PDF Game Notes

The Malone University football team returns home this week to take on Alderson Broaddus University in a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) contest at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm

GameDay Information
For questions and concerns about Tom Benson Stadium, parking, tickets, entrances, seating, concessions etc., please read the visitors guide: https://malonepioneers.com/news/2017/9/20/football-welcome-to-tom-benson-stadium-gameday-information.aspx

Media Information
Live Video: portal.stretchinternet.com/malone
Twitter: @Malone_Football | @maloneathletics

Saturday Sights and Sounds
•Pioneer football players will be wearing pink on Saturday in support of the fight against cancer. Malone football has joined forces with Beyond the Game to raise awareness and funds for the worthy cause. To learn more about their fundraising efforts, please visit: malonepioneers.com/cancerawareness

•During pregame on Saturday, Malone football will be celebrating its honored educators. Each senior was asked to choose a Malone professor who impacted their education the most. Those professors will be honored in presentations beginning at 12:40 pm.  As a way of thanks to educators, any teacher from northeast Ohio (college, high school, middle school, or elementary school) who presents a staff ID will receive free entry to Saturday's game. For more information and to read what the Pioneer seniors had to say about some of their Malone professors, please visit: https://malonepioneers.com/news/2018/10/26/malone-football-to-host-educator-appreciation-day-at-this-saturdays-game.aspx

•Also during pregame, the Malone choir will be joining the marching band in performance of the alma mater and the national anthem. After the game, Malone is welcoming the East Canton and Orrville High School marching bands with an opportunity to perform their shows on the Tom Benson Stadium turf. 

Gameday Storylines
Malone Victorious at Millersville
The Pioneers are coming off of a dramatic 38-34 win at Millersville University last Saturday, which featured a goal-line stand in the game's final moments. The host Marauders ran seven plays inside the Pioneers' 5-yard line, but a stout Malone defense came up with its biggest stop in four years. The Malone offense, meanwhile, scored at least 35 points for the fourth time this season while generating a season-high 511 yards, the most since week three of 2016. The Pioneer ground attack accounted for a season-high 251 of those yards, marking the sixth-straight game of at least 120 yards rushing – the longest such streak since achieving the feat over 20 straight games in 2009-11.
 
Battlers Come to Town
Last Saturday's win at Millersville gave the Pioneers two wins in a season for the first time since 2013 and also marked the first non-conference road win since 2013 when they traveled to then first-year program Alderson Broaddus and picked up a 59-42 victory. The Pioneers and Battlers have faced off two other times since then as AB got the better of Malone in 2016 (35-16) and 2017 (31-24). Down 24-10 at AB last season, backup quarterback Zane Bunnell manufactured two fourth-quarter touchdown drives to tie the game at 24-24, but the Battlers came back to score the game-winning touchdown with 11 seconds to play.
 
This Saturday, Alderson Broaddus comes to Canton to meet Malone for the fourth time in the budding rivalry. Fans can expect points galore as the average Alderson Broaddus game this season has resulted in 71 combined points while the seven Malone games have averaged 70 combined points. Those two figures are 5th and 7th-highest, respectively, in Division II.
 
Clayton Breaks Records on Way to G-MAC Player of the Week Award
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Deandre Clayton earned G-MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season following his outstanding performance at Millersville where he recorded 404 yards of total offense and four touchdowns (2 rushing, 2 passing). His 144 yards rushing were the most-ever by a Pioneer quarterback and his huge day was highlighted by a season-long 43-yard run, the longest by a Malone QB since 2015. Now with eight rushing touchdowns on the season, he also became the single-season record-holder for rushing scores by a Malone signal-caller. On the year, Clayton has accounted for 1,907 yards (1,505 passing, 402 rushing) and 17 touchdowns. He is responsible, through rushing and passing, for more points per game (15.4) than any player in the conference.
 
