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Truman State University Athletics

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Football

Game Notes: Football Opens With Southwest Baptist On Saturday

Truman State University Bulldog Football Game Notes:
 
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The Truman Bulldog Football team will open their 106th season on Saturday night when they host Southwest Baptist (Mo.) University under the lights at Stokes Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

The Series:
Truman and Southwest Baptist will be meeting for the fourth straight year and 24th time overall. They met in the season opener in 2012 with the Bulldogs prevailing 24-14 in Bolivar. The Bulldogs have won five straight meetings with the Bearcats with SBU's last victory coming in 2005 by a 38-36 tally. Truman is 20-3 overall against Southwest Baptist and 11-0 in games played in Kirksville. The Bearcats last visit to Stokes Stadium was in 2010, a 33-30 Truman win.

The Match-Up:
The Bulldogs were 4-7 last season while the Bearcats went 3-8 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.  Truman averaged 24.0 points per game with 344.8 yards of total offense and 430.3 yards of total defense. Southwest Baptist averaged 20.2 points per game with 285.1 yards of total offense and 367.3 yards of total defense.

Last Meeting With SBU:
The Bulldogs scored touchdowns in the first three quarters and held on for a 24-14 victory over SBU in the season opening game in 2012. Truman rushed the ball 45 times for 137 yards while Conrad Schottel completed 14-of-32 passing attempts for 221 yards in the win. Chico Orlando had a 15-yard TD reception in the first quarter and Garrett White had a one-yard rush and a 42-yard TD reception for the other two touchdowns. 
The Bearcats were held to 257 yards of total offense with Derwyn Lauderdale catching 10 passes for 63 yards including a two-yard TD reception.  SBU was just 3-of-19 on third down conversion attempts on the night.

The Coaches:
Gregg Nesbitt is in his fourth season as head coach of his alma mater. Nesbitt has gone 4-7 in the three previous years for an overall record of 12-21. His teams are 4-0 in non-conference games, 6-11 in games played at Stokes Stadium and 2-1 in season openers.

Craig Schuler enters his first season at Southwest Baptist University after serving nine years as the offensive coordinator at Lindenwood (Mo.) University. The Lions ran up 540 yards of total offense in their 38-13 victory over the Bulldogs last season.

Quick Hits:
Truman returns 44 letterwinners from last season with 25 coming from the offensive side of the ball.

Nine offensive returners and five defensive returners started at least six games in 2012 including all-MIAA players Dallas Grier (2TM - WR), Jeremey Dockery (HM - DL), Derek Koon (HM – K) and Tremaine Millender (HM – DB).

The Bulldogs are one of the last college football teams in America to start the season. The last time they started a season as late as September 7 was in 2002 when they opened the year with a 38-14 victory over Drake (Iowa).

Truman is 538-385-34 (.579) all-time since 1900. The .579 winning percentage is the best by any NCAA I Football playing school in the state of Missouri. Next highest is Northwest Missouri State at (.565).

Truman allowed 117 points in the second quarter last year and were outscored 42-31 in the last five minutes of the half.
 
Opening Drives:
In 11 games last season, Truman scored one touchdown and had four made field goals in their first possession of the game while opponents scored three touchdowns in their opening drives. The Bulldogs also had two opening possessions end with missed field goals.

To start the second half, Truman had two TDs while opponents scored five touchdowns. Both Truman and their opponents had three turnovers apiece and the Bulldogs missed one field goal to begin the third quarter.

Third Downs:
The Bulldogs were 32% on third down conversions in 2012 going 53-of-166. They were 42% when facing a third and less than five yards to go but only had that situation 62 times during the year.  The longest conversion was a 39-yard pass on third and 19 against Emporia State.

Opponents converted on 41% of third downs and were 60% in less than five yard situations. They had 80 of their 184 third down plays come from less than five yards. The longest conversion was a 15-yard run by Nebraska-Kearney when facing a third and 13.

Red Zone:
Truman scored on 33 of their 50 trips in the redzone (66%). Of the 33 scores, 13 were rushing touchdowns, 11 were passing and the 'Dogs kicked nine field goals.

