PDF Game Notes

The Malone University football team, now 1-7 on the season and 1-4 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference will square off against Hillsdale College (5-4, 3-2 G-MAC) this Saturday, November 4th at 1:00 pm in Frank "Muddy" Waters Stadium in Hillsdale, Michigan.

Media Information
Live Video/Stats: portal.stretchinternet.com/malone
Live Radio: ESPN 990 AM | espn990.com
Twitter: @Malone_Football | @maloneathletics

Gameday Storylines 
Weber Etches Name into Malone History Book
Senior middle linebacker Ryan Weber moved into fourth place all-time at Malone with 333 career tackles following a 19-tackle effort last week vs. Findlay. Weber also went over 100 tackles in a season for the first time in his career, needing just seven games to reach the milestone. At 14.7 tackles per game this season, he leads NCAA Division II and has over five more tackles per game than the next closest player in the Great Midwest (teammate Josh Correll has 9.1 a game). Weber is the only player in the country (FBS, FCS, DII, or DII) with three games of at least 19 tackles. Among active players in DII, he is fourth in career tackles and needs just eight more stops to move into third in the Malone all-time record books. The two-time all-conference selection has at least eight tackles in every game this season.
 
Pioneers Shutout by #22 Findlay
Other than Weber's standout individual performance, not much else went right for Malone, who was shutout for just the fifth time in program history last week against Findlay. The Pioneers were outgained 578-104 in total offense and 30-5 in first downs. Their only drive that reached inside the Oilers' 35 resulted in a fumble. The shutout was the first since losing 56-0 to NAIA #3 Marian in 2011. The following week, however, Malone went up to Michigan and turned the tables with a 27-0 shutout of Concordia. The Pioneers will look for history to repeat itself this Saturday when they follow up a shutout loss to a ranked opponent with a trip to southern Michigan.
 
Malone Treks to Hillsdale
Since the win over Concordia in Ann Arbor in 2011, the Pioneers are just 1-13 against Michigan opponents and 0-7 in games played in the Great Lakes State. Malone went 0-2 vs. Hillsdale during their days in the GLIAC. The Pioneers lost 27-10 at Hillsdale in 2012 and 41-16 in Canton in 2013. This Saturday's meeting will mark Malone's second trip to Hillsdale and the first as members of the G-MAC.
 
Offense Looks to Return to Form
Malone gained just 42 yards passing vs. Findlay's buzzsaw defense last week and the 104 yards of total offense was the lowest output since that shutout in 2011. With the exceptions of three runs of 11, 10, and 10 yards, and a pass completion for 34 yards, the Pioneers totaled 39 yards on the other 39 plays (1.0 avg). Over the last two games combined, Malone has struggled to just 334 total yards and 128 yards through the air. Across the previous five games, however, the Pioneers put up 400 yards a contest. During weeks one through four, Malone averaged 292 yards through the air and had the #22 passing offense in the country. This week, Malone will have the chance to return to its early-season form against a Hillsdale defense that allowed 521 yards of total offense, including 344 yards passing, to Alderson Broaddus last Saturday and, on the season, has fewer tackles for loss than any team in the country.
 
Dulin Still on Pace for 1,000
Standout receiver Ashton Dulin was held to a season-low one catch for 34 yards last Saturday, but he added four kickoff returns for 60 yards and a pair of rushes for seven as he went over 100 all-purpose yards for the eighth-straight game. The junior speedster, who already ranks in the top-5 in all-time career all-purpose yards at Malone with 3,152, needs just three more yards to crack the single season top-5. On the year Dulin has 1,356 total yards and ranks 12th in DII with 169.5 a game. At 887 receiving yards (110.9 ypg), Dulin climbed into the single-season top-5 at Malone and he maintained his pace to become Malone's first 1,000-yard receiver in 10 seasons.
 
Pioneers to Watch
Offense:  Dulin is 8th in the nation in receiving yards and 22nd in yards per catch (19.3 ypc). He'll have two quarterbacks to throw him deep balls this week. Both Zane Bunnell and Cam Ingram took snaps at quarterback vs. Findlay last Thursday and will have two extra days of practice to establish a rhythm with their receivers. Slotback Dakota Hobbs had seven touches on the outsides last week.
 
Defense: Senior outside linebacker Josh Correll has quietly put together an outstanding season in the middle of the Malone defense, recording at least eight tackles in seven of eight games this season. The Malone secondary, especially corners Jordan Johnson and Darrell Gaddis, will be tested against a Hillsdale pass offense that ranks second in the G-MAC and features All-American receiver Trey Brock. Safety Daniel Tepe tied a career-high with 11 tackles vs. Findlay.
 
Hillsdale at a Glance
Led by veteran head coach Keith Otterbein, who has over 150 wins at the DII level, including 96 at Hillsdale, the Chargers are closing in on their first winning season since 2012. On the year, Hillsdale has shutout wins over Kentucky Wesleyan and Walsh paired with losses to G-MAC frontrunners Findlay and Ohio Dominican. The Chargers also have a quality loss to DII #5 Indianapolis in which they racked up 650 yards of total offense.
 
Last week, Hillsdale overcame a 21-7 road deficit to Alderson Broaddus before pulling away for a 37-31 victory. Despite allowing 521 total yards and 8.7 yards per play to the Battlers, the Chargers still maintain the #2 defense in the G-MAC. The Chargers' 3rd-down defense, which ranks 14th in DII at 29.7%, will be excited to face a Malone offense that converts on just 30.3% of third downs and was 3-of-13 in that category last week.
 
Chargers to Watch
Offense: Wide receiver Trey Brock leads the G-MAC and is 5th in the country in receiving yards while quarterback Chance Stewart is 17th in DII in passing yards. A talented offensive line features Second Team All-GLIAC center Danny Drummond and All-GLIAC Honorable Mention left tackle Jake Bull. They'll matchup against a Malone defense that gave up seven yards a carry vs. Findlay.
 
Defense: Defensive tackle Jordon Harlamert led the Chargers with 10 tackles and 2.5 sacks at AB. All-Conference free safety Wyatt Batdorff leads the team with 81 tackles on the season. Cornerback Jason McDonough is tied for the team lead with two interceptions and defensive end Zach VanValkenburg leads the squad with 3.5 sacks.
 
By the Numbers
1- Season-low sack allowed by the Pioneers, although it resulted in a turnover, last week vs. Findlay. Malone has given up at least one sack in 33 consecutive games.
1 - Season-low penalty committed by the Pioneers, although it negated a nine-yard gain, last week vs. Findlay. Malone is second in the G-MAC in fewest penalties.
61 – Total penalties committed by Hillsdale over the last two seasons, the fewest of any team in DII over that span. Malone has committed a total of 81 in the frame, the fifth fewest in DII.
70 - % Chance of rain on Saturday in Hillsdale, with a forecasted high of 51 degrees.
302 – Receiving yards by Hillsdale receiver Trey Brock on September 23rd at UIndy, the most by any player in DII this season and the most in a single game in G-MAC history. Ashton Dulin had set the previous of mark of 235 receiving yards just three hours earlier against Missouri S&T.
 
Looking Ahead
The Pioneers will close out the season on November 11th at home against Walsh at 1:00 pm.