Sept. 5, 2000

Truman Gridiron Team Takes First Road Trip of 2000 to South Dakota

THE GAME: Truman State University Bulldogs (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association/NCAA Division II) vs. University of South Dakota Coyotes (North Central Conference/NCAA DII)
DATE: Saturday, Sept. 9, 2000
TIME: 7 p.m. (CDT)
LOCATION: Vermillion, S.D.
FIELD (CAP.): DakotaDome (10,000/Astroturf)

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

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

ON THE WEB: Information on Bulldog Athletics, including daily scores, can be found at www2.truman.edu/athletics.

TRUMAN: The Bulldogs are relishing a 35-24 victory over the Northern Michigan Wildcats in sweltering heat in Kirksville last weekend. It was the first win for Truman in five meetings with NMU, and the first non-conference triumph for head coach John Ware since taking over the team in 1995. In fact, the last non-MIAA win for the 'Dogs occurred in 1994 under the leadership of former head coach Eric Holm, who now guides the Wildcats.

The Bulldogs seemed to be clicking on all cylinders, racking up 456 yards of total offense, 332 through the airways. It was junior Eric Howe's (West Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling) fifth career game with more than 300 yards passing, and his second with four touchdowns as he completed 16 of 26 passes.

Truman took an early lead when Howe hit sophomore wide receiver Geoff Jensen (Grinnell, Iowa) from 48 yards out at 11:43, scoring the 'Dogs' first touchdown of the millennium.

Junior wide receiver Kevin Collins (Davenport, Iowa/Assumption) scored a little more than four minutes later on a 54-yard strike from Howe to give the Bulldogs a 13-0 advantage. Howe struck again just after the start of the second quarter, hitting sophomore wide receiver Alfonso Pugh (Galesburg, Ill.) with a 20-yard TD pass to put the 'Dogs ahead 20-0.

Northern Michigan got on the board at 10:07 in the second on a 1-yard run, and would score with 55 seconds remaining in the half on a 25-yard pass play. But the 'Dogs would keep the momentum going their way with a 37-yard field goal two seconds before the break.

NMU added a 23-yard field goal mid-way through the third stanza and intercepted a Bulldog pass to open the fourth period. However, the Wildcats did not capitalize on their next drive, going for it on 4-3 from the Truman 10-yard line and getting stopped for a loss of three yards by senior defensive tackle Curt Cira (St. Louis/Vianney). The Bulldogs failed to get a first down in the next series, sending in sophomore Austin Lepper (Ames, Iowa/Gilbert) who boomed a 77-yard punt to leave NMU pinned on the their own 7-yard line.

The Wildcats also went three-and-out on their next drive, but left the 'Dogs on the Northern Michigan 44 after their punt. Howe then hit Jensen with a 43-yard aerial, and senior fullback Steve Wilson (Mexico, Mo.) ran a yard to put Truman ahead 29-17 with 7:13 left to play.

Another three plays for NMU and the Bulldogs got the ball back, taking seven plays and 61 yards to score, this time on a 38-yard pass from Howe to Pugh to make it 35-17. The Wildcats would put the last points of the game on the board after recovering a fumble from the Bulldog reserves and hauling it 69-yards.

Sophomore tailback Mike Redding (Lake Zurich, Ill.) led the 'Dogs on the ground with 14 carries for 61 yards, while redshirt freshman Wyatt Pickering (Chillicothe, Mo.) was second with nine carries for 33 yards.

COACH WARE ON BEATING NORTHERN MICHIGAN: "It was good to get a non-conference win and to have it come against a quality Division II program like Northern Michigan. It was good for the team to start the season on that note."

COACH WARE ON THE SOUTH DAKOTA DEFENSE: "South Dakota has a solid defense with nine starters back, I think they could be one of the top two or three defenses we may face this year. I'm impressed with their secondary and the front line."

COACH WARE ON THE SOUTH DAKOTA OFFENSE: "Ryan Justice has a lot of poise and saavy, and Gantt looks like a good athlete and solid player for them."