Opponents scored on 35 of their 44 redzone trips (79.5%) They had 19 rushing and 11 passing touchdowns while also converting on five field goals.

Turnovers:
The defense gained 28 turnovers last season with an equal split of 14 interceptions and 14 fumbles recovered. The team scored 55 points off of the turnovers with six touchdowns, two field goals and one defensive score.

The offense turned the ball over 27 times with 17 interceptions and 10 fumbles lost. Opponents scored 87 points off turnovers with 10 touchdowns, one field goal and two defensive scores.

Drive Chart:
The Bulldogs scored on 25% of their drives last year (43-of-169) and started 43 drives on the opponents side of the field scoring 50% of the time.

Opponents scored on 26% of their drives (42-of-167) and started on the Bulldogs' side of the 50 on 15 occasions.

Offensive Notables:
Senior Dallas Grier recorded the second most receiving yards in school history last year with 1,026 yards and the third most catches by a Bulldog with 81…he is fourth all-time in receiving yards with 2,173 and needs 215 to move into third place and 1,285 to break Andrew Blakley's Truman record…Grier has 161 career receptions and trails Fontaine Walker by 19 for third place all-time, second place is held by Rich Otte with 206 while Blakley holds the all-time mark with 300 receptions from 1999-2002…He is a three-time all-MIAA player, one second team and two honorable mentions…single-game high for yards is 178 against Nebraska-Kearney in 2012…has seven career games of over 100 yards receiving…career longest reception is 66 yards against Nebraska-Kearney…has 18 punt returns for 205 yards for an 11.4 average and a long of 39.

Junior Garrett White was the team's leading rusher and scorer last season…had nine rushing touchdowns and four receiving scores for 66 points…gained 585 yards on 118 carries for a 5.0 yards per rush average and a long of 55…was the Bulldogs "Big-Play Player" last year with eight of the teams 20 plays of 30 or more yards…caught 19 passes for 251 yards.

Senior Conrad Schottel started all 11 games last season and has played in 25 at quarterback for the Bulldogs…Schottel threw for 2,103 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2012 and completed 52.6% of his passes. He averaged 191.2 yards per game but also tossed 15 interceptions…five receivers had over 250 yards.

The offensive line is anchored by three seniors Steve Bosilovatz, Steven Backes and Erik Stone…the three have combine for 60 games played and are joined by redshirt sophomore Charlie Brynac and redshirt freshman Brad Wellman at center…the 'Dogs allowed 23 sacks for 135 yards in 2012.

Defensive Notables:
Senior Jeramey Dockery is the team's top returning tackler from a year ago…Dockery recorded 65 total tackles including seven for loss and three sacks to be placed on the honorable mention all-MIAA team.

Junior linebackers Connor Nagel and Matthew Bell had 62 and 41 total tackles respectively last year.

Junior defensive lineman Nic Abbate missed the final nine games last year due to injury but brings 23 games of experience back…Abbate is the active career leader in sacks with 7.5 and 13.5 tackles for loss.

Senior Paul Taylor has the most game experience in the Bulldog secondary but all of his previous 25 games have been played with the offense and special teams…junior Brady Schroeder has 20 games of experience but will be making his first start while junior Steven Day has 15 games and has the only career interception of the group…Tremaine Millender has played in 33 games in the Bulldog secondary but will start the season on top of the depth chart in the running back position.

Special Team Notables:
Senior Derek Koon is tied for the career record with 37 field goals made…he has made 69.8% of his field goal attempts with a long of 46…has converted on 75 of 85 point after touchdown attempts and has averaged 57.9 yards per kickoff.

Junior Jacob Lamp will be in his first full season as the team's punter…averaged 34.6 yards on seven punts the previous two seasons with a long of 46.

Around the GLVC:
The Bulldogs enter their first season as members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Truman was picked third in the preseason coaches' poll behind defending champion, the University of Indianapolis and runners-up Missouri S&T.

Up Next:
The Bulldogs first road trip will be a regional non-conference game against nationally-ranked Grand Valley State (Mich.) next Saturday in Allendale, Mich. The Lakers were 8-3 last season and are 51-12 over the last five years. They are ranked 14th in the first America Football Coaches Association Division II poll. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. eastern time.
 
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