Football 12/3/2019 7:57:00 AM

NOTES: Bulldog Football Heads Into Saturday's America's Crossroads Bowl Game

PDF Notes | Links to Video/Stats will be found on the schedule page once they have been finalized.

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – For the first time in Truman Football history, the Bulldogs will take the field in the month of December, as they will face Ohio Dominican in the inaugural America's Crossroads Bowl on Saturday afternoon in Hobart, Indiana.

The bowl game will pit the Great Lakes Valley Conference and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference against each other. The Bulldogs come in with a 9-2 record while the Panthers enter at 7-2.

It is the first postseason game for Truman since the 1994 Division II playoffs and only third bowl game in school history. The Bulldogs have played in the NCAA playoffs in 1982, 1990, 1992 and 1994 while the bowl appearances were the 1961 Mineral Water Bowl and the 1980 Shrine Classic. Truman is 2-0 in the bowl games with wins over Parsons (Iowa) 22-8 in 1961 and 17-14 over Pittsburg State in 1980. The latest in a calendar that Truman fielded a team was two games on November 30. The first was in 1916, a 92-0 win over Northwest Missouri and again in 1922, a 13-6 at Central Missouri.

Since their 24-14 win at Urbana on November 16, postseason honors have been rolling in for the Bulldogs. Senior Sam Reeves was named one of eight finalists for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year award, which we be announced on Wednesday, December 4^th. Reeves was one of 15 Bulldogs named all-GLVC by league coaches and one of seven first-team honorees. Reeves became only the fifth Bulldog player and first since 1965 to earn first team all-conference four times. He is the active leader among all NCAA players in quarterback sacks with 40.5 and will finish in the top 10 in Division Ii after his 45^th game on Saturday.

Reeves was joined on the first team by leading rusher Jordan Salima, offensive lineman Jacob Van Doren, defensive tackle Jake Floyd, linebacker Reed McBroom, defensive back Jordan Siegel and punter Taylor Cornish.

Quarterback Jaden Barr along with linemen Dane Eggert, Jacob Lewis, running back Cody Schrader, fullback Jacob Morris, defensive back Travis Myerson and kicker Josh Scheiderer were second team honorees and tight end Jake Ellis was an honorable mention. Barr and Floyd were also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District first team with Academic All-America honors being announced next week.

Ohio Dominican placed 20 on the GMAC all-league team including the Special Teams Player of the Year in punter Logen Neidhardt. It was the second straight year in which Neidhardt won the award. The ODU defense had six players on the first team as the squad led the GMAC in points allowed at 17.1 per game. The Panthers enter the bowl on a five-game winning streak, allowing 10 points or fewer in each of the five games.

Truman/Ohio Dominican Breakdown:

This will be the first meeting between Truman and Ohio Dominican on the gridiron.
The Panthers played three teams that were selected for the NCAA Division II playoffs and went 1-2 against those squads. ODU defeated Shepherd (W.Va.) in the season opener 24-21 followed by a loss to #1 Valdosta State (Ga.) 48-21. They lost 41-31 to eventual league champion Tiffin (Ohio).
The Bulldogs two losses came at the hands of playoff teams. Truman led for 59:54 but lost 28-24 to eventual GLVC champion Lindenwood on October 12. The Bulldogs also lost to Indianapolis 44-28 on November 9.
Both teams ranked as one of the fewest penalized teams in Division II with each having 53 accepted penalties this year. Due to number of games played, Truman is ninth with 4.82 fouls accepted against while ODU is 44^th with 5.89.
The teams both lead their respective conferences in net punting. Ohio Dominican has a net punting average of 37.81 while Truman's is 36.84. Both team's punters were first team all-league.
Both teams in the bottom half of Division II in passing yards allowed. Truman is 136^th and fourth in the GLVC at 240.0 yards allowed per game while ODU was 153^rd and eighth in the GMAC at 255.8 allowed.
The Bulldogs have scored 91.5% of the time when entering their opponents redzone this season. That ranks first in the GLVC and eighth in Division II. Meanwhile, the Panthers are second in the nation in redzone defense by holding opponents scoreless 59.3% of the time.
Each team's defense holds opponents to under 20 points per game. Ohio Dominican is 18^th in Division Ii at 17.1 points allowed per game while Truman is 31^st in Division II at 19.6 points allowed per game.
Truman averages 37.2 points per game and has scored over 400 points (409) for only the second time in school history. Ohio Dominican averages 30.3 points per game.
While looking at total yardages, Truman holds a slim advantage. The Bulldogs average 391.7 yards per game on offense while the Panthers average 347.3. On defense, the Bulldogs hold opponents to 348.5 and Ohio Dominican allows 385.4 per game.
Quarterbacks Evan Ernst (ODU) and Jaden Barr (TSU) are both ranked in the top 12 nationally in completion percentage. Ernst is 10^th at 65.4% while Barr is 12^th at 64.5%. Earnst has thrown for 1,911 yards in nine games (212.3) with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. Barr has tossed for 1,884 yards (171.3/g) with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Ernst has five rushing touchdowns and 114 yards on 58 rushes this season. Barr has six rushing scores and 510 yards gained on the ground.
Both Jordan Salima (TSU) and EJ Colson have averaged over 90 yards per game this season. Salima rushed for 216 against Urbana in his last game to eclipse 1,000 yards for the second time in his career. Salima averages 93.5 per game. Colson averages 91.9 yards and 5.5 per carry with 827 in nine games. Colson has gone over the 100-yard mark in his last five games with a high of 150 in his regular season finale against Hillsdale.
On the defensive side, Jaylin Garner and Sam Reeves are among the nation's top pass rushers. Garner has eight sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss in nine games. Reeves has 9.5 sacks this season and 13.0 tackles for loss.
In kick scoring, Truman's Josh Scheiderer has made 12-of-19 field goals this season with a long of 46 and has made all 51 extra points attempted. ODU's Jed Quackenbush made both of his field goals this season with a long of 32 and is 33-of-35 on PATs.