Dulin Becomes Malone's All-Time Pass-Catcher
While Clayton was setting rushing records last week, senior wide receiver Ashton Dulin made his mark on top of the Malone all-time receptions list. Dulin caught five passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns in the victory, climbing to first-place all-time with 166 career receptions. Dulin, who has at least 71 receiving yards in each of his last six games, is now just 55 shy of becoming the all-time leading receiver at Malone. The NFL prospect has totaled at least 100 all-purpose yards in 17 consecutive games and he needs just 98 to become Malone's all-time leader in the category. Through seven games this season, Dulin has already scored 12 touchdowns and he ranks 15th in DII in points per game (10.3).
 
Pioneers to Watch
Offense: The Pioneer receiving corps could be in line for a big day against an Alderson Broaddus defense that has been exploited for more passing yards than any team in the country. Ashton Dulin went for over 100 yards in both of the previous meetings versus AB. Dakota Hobbs totaled 72 yards and scored his first collegiate touchdown at AB last fall. Markell Stephens-Peppers, who caught four balls for 77 yards last week, and James Jackson will also be in the mix in the passing game.
 
Defense: The Malone secondary will have its hands full against an AB offense that thrives on short passes. Look for safety Jaylon Doss, who ranks second on the team in solo tackles, and D'Lacy Bass, who has a team-high four pass breakups, to have impacts. Outside linebacker Christian Mathews, an Alderson Broaddus transfer and the Pioneers' leading tackler, will be a factor in both the passing game and the running game. Defensive end Arrington Dulin leads the team in sacks (3.5) and tackles for loss (6.0) and will need to play big again this week.
 
Alderson Broaddus at a Glance
The Battlers are led by second-year head coach Salvatore Dewalt, who was an All-American offensive lineman at Moravian College. Dewalt took over the Alderson Broaddus program in the spring of 2017 after serving previously as the offensive line coach for three seasons. Under his guidance, the Battlers have averaged over 400 yards per game across the last two seasons.
 
Of Alderson Broaddus' six losses this season, three have been by one possession, including two to 2017 NCAA DII playoff teams and a third to unbeaten Tiffin. Last week, in a 45-43 loss to Findlay, the Battlers gave up 612 yards of offense and 9.1 yards per play, but maintained a 43-42 lead in the game's final two minutes. Following a go-ahead Findlay field goal with 1:26 remaining, AB was stopped on a fourth-down try deep in Findlay territory.
 
Battlers to Watch
Offense: Quarterback Joe Czelusniak threw for 351 yards and three touchdowns against Findlay last week. Game-changing receiver Maurice Thomas caught 11 passes for 161 yards while Zack Lake caught four passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Thomas and Lake combined for 181 yards and three touchdowns against Malone last season.
 
Defense: Defensive end Quade Raley, who has 12 career sacks, led the Battlers with seven tackles in the win over Malone last fall. He intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown last week. Cornerback Brandon Harrell leads the team in interceptions (3) while safety Matt Jackson has a team-high 64 tackles.
 
By the Numbers
2 – Quarterbacks in DII have at least 400 yards rushing and eight rushing touchdowns: Jayru Campbell, a Harlon Hill Trophy frontrunner from undefeated #2 Ferris State, and Malone's Deandre Clayton.
8 – Receivers have totaled at least 100 yards receiving against Alderson Broaddus this season.
27 – Passing touchdowns allowed by Alderson Broaddus this year, the second-most in NCAA football (FBS, FCS, DII or DIII). Only Humboldt State (28) has surrendered more.
31 – Career total touchdowns for Ashton Dulin, including 25 touchdowns receiving. Dulin is one score away from tying Derek Deardorff for third-most touchdowns in program history.
49 – Second-half points scored by the Pioneers in the win against Alderson Broaddus in 2013, their most-ever in a single half. The 35 third-quarter points also tied for the most in a single quarter.
 
Looking Ahead
Malone will be at Findlay next Saturday, November 3rd for its final road game of the season. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm.