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The Malone University football team squares off against Hillsdale College this Saturday, September 29th at 2:00 pm at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The Pioneers enter with a 1-2 overall record and a 1-1 mark in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The Chargers, meanwhile, are 3-1 on the season and 2-0 in the G-MAC.

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

Gameday Storylines
Malone Hopes to Bounce Back from Tough Loss at KWC
Following its most-lopsided win of the NCAA era in week two against Lake Erie, Malone travelled to Kentucky Wesleyan last week and came away with a heartbreaking 44-38 setback. The Pioneers were driving with a chance to win late, but a costly fumble inside the opponents 5-yard line left Malone winless in seven all-time contests in the Bluegrass State. The 82 combined points in the shootout were the most in a game since 2014 when Malone and Lake Erie combined for 89.
 
The Pioneer defense was exploited for big plays in the defeat, including four 50+ yard offensive touchdowns and a 100-yard kickoff return score. Despite the struggles on defense, the Pioneers showed signs of promise, scoring five touchdowns for the second straight game. The 38 points were the third-most in a loss by Malone in school history and the most since scoring 44 in a 49-44 loss to Northwestern (MN) in the 2008 Victory Bowl. The Pioneers also scored 41 in a 46-41 loss to Georgetown (KY) in the 1998 NAIA Playoffs.
 
Pioneers Return to Canton to Host Hillsdale for Homecoming
Both of those 1998 and 2008 postseason teams will be commemorating decennial anniversaries this Saturday while the 2018 team celebrates its Homecoming. Malone is 0-3 in its last three Homecoming games, squandering fourth-quarter leads in each of the last two. The last Homecoming victory, in 2014, came against Northern Michigan in a 42-35 overtime thriller. The Pioneers will attempt to repeat its Hoco success against the Great Lakes State when it welcomes Hillsdale for Saturday's contest. The Pioneers are 0-3 all-time against the Chargers, including a 45-7 loss last November. Hillsdale and Malone have met just one time in Canton, where the visitors came away with a 41-16 victory in 2013.
 
Blasiole Named Semifinalist for NFF's Campbell Trophy
Senior running back Matt Blasiole was announced this week as one of 179 semifinalists for 2018 William V. Campbell Trophy by the National Football Foundation. The award incorporates academics, football ability, leadership and community involvement, recognizing an individual as the absolute best college football scholar-athlete in the nation. Blasiole was one of just 25 NCAA Division II semifinalists and one of only two from the G-MAC.
 
4K and Counting
Senior wide receiver Ashton Dulin had himself a game on Saturday scoring three touchdowns, including an 89-yard kickoff return touchdown – his second of the season. In the process, Dulin surpassed 4,000 career all-purpose yards. Currently 2nd all-time in program history with 4,060 all-purpose yards, he is one of just four active wide receivers in NCAA Division II with at least 4,000 yards.
 
This season, the speedster ranks 5th among all players in DII in all-purpose yards per game (184.0) and he leads the G-MAC with six touchdowns. Dating back to last season, Dulin has scored nine touchdowns in his last four games. Now with 25 in his career, Dulin climbed into a share of fourth all-time at Malone along with teammate Matt Blasiole and Norris Petty (1995-98). Dan DeGeorge (1993-96) remains the all-time leader with 39, Bernard Payton (2006-07) is second with 38, and Derek Deardorff (2005-08) is third with 32 all-time scores.
 
Pioneer Run Defense to Be Put to the Test
The Malone defense will face a stiff test this Saturday when it takes on a Hillsdale team that piled up 566 yards last season, including 293 yards and a season-high five touchdowns on the ground. Last week Malone's run defense gave up 233 yards in the loss to Kentucky Wesleyan, including 220 yards and three touchdowns by freshman Landan Thomas, the G-MAC Athlete of the Week.
 