COACH WARE ON PLAYING IN THE DAKOTADOME: "The dome is a different deal, it can present a good home field advantage, plus turf is not something were used to playing on. But we have a team that I feel should be better on turf."

COACH WARE ON PLAYING SOUTH DAKOTA: "I think it will be a good matchup between a solid MIAA team and a solid NCC team. It should be a good college football game. Obviously they're favored, and that's something we have to try to overcome."

SOUTH DAKOTA: The USD Coyotes got out of a close one with Missouri Western on Thursday, winning 17-13 in St. Joseph. The 'Yotes sealed the victory after scoring on a 25-yard TD run with seven seconds left in the third quarter.

The two teams traded field goals in the first half with USD hitting a 26-yarder in the first and MWSC booting one of equal distance in the second quarter. The Griffons took a 6-3 lead at 11:05 in the third period on a 22-yard field goal. South Dakota answered with a 43-yard touchdown run at 5:36 in the third, but Missouri Western would not go easily, again taking the lead on a 4-yard pass play with 3:21 to go in the third stanza before USD scored the game-winning points to close the quarter.

The Coyotes are on a two-game winning streak dating back to the the '99 closer when they defeated Minnesota State, Mankato, 35-29. They return 15 starters, six on offense and nine on defense, and 30 letterwinners.

Sophomore quarterback Ryan Justice is back after completing 74 of 140 passes for 1,060 yards a year ago, and 16 of 30 for 196 yards against Missouri Western. Sophomore tailback Kary Gantt led the Coyotes in rushing and receiving vs. MWSC, gathering 70 yards on 17 carries and 89 yards on six receptions.

Gantt's backup, Dusty Stamer, was second in rushing in the Missouri Western game with eight for 33 yards and a touchdown, while senior fullback Mike Weister ran for 29 yards on two carries and scored a TD.

SOUTH DAKOTA'S ONE-GAME STATISTICAL LEADERS
Rushing: Kary Gantt, 17 for 70 yards
Passing: Ryan Justice, 16 of 30, 196 yards
Receptions: Kary Gantt, 6 for 89 yards
Receiving Yards: Kary Gantt, 6 for 89 yards
All-Purpose Yards: Kary Gantt, 159 yards
Total Offense: Ryan Justice, 195 yards
Field Goals: Adam Hicks, 1 of 3
Punt Returns: Charles Johnson, 2 for 15 yards
Kickoff Returns: James Augustus, 2 for 23 yards
Interceptions: Russel Burwell, 2 for 19 yds.
Scoring: Dusty Stamer & Mike Weister, 6 pts.
Tackles: Josh Stamer & Rory Triplett, 6

1999 SOUTH DAKOTA SCORES: Montana, L 45-13; Truman, W 38-21; North Dakota, L 17-10; North Dakota State, L 45-14; Augustana (S.D.), L 35-21; St. Cloud State (Minn.), W 43-22; Nebraska-Omaha, L 54-23; Northern Colorado, L 35-27; Morningside, W 21-0; South Dakota State, L 43-30; and Minnesota State, Mankato, W 35-29.

SERIES RECORD: The 'Dogs have not beaten the South Dakota Coyotes since the first meeting between the teams in 1977. Truman won that game 19-7 on Sept. 24 in Kirksville, but has lost the last seven matchups with USD. Last year, the Bulldogs fell 38-21 in Kirksville.

COACHES RECORDS: Truman head coach John Ware is entering his sixth season at the helm and has a record of 31-24 (.564) in his first stint as a collegiate head coach. In MIAA action, his teams have posted a record of 30-15 (.667). Ware enjoyed his first non-conference win and the schools first in 10 trys after defeating the Northern Michigan Wildcats 35-24 on Saturday.

John Austin is in his second year at his alma mater South Dakota, and has a collegiate coaching record of 5-7 during the last two years there.

TRUMAN INDIVIDUALS CLIMBING CAREER OR SINGLE-SEASON LISTS: Collins is beginning to make head-way toward becoming one of Truman's all-time career receiving leaders. He needs 114 yards to enter the Bulldog career receiving yardage list at 14th.

