PDF Game Notes

Malone University and Walsh University will square off this Saturday, November 10th in a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) football rivalry showdown at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium at 1:00 pm. Malone (2-7 overall, 1-6 G-MAC) will be the designated home team while Walsh (3-6, 3-4 G-MAC) will be the designated away team.

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
Live Radio: ESPN 990 AM | espn990.com
Twitter: @Malone_Football | @maloneathletics

Saturday Sights and Sounds
•During pregame, 17 senior members of the Malone University football team will be honored in a Senior Day ceremony.
•Following that, the recipient of the Dick Gallagher Memorial Scholarship will be announced.
•Senior cheerleaders and marching band members will be recognized during pregame and halftime.
•Saturday's game also serves as the Tailgate Against Hunger. Kiwanis and the Malone Enactus Club will be acknowledged at the end of the first quarter.
•At the end of the third quarter, the Malone SAAC will conduct a "miracle minute" fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
•Finally, the Oak Hill High School marching band will join the Pioneer marching band on Saturday and will have the opportunity to perform its show on the Tom Benson Stadium turf postgame.
  
Gameday Storylines
Dulin Accepts Invite to NFLPA Collegiate Bowl
Earlier this week, it was officially announced that Pioneer senior wide receiver Ashton Dulin had accepted his invitation to the NFLPA (National Football League Players Association) Collegiate Bowl, a premier postseason All-Star game for draft-eligible college football players which will take place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on January 19th, 2019. Dulin currently leads all receivers in NCAA football (FBS, FCS, DII, or DIII) in all-purpose yards per game (187.0) and has 14 total touchdowns. Dulin recently became the all-time career leader at Malone in receptions (183), receiving yards (3,026), and all-purpose yards (5,191), but he and the rest of this year's senior class are still trying to accomplish something no player has done at Malone since 2008: Beat Walsh.
 
Malone and Walsh Clash Once Again
The Pioneers and Cavaliers will be fighting for the John Bankert-Dick Gallagher Memorial Trophy on Saturday when they meet for the 24th straight season. The trophy, named after two former directors of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has been with Walsh since 2009. From 2006-08, Malone reeled off three consecutive wins in the rivalry, but has since lost nine straight. Altogether, Malone is 6-17 against its arch nemesis and 3-16 in the last 19 meetings. Last year, the Pioneers lost 38-24 despite three touchdown catches by Ashton Dulin. This year's matchup will pit one of the G-MAC's best offenses (Malone) against one of its best defenses (Walsh) as the two teams square off in their mutual season finales. 
 
Thomas to Face Former Team for Third Time
Third-year Malone head coach Fred Thomas, who previously served as Walsh's defensive coordinator from 1999-2014, will have another shot at defeating his former team this weekend after watching his Pioneers fall to the Cavaliers 24-21 in 2016 and 38-24 last fall. With a win Saturday, Thomas would become the third Malone head football coach to ever beat Walsh. He would join Mike Gravier, who led Malone to victories in 1995-96 and '98, and Mike Gardner, who led Malone to the three straight wins in 2006-08.
 
Malone Run Game Stays on Track
The Pioneer running game was the lone bright spot in an otherwise forgettable game at Findlay last week. Behind an experienced offensive line, Malone ran for 203 yards on 5.2 yards per carry. It was the third time this season and the second time in three weeks the Pioneers eclipsed 200 yards on the ground. Altogether, Malone has the third-best rushing attack in the G-MAC, averaging 165.8 yards per game on 4.4 yards per carry. The Pioneers have rushed for at least 120 yards in eight straight games, a streak not equaled since they did it 20 straight times from 2009-2011.
 
Meanwhile, the Pioneer passing game, which has been outstanding for much of the season, totaled a season-low 104 yards on just 7.4 yards per completion at Findlay. In the three games prior to last week, however, Malone threw for 330 yards a game and seven touchdowns. Under the guidance of offensive coordinator Dustin Miller and passing game coordinator Devin Jordan, a former Walsh assistant, the Pioneers' aerial attack has experienced a resurgence this season, surpassing 2,000 yards for the first time since 2008.
 
Pioneers to Watch
Offense: Quarterback Deandre Clayton has done it all for the Pioneers, compiling 2,488 yards of total offense (2,054 passing, 434 rushing) and 23 total touchdowns. He will look to end the season on a high note this Saturday. Ashton Dulin caught six passes for 78 yards last week but was held out of the endzone for just the second time this season. He will look to end his career on a high note, as will senior running back Matt Blasiole, who could get the lion's share of carries as Malone tries to control the football and the line of scrimmage
 
Defense: The Malone defense gave up 695 yards and 63 points, the second-most in program history, against Findlay last week, but it has room for optimism as it faces a Walsh offense that has gone over 350 yards and 30 points just once this season. Sophomore defensive end Arrington Dulin has been in opponent backfields for a team-high 9.5 tackles for loss, including a team-high 5.0 sacks. Freshman middle linebacker Mahlon Slaughter has showed signs of promise since being inserted in the starting lineup in week four, leading the team in tackles. Freshman safety Chris Frazier made 18 tackles at Findlay.
 
Walsh at a Glance
The Cavaliers are coming off a dramatic 42-39 win over Alderson Broaddus last week when they scored the game-winning touchdown with under a minute to play. Despite their season-high yards (482) and scoring output last week, Walsh enters the final week of the season scoring just 17.7 points a game and their passing offense ranks last in the G-MAC in yards (140.8 ypg), yards per completions (5.4), and touchdowns (7).
 
First-year head coach John Fankhauser's pass defense, however, is tops in the conference, holding opponents to 191 yards a game. In its seven G-MAC games, the Walsh defense is holding teams under 340 yards of total offense (2nd-best in the G-MAC) and 22.1 points per game (3rd-best). The Cavaliers have also been penalized the 2nd-fewest times of any team in Division II.
 
Cavaliers to Watch
Offense: Walsh will no doubt want to run the football and shorten the game. Sophomore tailback Koby Adu-Poku, who scored two touchdowns vs. Malone last season, is third in the G-MAC in rushing (81.9 ypg) and rushing touchdowns (9). Freshman Devin Kenerly is his primary understudy and averages over five yards a carry. The Cavs ran for a season-high 218 yards vs. AB last week.
 
Defense: Junior defensive end Morgan Trust recorded eight stops against Malone last fall. This season, he leads the team with 6.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. Linebacker Leondre Crosby totaled nine tackles, 2.0 sacks, and 3.5 tackles for loss last week vs. Alderson Broaddus. Walsh has 22 sacks on the season.
 
By the Numbers
1 – Career pass each thrown by senior LB Kyle Nowak, RB Matt Blasiole, and K Marcus Moeller. Nowak and Blasiole's passes were intercepted while Moeller's resulted in an 8-yard gain and a first down. Senior WR Ashton Dulin is 0-2 passing in his career.
4.84 – Miles worth of career all-purpose yards racked up by Dulin (5,191 yards) and Blasiole (3,326 yards).
9.87 – Miles worth of punts and kickoff yardage by Moeller and fellow senior Riley Escalle, who punted in 2015.
19 – Times in their careers seniors JD Stamper and Blake Cary started together on the offensive line. In the 10 games they started next to each other at center and right guard, the Pioneers have rushed for 147.4 yards per game and 21 touchdowns.
498 – Career tackles have been made by this year's senior class, including 97 by Lamon Mathison, 95 by Christian Mathews, and 94 by Matt Ramsey. Ramsey and Albert Phillips have combined to make five of the group's 10 sacks.