The Malone University football team came up short in its season opener at Taylor University Saturday night, falling by the final score of 28-21. Despite career-high performances from a trio of Pioneer seniors, Malone was unable to overcome a number of costly penalties, missed chances, and an inability to the run the football.
 
Recap
The Pioneers struck first with a touchdown on the game's first possession when Matt Blasiole rumbled in from a yard out. The opening drive, highlighted by a 49-yard reception by freshman burner Dakota Hobbs, gave the Pioneers an early 7-0 lead in front of a sizable road crowd.
 
Following a Taylor punt on the ensuing possession, Malone took over on its own 15-yard line. Facing 4th-and-1 three plays later, the Pioneers opted to go for it from the 24. The Taylor defense, which included nine returning starters from last year's squad that gave up 39 points and 284 yards rushing to Malone, stood tough and forced a turnover on downs, setting the TU offense up with outstanding field position. From there, the Trojans needed just four plays before a touchdown run knotted things up at 7-7.
 
On the subsequent possession, the Pioneers took advantage of a 60-yard pitch and catch from John Iacucci to receiver Eian Elsass and marched down inside their opponent's 30-yard line. The drive stalled, though, and junior kicker Marcus Moeller's 40-yard field goal attempt hit the left upright as the score remained tied.
 
On the next drive, the Malone defense made a fourth-down stop of its own, but the offense was forced into a punt three plays later. The Pioneer defense came up big again one possession later when senior linebacker Ryan Weber forced a fumble that was scooped up by senior corner Jordan Johnson.
 
After taking over near midfield, the Pioneer offense went to work. Following a first down, Hobbs reeled off a 32-yard carry to inside the 10-yard line, but it was called back on an illegal motion penalty and Malone was later forced to punt.
 
Moeller's punt went out of bounds at the 2-yard line where the Trojans took over deep in their own territory. They proceeded to travel 98 yards on 12 plays, scoring just 10 seconds left before half. Twice on the drive, the Pioneers forced Taylor fumbles, but twice were unable to pounce on the loose ball. The second of the two fumbles resulted in the score when Dawalyn Washington's strip at the 4-yard line rolled into the endzone where it was recovered by an alert Trojan for a touchdown.
 
In the second half, Taylor scored again on its opening possession, going 64 yards on 12 plays. Later in the quarter, TU took advantage of a short field, scoring on a 38-yard touchdown pass with 1:10 left in the period.
 
Needing to work quickly, the Malone offense scored an apparent  touchdown on its very next play from scrimmage when Iacucci found a streaking Ashton Dulin for a 75-yard scoring strike. The play was called back, however, on a holding penalty and Malone was later forced to punt.
 
With the Pioneers still trailing 28-7 in the fourth, Iacucci found Dulin again for a touchdown on the first play of the drive and this time it counted. The 67-yard touchdown catch made it a 28-14 contest.
 
After forcing Taylor into a three-and-out, Jordan Johnson fielded a punt at his own 30 and took it 70 yards to paydirt, weaving between Taylor defenders for the score. Moller's PAT attempt was true, cutting the deficit to just seven points.
 
With nine minutes to play, Malone forced another three-and-out but gave the football right back on an interception on the next drive. The Pioneers would force two more punts, but were unable to engineer a scoring drive. Taking over at its own 14 with 2:34 left to play, the offense moved across midfield, but a momentum-shifting sack and an interception off of a tipped pass put Malone's comeback bid to rest.
 
Game Highlights
-Malone was guilty of eight total penalties for 55 yards, many of which coming at the most inopportune of times
-Taylor collected 23 first downs compared to Malone's 11 and outgained the Pioneers 419-308
-The Trojans offense was 9-of-17 on third downs while Malone was just 5-of-15
-The Malone defense held TU to just 3.4 yard per carry but allowed 11.6 yards per pass completion
-Malone threw for 326 yards in the contest, the highest total since 2013
-The nonexistent running game, however, generated -18 net yards rushing, the lowest total in school history.
 
Individual Highlights
-Ryan Weber set a career-high with 19 tackles and two forced fumbles in the contest
-Eian Elsass caught a career-high 11 passes for 146 yards
-Iacucci set career-highs in completions (24) and yards (326) but was sacked four times and picked off twice
-Ashton Dulin totaled 98 yards receiving on seven receptions
-Josh Correll tallied eight tackles and a sack
-In addition to his 70-yard punt return touchdown, Jordan Johnson collected five tackles, two pass breakups, and a fumble recovery
-Linebacker Chad Bata was in on six tackles
 
Up Next:
Malone will travel to take on Shaw University on September 16th at 1:00 pm.