, passing 270 yards (vs. William Jewell) rushing 78 (vs. Indianapolis)…longest pass is 60 yards against Missouri S&T.

Sophomore Randy Schroeder has started seven games including the season opener against Midwestern State…his career high is 274 yards in a single game last year against Southwest Baptist on 23 completions and longest pass was 61 yards also against SBU.

Receivers:
Senior Joey Schenck has been targeted 50 times with 31 receptions for 381 yards and six TDs…longest reception this year is 42 yards against William Jewell…season high is 101 yards on nine catches against Southwest Baptist…ninth in career Top 10 in career receptions (121) and has 1,234 yards and 12 career touchdown receptions…has three career 100+ yard receiving games with a high of 157 against William Jewell in 2015.

Freshman Drew Slager has 31 catches for a team-leading 502 yards…is averaging 16.2 yards per catch and has 25 receptions for either a first down or touchdown…has 15 receptions on third down and a total of 17 catches on 21 targets on third or fourth down…have four catches over 40 yards including a long of 60 against Missouri S&T…season high is 90 yards against SBU and most catches is six against Malone and William Jewell.

A total of 13 receivers have been targeted this year. Among the other notables are Jordan Salima with 21 catches for 168 yards and two touchdown,s junior Kyle Spratt with 10 receptions for 107 yards and two touchdowns, junior Jordan Jorgenson with 11 catches for 93 yards and a touchdown, freshman Cam Nisbet with three receptions for 40 yards and a long of 26 and three others by Andy Satulla and sophomore C.J. Brown.

The Bulldogs have 14 receiving touchdowns this year, up from seven a year ago.

Offensive Line:
Three seniors are among the five starters on the offensive line including returning all-conference honoree in center Brad Wellman. He is joined by left tackle Colby Dohrman and right guard Kyle VanNess. Wellman has started the last 39 games at center.

Sophomore Nick Verbeck (Left Guard) and junior Matt Kaysinger (Right Tackle) fill out the starting line up on the line.

The line has allowed 18 quarterback sacks for 109 yards and 64 tackles for loss for 218 yards. The Bulldogs are fourth in the GLVC in sacks allowed with 2.2 per game.

Defensive Line:
Redshirt freshman Sam Reeves leads Truman with 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Reeves has 39 total tackles with a single-game high of eight against Southwest Baptist…He was one win away from qualifying for the Division II National Wrestling tournament at 197 pounds.

Junior Isaiah Hinton has six sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss…he had two sacks in Truman's win over SBU for 10 yards lost, including a fumble recovery…has single-game highs of six stops in three games this year.

Senior Kyle Leckrone has made 18 stops starting at tackle…he has one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Junior Brett Judkins has 22 tackles including 5.5 for loss and two sacks in seven games…he had a key sack on third down against the University of Indianapolis late in the fourth quarter.

Sophomore Jon Scheeler has 32 total tackles with 8.0 for loss and 4.5 sacks…has had a sack in five of the eight games this season…has been credited with three quarterback hurries.

Senior Austin Zoda is the team leader in tackles with 60 this year and is closing in on to the Truman Top 10 in that category. Zoda has 301 career stops and will crack the list when he reaches 304…his single game high this season is 10 vs. Southwest Baptist and William Jewell and his career high is 15 against Grand Valley St. as a freshman…he has 12 career games of 10 or more tackles.

Junior Ben Wellman is second on the team with 49 tackles…he had his second 10+ tackle game in season opener against Midwestern St. (10)…Wellman has two QB hurries and 3.5 tackles for loss.

Junior Jordan Brown started as a true freshman and has played in 30 career games…he has the most active tackles for loss for his career with 17.5…he has three interceptions with two being returned for scores…had three TFLs against Malone in week 2 and a season-high 11 stops in week 1 against Midwestern State.

Junior Ben Chaney has four career interceptions and the longest scoring play for the Bulldogs this season…Chaney's 97-yd INT return against Missouri S&T was the second longest return in school history…has four career INTs.

Junior D'Anthony Knight is tops on the team with 13 pass breakups…he has also been credited with a fumble force and recovery and picked off a pass against Indianapolis with an 18-yard return.

Redshirt Freshman Taylor Manes is eighth in Division II and leads the GLVC with two blocked punts this season…he is the 16^th player in Truman history to block multiple kicks in a season with the last being Richie Schumacher in 2012…Marc Carson has the record of 3 in 1988.

Senior T.J. Fine has 19 total tackles at corner back and picked off his first career pass in the endzone to kill a William Jewell scoring threat in week 8…has appeared in 40 games with 142 career tackles and is the active leader in 20 pass breakups.

Sophomore punter Brock Rohler is averaging 39.5 yards per punt (42 attempts) with a long of 61 at Missouri S&T…was the GLVC Special Teams Player of the Week following Truman's win over Lincoln in which he put all five of his punts inside the 20 yard line and 3 inside the 10…Rohler has 11 punts inside the 10 yardline this year…averages 55.1 yards per kickoff with four touchbacks.

Junior place kicker Nick Dolezal has converted on 6-of-10 field goal attempts with a long of 35 this year…he has made 23-of-24 point after attempts…for his career, he had made 17 of 24 FGs with a long of 43 and 50-of-56 PATs…his 17 FGs is ninth on Truman's career list and his 50 PATs is 10^th on Truman's career PAT list.

Junior Jordan Jorgenson has returned 22 punts for 249 yards (11.3/return) with a long of 48 (against Malone)…Jorgenson also has two returns for 36 yards (against Lincoln and Southwest Baptist) and another for 18 yards (Missouri S&T)…his 249 punt return yards is already fourth in Truman single-season history…the Bulldog record is 310 by Alfonso Pugh in 2002.

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Players Mentioned

#16 Jaden Barr: QB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

#6 Jordan Brown: DB; 5' 7"; Junior

#19 Ben Chaney: DB; 6' 1"; Junior

#77 Colby Dohrman: OL; 6' 3"; Senior

#42 Nick Dolezal: K; 5' 10"; Junior

#23 T.J. Fine: DB; 5' 11"; Senior

#63 Isaiah Hinton: DL; 5' 9"; Junior

#11 Jordan Jorgenson: WR; 5' 10"; Junior

#54 Brett Judkins: DL; 6' 0"; Junior

#74 Matt Kaysinger: OL; 6' 1"; Junior

#7 D'Anthony Knight: DB; 6' 0"; Junior

#75 Kyle Leckrone: DL; 6' 1"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#16 Jaden Barr
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman
: QB

#6 Jordan Brown
: 5' 7"; Junior
: DB

#19 Ben Chaney
: 6' 1"; Junior
: DB

#77 Colby Dohrman
: 6' 3"; Senior
: OL

#42 Nick Dolezal
: 5' 10"; Junior
: K

#23 T.J. Fine
: 5' 11"; Senior
: DB

#63 Isaiah Hinton
: 5' 9"; Junior
: DL

#11 Jordan Jorgenson
: 5' 10"; Junior
: WR

#54 Brett Judkins
: 6' 0"; Junior
: DL

#74 Matt Kaysinger
: 6' 1"; Junior
: OL

#7 D'Anthony Knight
: 6' 0"; Junior
: DB

#75 Kyle Leckrone
: 6' 1"; Senior
: DL