Oct. 20, 2001

Bulldog Football Team Knocks Off No. 8 Northwest Missouri

The Bulldog football team will return the Old Hickory Stick to Truman State University thanks to a 24-23 win on Saturday over No. 8 Northwest Missouri State in the oldest Division II trophy game.

The Bulldogs trailed 23-17 when senior quarterback Eric Howe (West Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling) scored on a four-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds left on the clock. Howe's TD knotted the score at 23, but junior kicker Austin Lepper (Ames, Iowa/Gilbert)'s PAT was true, giving the 'Dogs the victory before 9,500 fans at the homecoming game in Maryville.

Howe completed 28 of 49 passes for 311 yards and a touchdown, a three-yard strike to junior wide receiver Alphonso Pugh (Galesburg, Ill.) in the second quarter.

Pugh caught seven passes for 78 yards and also was the Bulldogs' leading rusher with five carries for 41 yards.

Junior fullback Carl Swenson (Marshalltown, Iowa) had the other score for Truman, a 2-yard TD rumble with 5:19 to play.

The Bulldog win snaps NWMSU's 41-game MIAA winning streak. It was Truman's first win over the Bearcats since 1995. The Bulldogs improve to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the MIAA.