Sept. 19, 2000

Truman Gridders Head South To Missouri-Rolla

THE GAME: Truman State University Bulldogs (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association/NCAA Division II) vs. University of Missouri-Rolla Miners (MIAA/NCAA DII)
DATE: Saturday, Sept. 23, 2000
TIME: 1 p.m. (CDT)
LOCATION: Rolla, Mo.
FIELD (CAPACITY): Jackling Field (8,000)

BROADCAST: KRES 104.7 FM, Moberly, Mo. Ken Kujawa, play-by-play, and Brad Boyer and Hank Janssen, commentary. The Pregame show begins approximately 30 minutes before the game.

TEAMLINE: Live KRES broadcast by calling 1-800-846-4700. Access Code: 6350

TRUMAN: The Bulldogs are 2-1 after winning the MIAA opener 64-14 over Southwest Baptist University. Truman will be looking to post its 17th consecutive win over the Missouri-Rolla Miners this weekend and remain undefeated in the conference.

BULLDOGS IN THE MIAA: Junior quarterback Eric Howe (West Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling) is ranked second in passing (235.7 ypg), pass efficiency (161.4) and total offense (230.3 ypg).

Junior wide receiver Kevin Collins (Davenport, Iowa/Assumption) is tied for fifth in receptions (4.0 rpg) and fifth in receiving yards per game (74.3).

Sophomore Andrew Blakley (St. Joseph, Mo./Central) is also tied for fifth in receptions (4.0 rpg) and is eighth in receiving yards (51.0 ypg), while sophomore wide receiver Geoff Jensen (Grinnell, Iowa) is ninth in receptions (3.67 rpg) and sixth in receiving yards (70.0).

Sophomore wide receiver Alfonso Pugh (Galesburg, Ill.) is fourth in MIAA all-purpose yards (137.3 ypg), first in kickoff returns (43.0 ypr), second in punt returns (27.0 ypr) and sixth in scoring (8.0 ppg).

Sophomore Austin Lepper (Ames, Iowa/Gilbert) is second in punting (43.8 ypp), 10th in scoring (5.3 ppg) and second in scoring by kicks (6.3 ppg), third in field goals (1.0 fgpg) and fifth in field goal percentage (60.0).

Sophomore linebacker Jake Willrich (Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes) is tied for 17th in tackles (7.3 tpg).

Senior defensive tackle Curt Cira (St. Louis/Vianney) is first in the MIAA in forced fumbles after charting two in the SBU game. Senior cornerback Toko Nguyen (Quincy, Ill./Notre Dame) is tied for third in passes defended with four. Three Bulldogs are currently appearing among conference interception leaders. Sophomore strong safety Adam Meyer (New Haven, Mo./St. Francis Borgia), freshman cornerback Anthony Binion (Chicago/Fenwick) and Nguyen are all tied for second in the conference with an interception apiece, all of which were picked off in the SBU game.

MISSOURI-ROLLA: The Miners opened the season with a 35-28 win over Kentucky Wesleyan, their first win since beating Southwest Baptist 21-7 in the 1997 season finale. The win snapped a 22-game losing streak and was followed by a 22-20 victory against Missouri Valley. Last weekend, the Miners suffered their first loss of the 2000 campaign, falling to Missouri Western, 63-0. The MWSC encounter marked the worst loss in school history, since losing to McKendree (Ill.) College 73-0 in 1929.

In the Missouri Western game, the Miners managed just eight first downs, to the Griffons' 28. UMR's total offense amounted to 109 yards, while MWSC had 610 yards.

Tailback Ken Okwuonu leads the team in rushing (95.0 ypg), total offense (95.0 ypg), scoring (18 pts.), and all-purpose yardage (95.0 ypg). Okwuonu is third in MIAA rushing,

The Miners have used three quarterbacks with Scott Brown being the most successful with 150 yards passing, completing nine of 24 passes for one touchdown and two interceptions.

MISSOURI-ROLLA STATISTICAL LEADERS
Rushing: Ken Okwuonu, 67 for 285 yards, 3 TDs
Passing: Scott Brown, 9 of 24 for 150 yards, 2 interceptions, 1 TD
Receptions: Jason Freed, 6 for 126 yards
Receiving Yards: Jason Freed, 6 for 126 yards, 1 TD
All-Purpose Yardage: Ken Okwuonu, 285
Total Offense: Ken Okwuonu, 67 plays, 285 yards
Field Goals: Alex Mendrygal, 2 of 4
Punt Returns: Drew Bullocks, 4 for 85 yards, 1 TD
Kickoff Returns: Dan Lester, 8 for 155 yards
Interceptions: Bryan Johnson, 2 for 36 yds.
Scoring: Ken Okwuonu, 18 points
Tackles: Jason Elrod, 29

SERIES RECORD: Truman leads 43-21-4
First Meeting: 1909 (UMR won, 21-0)
Last Meeting: 1999 (Truman won, 15-0)
Last Truman Win: 1999 (15-0)
Last UMR Win: 1983 (14-9)
Biggest Truman Win: 1995 (63-3)
Biggest UMR Win: 1950 (47-7)

COACHES RECORDS: Truman head coach John Ware is in his sixth season at the helm for the Bulldogs, and has a record of 32-25 (.561) in his first stint as a collegiate head coach. In MIAA action, his teams have posted a record of 31-15 (.674). Ware enjoyed the first non-conference win of his career in the season opener, defeating Northern Michigan, 35-24.

