The Malone University football team racked up 580 yards of total offense on Saturday night at Fawcett Stadium as it rolled to a 48-12 Mid-States Football Association Mideast League victory against Trinity International (IL) University. The Pioneers led 27-6 at halftime and then tacked on a pair of third-quarter rushing touchdowns to put the contest out of reach. The win improved Malone's record to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the MSFA Mideast while Trinity International fell to 0-10 overall and 0-6 in league play.

The Pioneers tallied 244 yards through the air and 336 yards on the ground to account for their season-high total of 580 offensive yards. The Trojans countered with 168 rushing yards and 91 passing yards for a total output of 259 yards. In addition to its sizable advantage in yardage, Malone also led 29-11 in total first downs, intercepted two Trinity International passes and held the Trojans out of the end zone on two trips inside the Malone 20 yard-line.

Junior running back Markus McFolling (Seaside, CA) put the Pioneers in front 7-0 on the game's opening possession after capping a nine-play, 69-yard Malone scoring drive with a four-yard TD plunge. After recovering a Pioneer fumble deep in Malone territory, TIU then pulled to within 7-6 at the 2:58 mark of the first quarter when Trinity quarterback Daniel Beals connected with tight end Kyle Mowen on a 33-yard touchdown pass. The Trojans then looked the knot the score but their extra-point try was blocked by Pioneer defensive lineman Chris Story (Jr., Las Cruces, NM), keeping Malone in front 7-6.

The second quarter was all Pioneers as the hosts scored touchdowns on all three of their possessions in the frame while outgaining Trinity International by a 214 to 20 margin. McFolling pushed the Malone lead to 14-6 with 10:46 remaining in the half on a one-yard touchdown run. After forcing a punt on the Trojans' ensuing drive, the Pioneers then struck quickly as redshirt freshman quarterback Steve Brohl (Almont, MI) found freshman wide receiver Derrick McLean (Laurel Hill, NC) on a 94-yard scoring strike. The lengthy catch and sprint to end zone by McLean pushed Malone's lead to 20-6 (ensuing extra point was no good) and broke the Pioneer school record for the longest pass from scrimmage (the previous mark was established during Malone's inaugural season against Geneva College on a 90-yard touchdown pass from Shane Nalepa to Eric Miller). Brohl then wrapped up the second-quarter scoring with his second TD pass of the evening, a two-yard toss to tight end Brent Altenburger (Black River H.S.) that stretched the Pioneer advantage to 27-6.

Malone's lead then grew to 41-6 in the third stanza with two more touchdown runs, the first an 11-yard sprint by senior running back Joseph Peters (Oakland, CA) and the second a seven-yard dash by junior running back Courtney Greer (Midland, TX).

Trinity trimmed the deficit 41-12 just over two minutes into the fourth quarter as Beals raced to the end zone on a 90-yard TD run. The Trojans were unable to get any closer over the remainder of the contest, however, as McFolling capped the scoring two minutes later with his third touchdown run of the game, this time from eight yards out.

Brohl completed 13 of his 19 pass attempts on the evening for 244 yards and two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Jeff Perri (Alameda, CA) pulled in four catches for 70 yards, junior wide receiver Mike Medina (San Diego, CA) snagged three catches for 36 yards while McLean caught two passes for 101 yards, including the record-setting TD grab.

Peters, Greer and McFolling all eclipsed 80 rushing yards in the contest as Peters totaled 153 yards on 21 attempts (7.3 average) with one TD, Greer posted 99 yards on 10 carries (9.9 average) with one score, and McFolling registered 81 yards on 14 attempts (5.8 average) with three touchdowns.

Defensive back Jon Latimer (Sr., Dallas, TX) and defensive end Cody Carroll (Jr., Chardon H.S.) each posted a team-high eight tackles with Latimer also tallying one interception and Carroll recording three tackles for loss, including two sacks. Senior defensive lineman Nick Rousher (Canfield H.S.) and freshman linebacker Antonio Scassa (Massillon Washington H.S.) each followed with five stops apiece.

Punter Mike Skvor averaged over 47 yards on his three punts with a long of 63. In addition to the lengthy boot, his other two kicks were each downed inside the Trinity eight yard-line.

For the Trojans, Beals completed 10 of his 21 pass attempts for 91 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also notched 114 rushing yards on 18 carries, including the long TD run. Wide receiver Dave Hardt caught three passes for 26 yard while defensive back Pete Miller recorded a game-high 11 tackles.

This week, Malone (3-5 overall, 1-4 MSFA Mideast) will travel to Indianapolis, Indiana for a 1:00 p.m. matchup with Marian University (5-4 overall, 2-3 MSFA Mideast). The Pioneers won both of their previous two meetings with the Knights, including a 45-37 victory at Fawcett Stadium last season.

Malone Notes: The Pioneers' 580 total yards marked the highest offensive output since the squad piled up 633 yards in a 42-17 win over Taylor (IN) University on October 11th of last season…Saturday marked the second time this season that the Pioneers have eclipsed 300 rushing yards as the squad tallied a school-record 442 yards on the ground in a 65-10 win at Anna Maria (MA) College on September 26th…Malone now holds a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series with Trinity International.