The Malone University football team dropped to 0-5 on the season and 0-2 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) after falling to Alderson Broaddus 31-24 Saturday afternoon in Philippi, West Virginia. The Pioneers overcame a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter to tie it at 24-24, but a game-winning touchdown pass by the Battlers with 11 seconds remaining sent Malone home in defeat.
 
Recap
The Battlers took the opening kickoff and proceeded to cover 66 yards on 11 plays as they took a 7-0 lead on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Zach Chandler to Zack Lake. On the ensuing drive, Malone drove the football into AB territory, but turned the ball over on downs at the 30.
 
After forcing a punt, the Pioneers took over at their own 6-yard line and promptly engineered a 6-play, 94 yard scoring drive to even things up. From his own 29, Malone quarterback John Iacucci hit Ashton Dulin in an open spot near midfield before Dulin out-ran the AB defenders down the right sideline for a 71-yard score. Marcus Moeller's PAT try split the uprights to make it a 7-7 contest.
 
On the following possession, Alderson Broaddus nickle-and-dimed its way down the field deep into Malone territory. The Pioneer defense held strong in the redzone, though, forcing the Battlers into a 30-yard field goal try. Malone was forced to punt in its only other possession of the first half as they went to the break trailing by three.
 
On the opening drive of the third, the Pioneers went 46 yards on 11 plays to set up Moeller for a 36-yard field goal that tied the game up at 10-10, with 10:00 left in the third.
 
On the very next drive, Alderson Broaddus went back in front with its second touchdown of the game. Chandler found tailback Maurice Thomas out in the flat for a 52-yard pitch-and-catch to go ahead 17-10. Later in the third, Alderson Broaddus went up 24-10 when wide receiver Jermaine Wynn caught a pass on the left sideline and avoided a Malone tackler before sprinting to the endzone on a 47-yard score.
 
Taking over at midfield following the AB kickoff, Malone put together a 14-play, 50-yard scoring drive that chewed eight minutes and 42 seconds off the game clock. The Pioneers converted three fourth-down conversions on the drive, including a touchdown on 4th-and-goal. Backup quarterback Zane Bunnell ran it in from four yards out as the Pioneers cut their deficit in half with 7:48 left to play.
 
Freshman defensive end Arrington Dulin made a key play on the next drive, forcing a six-yard loss on a first-down run by the Battlers, who were eventually forced to punt. Malone took over at its own 25 and just five plays later tied it up when Bunnell found a wide-open Dakota Hobbs deep down the middle of the field for a 54-yard touchdown catch. Moeller's point after try made it 24-24 with 2:35 left in the game.
 
Following Moeller's touchback on the ensuing kickoff, Alderson Broaddus began its drive on its own 25. The Battler offense maneuvered its way to the Malone 34-yard line before a pair of penalties in the Malone secondary helped set up first-and-goal at the nine. Chandler found open receiver Zack Lake on a post route to the back of the endzone with just 11 seconds to go as the Battlers came away with the Homecoming victory. Malone had one last chance, but Kyle Nowak's hail mary effort was intercepted.
 
Game Highlights
-The Battlers outgained the Pioneers 441-348 in total yards, but Malone averaged 6.1 yards per play compared to AB's 6.0.
-Malone ran for 167 yards and threw for 181
-Alderson Broaddus collected 26 first downs to Malone's 15 and were 7-for-13 on third downs.
-The Pioneers were 5-of-13 on third downs and 3-for-4 on fourth down tries.
-The time of possession battle was nearly dead even as Malone controlled the ball for 29:58 and AB possessed it for 30:02.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Ashton Dulin caught six passes for 101 yards and a score and ran once for seven yards.
-Zane Bunnell finished 5-for-6 for 89 yards and his first collegiate touchdown pass. He also ran seven times for 42 yards and his first touchdown run.
-John Iacucci was 5-of-9 for 92 yards and a touchdown, He added 39 yards rushing on seven carries.
-Xavier Garland led Malone with 58 yards rushing on 20 carries.
-Dakota Hobbs, a true freshman, totaled 72 yards receiving and his first collegiate touchdown.
-Ryan Weber led Malone with 15 tackles while Josh Correll chipped in with 11
 
Alderson Broaddus Individual Highlights
-Zach Chandler finished 25 of 32 for 319 yards and four touchdowns. He also led the Battlers with 37 yards on the ground.
-Maurice Thomas caught a game-high 10 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown.
-Quade Raley posted a team-high seven tackles and a sack.
 
Up Next
Malone will celebrate Homecoming next Saturday, October 14th against Kentucky Wesleyan College at 12:00 pm at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.