Kirby Cannon is in his second season guiding the Miners. He posted his first collegiate victory as a head coach with UMR's 35-28 win over Kentucky Wesleyan, and is 2-12 in his first college head coaching job. Ware and Cannon coached together at Truman from 1989-94 when Cannon served as an assistant coach and then became the Bulldogs' defensive coordinator for two seasons. Saturday's game will mark the second time this season that Ware has faced a former colleague on the field of battle after taking on his former boss, Eric Holm, who is now the head coach at Northern Michigan. Ware and Cannon both served under Holm at Truman.

TRUMAN vs. SOUTHWEST BAPTIST on 9-16-00: A balanced attack vs. Southwest Baptist saw the 'Dogs ring up 205 yards rushing and 201 passing in beating the Bearcats 64-14 last week. It was the highest rushing total for Truman since tallying 209 yards on the ground against Pittsburg State in game nine of the 1998 campaign.

A trio of tailbacks rushed for at least 60 yards each with freshman Wyatt Pickering (Chillicothe, Mo.) leading the ground attack with 14 attempts and 66 yards, while freshman Brian Cosmano Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) was second with 63 yards on nine carries. Sophomore Michael Redding (Lake Zurich, Ill.) rushed the ball eight times for 60 yards and scored two TDs.

Senior fullback Steve Wilson (Mexico, Mo.) had five carries for 19 yards and a touchdown, while his backup, freshman Marc Heinecke (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Force Prep) had seven rushes for 13 yards.

The Bulldogs took a 51-7 lead by halftime, letting the relievers take the field in the second half. Freshman quarterback Jake Czeschin (Fulton, Mo.) completed four of nine pass attempts for 43 yards, and threw his first touchdown to true freshman Colin Shaw (Naperville, Ill./North). Shaw made the 18-yard reception, the longest of his four collegiate catches, and broke several tackles before scoring the 'Dogs last TD of the day with 4:47 left to play.

Howe had a nearly perfect game connecting on 10 of 13 passes for 158 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Jensen was the leading receiver with three catches for 59 yards and a touchdown, while Collins and Pugh also caught three passes for 27 and 20 yards, respectively, and touchdowns. Blakley had two receptions for 56 yards and a TD.

Pugh, who is proving to be a weapon on special teams, also had three punt returns for 129 yards and a long return of 48 yards.

Senior free safety John Naeve (Camanche, Iowa) returned two kickoffs for 64 yards.

Freshman Luke Walczruski (St. Joseph, Ill./Univ. of Illinois Lab) played in his first college game. His first-ever field goal was good from 23 yards out, and his first PAT was the last point scored it the game.

TRUMAN COACHES' PLAYERS OF THE WEEK FOR 9-18-00:
Offensive Line: Sophomore center Nick Ruud (Moline, Ill.)
Offensive Back: Redding
Receiver: Collins
Defensive Line: Cira
Linebacker: Sophomore Bryan Johnson (Byron, Ill.)
Defensive Back: Binion
Special Teams: Pugh
Big Hit: Willrich

SPECIAL EFFORT: Collins, Binion, Meyer, junior defensive end Jim Marischen (St. Louis/SLUH), senior defensive end Leo Smith (Monroe City, Mo.), senior defensive end Jon Brooks (Moweaqua, Ill./Central A&M), Johnson, Cira and freshman linebacker Grant McCaulley (Moline, Ill.) who played as a defensive end for the SBU game due to injuries.

OFFENSIVE SCOUT TEAM: Freshman wide receiver Victor Isidro (DeSoto, Mo.)

DEFENSIVE SCOUT TEAM: Freshman linebacker Dominick Scalise (Owensville, Mo.)

TRUMAN INDIVIDUALS CLIMBING CAREER OR SINGLE SEASON LISTS: With 1,248 career yards receiving following the SBU game, Collins is now ranked 13th all-time at Truman. He passed Eric Holm last week who had 1,246 from 1977-80, and needs 47 more yards to move into the 12th spot. With 106 more yards, Collins will overtake the the 11th spot held by the Bulldogs' assistant head coach Matt Copeland who charted 1,354 from 1992-95.

Howe is already ninth among Truman career passing yards leaders with 4,021 over the last two years. He needs just 42 yards to move into the eighth spot held by Steve Thompson with 4,063 (1991-94). The seventh spot is held by Chris Livingstone with 4,575 from 1991-93.

TRUMAN VS. MISSOURI-ROLLA ON 9-25-99: An ugly first half saw the Bulldogs throw away their best opportunities to score, charting three turnovers with two interceptions on the UMR 10-yard line and a lost fumble on the Miner 23-yard line. Klee put the 'Dogs on the board at 8:59 in the second quarter with a 51-yard field goal, two yards off the school record and one yard from his personal best. However, Klee missed a 40-yarder late in the first quarter. But Klee was the man of the day, racking up nine of Truman's 15 points on additional field goals of 44 and 21 yards in the third and fourth periods, respectively. He booted a total of five field goals for the day, also missing a 50-yarder early in the fourth quarter.

Mike Redding scored the 'Dogs' seventh touchdown of the '99 season and first of the game when he carried the ball a yard with 1:20 left to play.

Football Releases | Football | Truman Athletics