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The Malone University football team will face Truman State University (MO) in a road matchup this Saturday, September 10th at 1:00 PM eastern time (12:00 pm central time).

Media Information
Live Video: www.glvcsn.com/truman/
Live (home) Audio: ESPN 990 AM (Massillon) and online at:www.espn990.com/listen.php
Live Stats: www.sidearmstats.com/truman/football/
Twitter: @Malone_Football , @maloneathletics

Gameday Storylines
A Bunch of Firsts and a Streak Snapped
First year head coach Fred Thomas earned his first collegiate head coaching victory last Saturday as the Pioneers defeated Taylor University (IN) 39-33 in overtime. The win snapped a 15-game losing streak dating back to 2014. It was the first season-opening win for Malone since 2011 when the Pioneers beat Tiffin in week one. In week two of that same season, Malone beat McKendree (IL) on the road, marking the last time the Pioneers won their first road game of the season. Coincidentally, those two victories also marked Malone's last winning streak.
 
Go West Young Man
Malone makes the trip to Kirksville, Missouri this week to play Truman State for the first time in school history. The long-distance trip will be just the sixth time in 24 years that the Pioneers played west of the Mississippi River. The last such game was in 2010 when Malone trekked to Davenport, Iowa to face Saint Ambrose, falling to the bees 28-7. The Pioneers only win west of the Mississippi came in 1996 in a victory over Iowa Wesleyan.
 
45 Blas(t)
Running back Matt Blasiole was named G-MAC Offensive Player of the Week following a 233-yard, two touchdown performance in week one against Taylor. The deceptively fast junior runner scored on a career-long 61-yard TD reception and a 51-yard TD run. During the first weekend of college football, Blasiole's 178 yards rushing was the 4th highest total in NCAA Division II and his 233 all-purpose yards ranked 6th in the nation and 2nd among those who didn't return a kick. His attack on the 1,000-yard rushing mark that evaded him last fall will continue to be a story to watch as the season unfolds
 
He's Special
Redshirt sophomore Marcus Moeller was selected as the G-MAC Special Teams Player of the Week after connecting on 2-of-2 field goal attempts and three extra points. The 6'4"kicker also was responsible for four touchbacks on seven kickoffs. Prior to last Saturday, the Pioneers had four combined touchbacks in their previous five and a half seasons, spanning 59 games and 224 kickoffs.
 
Get Off the Field
The Malone defense held Taylor to just 3-of-16 on third down conversions. The 18.8 % conversion rate is the 14th best defensive percentage in NCAA DII. The Pioneers forced the Trojans into five three-and-outs in the 2016 opener, after forcing just 17 three-and outs all season in 2015.The Malone offense, however, was guilty of six of their own three-play drives including two in the final nine minutes of Saturday's contest. The Pioneers had 28 such drives in 2015.
 
Pioneers to Watch
Offense:
Quarterback John Iacucci and running back Matt Blasiole lead a Malone offensive attack that ranks 14th in the country with 284 yards on the ground. Iacucci was also 10-of-18 for 131 yards passing. Wide receiver Eian Elsass has caught a pass in 15 straight games. Receiver Ashton Dulin caught three balls for 19 yards in the opener and added 102 yards as a weapon in the return game. The Malone offensive line allowed just one sack and opened holes for Pioneer backs to the tune of 6.8 yards per carry
 
Defense:
Linebackers Ryan Weber and Keith Williams combined for 23 tackles and three pass breakups in the win over Taylor. Defensive tackle Tyler Bowman was in on seven tackles while safeties JC Pawlyk and Daniel Tepe led the secondary with seven and six tackles respectively.

2016 Malone Pioneers: Roster | Schedule | Stats | Staff | Week One Recap
 
The Tape on Truman
Truman State, a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), is guided by seventh-year head coach Gregg Nesbitt, a 1980 Truman graduate. Nesbitt has led the Bulldogs to 30 victories in his tenure.
 
In week one, the Bulldogs battled Midwestern State (TX), falling to the nationally ranked Mustangs 31-19 in last Saturday's season opener. Truman was outgained 445-255 in total offense but limited Midwestern to just 3.3 yards per carry. The Bulldogs allowed 295 yards passing while throwing for just 155 yards.
 
Truman, now 0-1 in 2016, finished 5-6 in 2015. Truman shared one mutual opponent, Wayne State University (MI), with Malone from the 2015 season. Wayne State defeated Truman 21-20 before beating Malone 56-21 in consecutive weeks.
 
Bulldogs to Watch
Offense:
Quarterback Jaden Barr completed 14-of-17 passes for 110 yards and added 33 yards rushing. His 82.4% completion percentage is third-highest in the country. Wide receiver Joey Schenk had a team-high five catches for 39 yards. Center Brad Wellman is a four-year starter along the offensive line and was a First Team All-GLVC selection in 2014.
 
Defense:
Linebacker Ben Wellman led the Bulldogs with 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss in week one. Safety Austin Zoda had nine tackles in the opener. Zoda was a First Team All-GLVC recipient in 2015 after leading the squad with 95 total tackles, including 15 for loss, and three forced fumbles. Defensive back D'Anthony Knight added seven solo tackles, two pass breakups, and a fumble recovery against Midwestern.

2016 Truman State Bulldogs: Roster | Schedule | Stats

By the Numbers
1 - Regular season games played further west than Kirksville, Missouri. Malone played Azusa Pacific (California) in 2007. Malone also played the 2008 Victory Bowl in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis
2 - Times in the previous 77 games had the Pioneers not committed a turnover before last Saturday's turnover-free contest.
241/300 - The average weight in pounds of the Pioneers' starting defensive line vs. the average weight of the Bulldogs' starting offensive line.
693 - Number of days between the Pioneers' last victory on October 11, 2014 and their season-opening victory over Taylor last weekend that snapped a 15-game winless streak.
 
Looking ahead: 
The Pioneers will return home next week for a Saturday, September 17th showdown with Notre Dame College.