Howe is already ninth among Truman career passing yards leaders with 3,314 over the last two years. He needs just 417 yards to move into the eighth spot held by Steve Thompson with 4,063 (1991-94).

TRUMAN VS. SOUTH DAKOTA-9-11-99

It was 19-6 before the Bulldogs got on the scoreboard with a 12-yard pass to Blakley from Howe at 7:16 in the second quarter, capping a 13-play, 71-yard drive.

The first four series of the game ended in punts before South Dakota rang up 12 points by 4:52 in the first period. Both USD touchdowns came on interception returns, the first from the 'Dogs 16-yard line and the second from Truman's 21. The Coyotes would add an 89-yard run from scrimmage on the first play of their first drive in the second quarter before the Bulldogs finally scored.

The 'Dogs held South Dakota to a field goal after Blakley scored. Junior tailback Kurt Bormann then ran 13 yards for a touchdown in the next series to make the score 22-13 in USD's favor.

Blackmore picked off the first of two interceptions for the game on the Coyotes' next possession. However, Truman could not capitalize on the turnover, nor did the 'Yotes on the final drive of the half.

South Dakota opened the second half by eating 8:50 off the clock with a 16-play possession that ended with another USD field goal. When the 'Dogs got the ball back they were unable to move it even a yard and then allowed their punt to be blocked. South Dakota picked up the blocked ball on the Truman 20-yard line and carried in for the score.

The Bulldogs would go three-and-out again, giving USD's offense little rest. However, Blackmore did the job on the next USD drive, snatching his second interception of the game and third in two games. The next seven series would prove to be unproductive for both teams.

South Dakota's final score of the game came at 5:46 in the fourth quarter on a 59-yard pass completion.

Blakley scored his second TD in the next drive, but those would be the last points from either side.

ABOUT THE 'DOGS 2000 SCHEDULE

The 'Dogs' schedule is always tough, both non-conference and as a member of one of the premiere Division II football conferences. This is the first campaign in five years that Truman will not play a Division I-AA team as two DII opponents are scheduled to open the season.

Truman begins the MIAA schedule with Southwest Baptist. The Bulldogs will be looking to avenge last year's loss to SBU, the 'Dogs' first in seven years. Missouri-Rolla, winless last season, will precede the two-time NCAA Division II champion Northwest Missouri.

The remainder of the conference schedule is loaded with teams that have the potential to be DII contenders, beginning with Central Missouri to mark the half-way point in the season. CMSU is followed by Missouri Western, Missouri Southern, Emporia State, Washburn, and perhaps the biggest obstacle for Truman to get by, Pittsburg State.

With six home games on the agenda, including Northern Michigan, SBU and NWMS, the Bulldogs feel they have a slight advantage looking ahead.

This year, the Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs will resume its Division II sponsorship, pitting the highest finishers from the MIAA and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference which do not earn NCAA postseason bids.

TRUMAN COACHES' PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Offensive Line: Sophomore center Nick Ruud (Moline, Ill.)
Offensive Back: Howe
Receiver: Jensen
Defensive Line: Cira
Linebacker: Redshirt freshman Derek Kent (Lucas, Iowa/Chariton)
Defensive Back: Senior Toko Nguyen (Quincy, Ill./Notre Dame)
Special Teams: Lepper
Big Hit: Kent

SPECIAL EFFORT: Ruud, Pugh, sophomore linebacker Jake Willrich (Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes), senior free safety John Naeve (Camanche, Iowa), sophomore strong safety Adam Meyer (New Haven, Mo./St. Francis Borgia), sophomore defensive tackle Curtis Prusha (Marshalltown, Iowa) and redshirt freshman cornerback Shaun Lowery (Dolton, Ill./Thornridge)

AMERICAN FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION DIVISION II POLL: Truman received two votes for the AFCA poll after registering a 25-24 win over Northern Michigan. Conference foe Northwest Missouri headlines the ranking, while Carson-newman (Tenn.) is second.