PDF Game Notes
The Malone University football team will make the trip to Columbus this Saturday, October 13th to take on Ohio Dominican University in a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) clash with a 1:00 pm kickoff. The upset-minded Pioneers, now 1-4 on the season and 1-3 in the G-MAC, will look to play postseason spoiler for the Panthers, who at 5-1 (3-1 G-MAC) are one of just 11 remaining unbeaten or one-loss teams in Super Region 1.
Media Information
Live Video: portal.stretchinternet.com/malone
Live (Malone) Radio: ESPN 990 AM |
espn990.com
Live Stats: ohiodominicanpanthers.com/sports/fball/2018-19/boxscores/20181013_met1.xml
Twitter: @Malone_Football |
@maloneathletics
Gameday Storylines
Pioneers and Panthers to Meet for 11th Time
Malone returns to Columbus on Saturday for the first time since the 2014 season opener. Since Ohio Dominican's first season of football in 2004, the Pioneers and Panthers have met 10 total times on the gridiron where ODU holds a 9-1 edge. Malone's only victory in the pairing came in the state capital during the Panthers maiden season in 2004, but it's been all Ohio Dominican since. The Panthers earned their first-ever conference (MSFA) victory over Malone in 2005 and all nine of their wins have been by double digits. In the NCAA Division II era, the Pioneers are 0-5 against ODU, losing by an average of 31 points. Last season, Malone held tough but could not find the endzone in a 20-3 defeat. This Saturday will mark the second meeting as members of the G-MAC. The Panthers are the defending conference champions and enter this week ranked 26th in NCAA DII.
Malone Struggles on the Road
Last week against Tiffin, another team ranked in top-30 in the national poll, the Pioneers suffered a 38-21 defeat on the road, marking their 23rd loss in the last 24 away games. The Pioneer defense allowed 509 yards to the balanced Dragons, including 249 on the ground. Outside of the 42-12 victory over Lake Erie in week two in which it surrendered just 224 yards, the defense has given up an average of 42 points and 507 yards in their four losses this season.
The challenges won't get any easier this week against an ODU offense that has averaged 510 yards over the last four games, but Malone has positives to look at going forward. The Pioneer defense held Ohio Dominican to a season-low 20 points last season, forcing six punts and intercepting a Panther pass in the endzone. The Pioneers can also build upon the success they had against Tiffin in the fourth quarter last week when they held the Dragons to just 65 yards and 3.2 yards per play. Malone has outscored its opponents 51-13 in the fourth quarter.
Dulin Puts on a Show
Senior wide receiver
Ashton Dulin was a one-man wrecking crew for the Pioneers last Saturday, piling up 294 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in the defeat at Tiffin. Dulin scored on a 99-yard kickoff return (t-2 second-longest in school history), a 55-yard run, and a 67-yard reception. For his efforts, he was named the
G-MAC Offensive Player of the Week after becoming the first player in G-MAC history to score a touchdown on a kickoff return, a run, and a pass all in the same game. Dulin is the only player in Division II to accomplish the feat this season and one of just three in NCAA football (FBS, FCS, DII, DIII) overall. Ironically, as rare as the performance is, Dulin is not the first Pioneer to run, catch, and return a kick for a touchdown in the same game. Wide receiver
Jordan Phillips completed the task during a four-touchdown game at Alderson Broaddus in 2013.
Dulin finished last Saturday's game with four catches for 108 yards, his first 100-yard receiving game of the season and the 10th of his career. In the process, he became just the second Pioneer receiver to surpass 2,500 career receiving yards. Now with 2,592 for his career, Dulin is well within striking distance of Derek Deardorff's school record total of 2,838. With the touchdown grab last Saturday, his seventh of the season and 23rd of his career, Dulin also climbed into sole possession of second place at Malone in career touchdown catches.
Special Teams Success
With his third kickoff return touchdown in five games this season, Dulin is tied for the Division II lead and he ranks fourth in return average (34.5 ypr). The Pioneers now have five combined kickoff and punt returns for touchdowns over the past two seasons, more than any other team in the G-MAC. The Pioneer special teams unit, which can add a blocked punt and a defensive PAT to its resume this season, is giving the offense excellent field position as the average start of drives is at its own 38-yard line. Opponents' drives, meanwhile, are starting at their own 32.
Pioneers to Watch
Offense: Malone found success in the short passing game against Ohio Dominican last season. Pioneer quarterback
Deandre Clayton will look to Dulin and slot receiver
Dakota Hobbs, who totaled 85 yards of offense last week, as his primary targets. Running back
Matt Blasiole could be a factor in the screen game and short-yardage situations.
Defense: Outside linebacker
Christian Mathews led Malone in tackles for a second straight week, totaling 13 stops at Tiffin.
Dawalyn Washington recorded six tackles and his first career interception in the loss. Safety
Lamon Mathison will need to be at his best against a high-powered ODU passing attack.
Ohio Dominican at a Glance
For the second straight year, Ohio Dominican is top-3 in the country in passing efficiency despite a midseason change at quarterback. Third-year Head Coach Kelly Cummings' squad is averaging nearly 300 yards passing and has already thrown 18 touchdowns through six games. The Panther defense gives up plenty of yards (411.8 ypg) but has forced a league-high 14 turnovers and registered 15 sacks. A win on Saturday would give Ohio Dominican its eighth straight winning season. ODU's only loss this season came in week three against Hillsdale, 34-18.
Panthers to Watch
Offense: Redshirt freshman quarterback Evan Ernst took over signal-calling duties in week three and has gone on to throw for 1,275 yards and 12 touchdowns in four games. Senior wide receiver Cory Contini, the 2017 G-MAC Offensive Back of the Year, has caught 33 passes for a league-high 594 yards and 11 touchdowns in just six games. Feature back EJ Colson leads the G-MAC in rushing (526 yards) behind a mammoth offensive line that has allowed just eight sacks and averages 6-foot-5 and 307 pounds across the board.
Defense: Dynamic middle linebacker Ross Thompson has a team-high 66 tackles, three sacks, and a pair of interceptions. Defensive end Nick Isaacs has six tackles for loss, including three sacks. Outside linebacker Camren Moore posted a team-high 14 tackles in a 20-10 win over Walsh last week.
By the Numbers
47.1 – Yards per punt average by ODU punter Logen Neidhardt, the highest average in DII. He also leads the country in net punting (41.9).
51 – Passes attempted by Malone against ODU last season, the most since 2008 and 6th-most in team history. The Pioneers completed 31 and converted 17 first downs via the pass.
73.6 – Completion percentage by ODU quarterback Evan Ernst, the best in DII. Over the past two seasons, the Pioneer defense has allowed the highest completion percentage (67.6%) in the country.
82 – Length in yards of
Ashton Dulin's first collegiate catch – a touchdown on his first collegiate play from scrimmage vs. ODU in the 2015 season opener.
4,500 – Career all-purpose yards for Dulin, who is now just 343 yards shy of the school record.
Looking Ahead
Next Saturday, October 20th, Malone will make a trip to southeastern Pennsylvania to take on Millersville University in a non-conference matchup at 4:00 pm.
