The Malone University football team lost to Ohio Dominican University 57-17 in a Great Midwest Athletic Conference matchup Saturday afternoon in Columbus. The host Panthers, who entered the week ranked #26 in the NCAA Division II Coaches Poll, improved to 6-1 on the season and 4-1 in the G-MAC. The Pioneers fell to 1-5 on the season and 1-4 in G-MAC play.
 
Recap
Ohio Dominican scored on six of seven first-half possessions to take a 40-3 lead at halftime. The Pioneers, meanwhile, saw drives end on downs, a punt, a blocked field goal, and two fumbles.
 
Malone's only scoring drive of the first half followed a defensive fourth-down stop inside the Panthers' redzone. A pair of long pass plays, a 36-yarder to James Jackson and a 35-yard completion to Ashton Dulin, helped set up Marcus Moeller for a 22-yard field goal with 5:22 left in the second quarter.
 
The Pioneers and quarterback Deandre Clayton orchestrated back-to-back touchdown drives to start the second half. A 9-play, 64-yard drive, highlighted by a 3rd-and-10 conversion pass to Markell Stephens-Peppers and a 27-yard reception by Ashton Dulin to the Panthers' two-yard line, was capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by Clayton.
 
Malone's second scoring drive lasted 10 plays and covered 63 yards. A 14-yard run by Keon Singleton and a 6-yard completion to Dulin on 4th-and-5 helped set up Clayton for a 1-yard touchdown plunge.
 
Ohio Dominican answered both Malone touchdowns with touchdowns of its own and tacked on a field goal to make it 57-17 after Malone's third lost fumble of the game midway through the fourth quarter.
 
The Pioneers had just one more possession and reached deep into ODU territory on a 35-yard diving catch by sophomore Jalen Tucker – the first catch of his collegiate career. But Malone came away empty following a goal-to-go situation from the ODU six-yard line.
 
Game Highlights
-Ohio Dominican outgained Malone 505 to 374 in total offense and totaled 34 first downs to Malone's 20.
-Malone found success moving the football, but was plagued by a season-high three lost fumbles. The Pioneers averaged 6.0 yards per play, generating 248 yards passing and 126 yards rushing.
-The Panthers, who produced 296 yards passing and 209 yards rushing, never punted and finished 9-for-10 in redzone opportunities.'
-The 57 points allowed by Malone were the most since Ohio Dominican put up 59 against the Pioneers in the 2015 season opener.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Deandre Clayton completed 15-of-23 passes for 248 yards. He added 17 net rushing yards and two touchdowns on his way to becoming just the second Pioneer quarterback with six rushing touchdowns in a season.
-Ashton Dulin was held out of the endzone for the first time this season, but still managed to pile 95 yards receiving on six catches.
-Slot receiver Dakota Hobbs added four catches for 63 yards.
-For the third straight week, outside linebacker Christian Mathews led the team in tackles, racking up 14 total stops.
-Middle linebacker Mahlon Slaughter added 13 tackles while defensive ends Arrington Dulin and Tyrek Smith were each credited with a half sack
-Cornerback D'Lacy Bass recorded three touchdown-saving pass breakups.
 
Ohio Dominican Individual Highlights
-Quarterback Evan Ernst completed 16-of-22 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown.
-Starting tailback EJ Colson ran for 58 yards and two touchdowns.
-Wide receivers Cory Contini (five receptions for 80 yards) and David Turner (five receptions for 76 yards) each caught a touchdown pass.
-Three different Panthers recorded 10 tackles, including defensive end Brian Hunter, who also recorded a sack and a forced fumble.
 
Up Next
Malone will travel to Pennsylvania next Saturday, October 20th to take on Millersville in a non-conference game at 4:00 pm.