It wasn't all bad for Malone, who played well in spots, especially on first downs. In 19 first-down runs last week, the Pioneers held the Panthers to just 44 total yards and 2.3 yards per carry. They will need to replicate that success on all four downs this week against the Hillsdale run game and tailback David Graham, who has already fumbled the football four times in four games.
 
Pioneers to Watch
Offense: The Malone rushing attack had its share of success last week, totaling 190 net yards. Keon Singleton recorded his first career 100-yard game, finishing with 124 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Deandre Clayton carried the ball 14 times and ran for his first collegiate score. Clayton, who is tied for second in the G-MAC in total offense with 262 yards per game, found 5th-year senior Riley Escalle three times through the air last week. Escalle had three previous receptions in his career. Right tackle Matt Guevremont could have his hands full with Zach Van Valkenburg, arguably the best edge rusher in the G-MAC.
 
Defense: True freshman middle linebacker Mahlon Slaughter is in line to make his first collegiate start after seeing extensive playing time at Kentucky Wesleyan. Freshman corner D'Lacy Bass made his first collegiate start last week. He could be challenged early and often against Hillsdale's All-American receiver Trey Brock. Senior defensive tackle Albert Phillips made a career-high nine tackles last week at Kentucky Wesleyan and his play up front will be critical in this week's matchup
 
Hillsdale at a Glance
Led by veteran head coach Keith Otterbein, the Chargers are a missed extra-point in overtime away from potentially being undefeated. Hillsdale, which boasts the league's stingiest defense in terms of scoring (16.2 ppg), is coming off back-to-back G-MAC victories, including a 41-7 win over Lake Erie last Saturday. Two weeks prior ago, Hillsdale knocked off #12 Ohio Dominican, the G-MAC preseason favorite, in Columbus behind five interceptions. The Chargers' only loss this season came in week two to Michigan Tech 31-30. Last season, Hillsdale held Malone to just seven first downs, including three on a late fourth-quarter scoring drive, and no plays over 20 yards.
 
Chargers to Watch
Offense: Senior quarterback Chance Stewart, who stands at 6'6" and is listed at 263 pounds, guides a balanced offensive attack, completing 64.9% of his passes and throwing for 245 yards a game. Senior All-American Trey Brock became Hillsdale's all-time leading receiver last week. Konnor Maloney leads the team in receptions (22) and yards (339). Tailback David Graham, a Second Team All-Conference pick, led the G-MAC with 19 touchdowns in 2017 and has found the endzone five times this season.
 
Defense: Middle linebacker Jay Rose anchors the Hillsdale defense with a team-high 37 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss. First Team All-Conference defensive end Zach VanValkenburg has 23 tackles and leads the G-MAC with four sacks. First Team All-Conference safety Wyatt Batdorff is second on the team in tackles (34) and has a pair of interceptions.
 
By the Numbers
1 – Team in Division II this season has committed fewer penalties than Malone's 11 and Hillsdale's 12: Walsh, who has eight. Hillsdale has committed the fewest penalties of any team in the country over the past five seasons.
2 – Teams among the 53 in Division II to average at least 31 points per game have a losing record: Chowan, which lost to two DI schools, and Malone. The Pioneers are 32nd in the nation and 2nd in the G-MAC in scoring.
3 – Players in DII, including Malone's Ashton Dulin have two kickoff return touchdowns. The Pioneers have scored 4 kick/punt return touchdowns over the last 13 games. 
4 – Players in Malone history with at least two kick/punt return touchdowns: Dulin, Justin McLean, who returned two kickoffs in 2011, Damon Kimbrough, who returned a punt in 1995 and a kickoff in '96, and Jordan Johnson, who is the only Pioneer with three career punt return TDs.
8 – Quarterbacks in DII, including Malone's Deandre Clayton, who are averaging at least 200 yards passing and 50 yards rushing.
 
Looking Ahead
The Pioneers will begin a stretch of three straight games on the road next Saturday, October 6th against currently unbeaten Tiffin.