Post Game Notes Against Urbana:

The Bulldogs ninth win matched six other Truman teams for the school record in wins in a season. The previous nine-win years were 1992, 1990, 1982, 1971, 1961 and 1933.
Truman had three drives of 10 or more plays which gave the team 13 drives this year of 10 or more. They had only one "three and out" to give them 26 for the season.
Cody Schrader caught a pass from Jaden Barr to give the Bulldogs their first and only two-point conversion of the season.
Josh Scheiderer connected on field goal attempts of 26, 39 and 30 yards while also attempting a 57 yard field goal at the end of the first half. It was the first 50+yard attempt by the Bulldogs since the 2013 season. The last 50-yard or more successful attempt was by Mark Kamphoefner in 2005 with a record of 53 yards.
Jordan Salima averaged 6.8 yards per carry while securing his first 200-yard rushing game. Salima ran 32 times for a career-best 216 and a touchdown.
Salima finished with 236 all-purpose yards, 10^th best in a game since 1997.
Salima completed game 44 in his career with only one fumble in 808 rushing attempts. That fumble occurred in his third game against Missouri S&T in 2016 and he recovered it.
Jaden Barr became Truman's career total offense leader with 142 on the day. Barr went over 9,000 career yards during the game and passed Eric Howe's total of 9,040. Barr sits with 9.076 yards and is first in career rankings in touchdowns responsible for with 80 and second in pass completions with 634.
The Bulldogs did not allow a sack for the sixth game this season and have allowed only six for 46 yards in 11 games thus far.
Meanwhile, Eric Yakle, Reed McBroom had solo sacks and Sam Reeves and Jake Floyed assisted on a third sack for the Truman defense.
Jordan Siegel intercepted his fourth pass of his career and also was credited with a block on a first half field goal attempt by the Blue Knights.
Siegel, Reeves, Barr and Salima all played in their 44^th career game. The maximum number of games in a career. It was the 42^nd game for Yakle and Travis Myerson and 41^st game for Jake Floyd.

Season Numbers To Watch:
As the season comes toward the end, here are a few statistics worth keeping an eye on.

It was their 29^th season in which they did not lose at home, first since 1994.
The current 37.2 points per game for scoring is second in school history. The current record is 37.7 points set in 1982.
The 391.7 yards of total offense average is the highest since 419.4 in 2001. The school record in 471.4 set in 1985.
The Bulldogs have averaged 216.5 yards on the ground, which would mark the second straight year of averaging over 200 yards rushing per game. Last year, Truman averaged 213.5.
The team averages 494.5 all-purpose yards, most since 2007 (533.7) and behind the school record 562.5 in 1986.
The Bulldogs have 32 rushing touchdowns, for fourth most in a season. The school record is 41 set in 1962. Third on the list is 35 in 1995 and second is 37 in 1996.
The team is averaging 5.3 yards per rush, which is currently the sixth best in a season. They averaged 5.07 last year while the record is 5.64 in 1964.
The current completion percentage of 64.2% is the second best in a season, the top mark is 67.5% in 1965. The team has topped 60% or greater in five campaigns since 1958.
Individually, Jaylen Jefferson has the top yards per carry with a minimum of 20 for the season at 8.74. T.J. Jackson owns the record at 8.73 on 71 carries in 1964. Jefferson has 31 attempts this year for 271 yards.
Jaden Barr's 64.5% completion percentage is currently second behind Chris Livingstone's 65.2%. Barr has 282 attempts to Livingstone's 132, Eric Howe is next on the list at 63.9% on 357 attempts.
Josh Scheiderer is second in PATs in a season with 51 and is two back of the single-season record of 53 held by Dave Austinson in 1982.
Taylor Cornish is currently ninth in punting average at 40.9 yards per punt.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Jaden Barr: QB; 5' 11"; Senior

#83 Jake Ellis: TE; 6' 7"; Junior; National Letter of Intent

#93 Jake Floyd: DL; 5' 10"; Senior

#4 Jaylen Jefferson: RB; 5' 9"; Junior; National Letter of Intent

#71 Jacob Lewis: OL; 6' 0"; Senior

#38 Reed McBroom: LB; 5' 10"; Junior

#30 Jacob Morris: FB; 5' 8"; Junior; National Letter of Intent

#20 Travis Myerson: DB; 6' 1"; Senior

#9 Sam Reeves: DL; 5' 8"; Senior

#2 Jordan Salima: RB; 5' 10"; Senior

#99 Josh Scheiderer: K/P; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#21 Cody Schrader: RB; 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

#15 Jaden Barr
: 5' 11"; Senior
: QB

#83 Jake Ellis
: 6' 7"; Junior; National Letter of Intent
: TE

#93 Jake Floyd
: 5' 10"; Senior
: DL

#4 Jaylen Jefferson
: 5' 9"; Junior; National Letter of Intent
: RB

#71 Jacob Lewis
: 6' 0"; Senior
: OL

#38 Reed McBroom
: 5' 10"; Junior
: LB

#30 Jacob Morris
: 5' 8"; Junior; National Letter of Intent
: FB

#20 Travis Myerson
: 6' 1"; Senior
: DB

#9 Sam Reeves
: 5' 8"; Senior
: DL

#2 Jordan Salima
: 5' 10"; Senior
: RB

#99 Josh Scheiderer
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: K/P

#21 Cody Schrader
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman
: RB