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Oct. 21, 2009 – The Truman Bulldog football team will host Emporia State as both teams will be going after their first conference win of the season on Saturday afternoon at Stokes Stadium in Kirksville.
The Bulldogs have lost their last six games while the Hornets have dropped seven straight after their season opening win over Southwestern Oklahoma State.
Truman started their fourth different quarterback this season in a 20-16 loss at Missouri Southern last Saturday. Andy Mundwiller got the nod after injuries to starter Phil Davis and Taylor Breen. Mundwiller ended the day going 12-of-26 for 122 yards but it was the Bulldogs inability to score inside the Lion 10-yardline that proved to be the difference.
Truman had five first and goal opportunities against Missouri Southern and came away with just 16 points of the possible 35 points inside the 10.
That has been one of the biggest areas of concern for Truman as they have had 19 first and goal opportunities this season and scored touchdowns just 42% of the time (8-of-19).
Junior Vanness Emokpae was a big bright spot for the ‘Dogs on Saturday as he became the first Bulldog to rush for over 100 yards in a game this season and first runner to gain over 150 since 2006. Emokpae reeled off runs of 52 and 46 yards and averaged 9.2 yards per carry.
The Truman defense also shined as they forced four Lion turnovers and gave up just 302 yards to total offense on the day. Demetrius Lavant and Michael Elliott each had 11 tackles while Richie Schumacher added 10.
Emporia took their shot against the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri on Saturday and were defeated 45-12 at home. The Hornets took a 6-0 first quarter lead on a 16-yard pass from Andre SloanEl to Danny McEvoy. The Bearcats would score the next 45 straight points before McEvoy caught another 31-yard pass from SloanEl in the loss.
The Hornets have also had their problems at the quarterback position this season as they have used three different starters. Zach Rampy started the season but had it cut short with an injury while Tyler Eckenrode and SloanEl have split the majority of snaps this season.
SloanEl has completed 47% of his passes for 872 yards and seven touchdowns.
Former freshman second-team all-MIAA running back, La’Darrian Page missed last week’s game with an injury but leads the Hornets with 414 yards rushing. Page transferred to Emporia after earning all-American NJCAA honors at Hutchinson Community College. He played his first season as a member of the Missouri Western Griffons.
Kevin Smart has eight rushing touchdowns and leads the team with a 5.9 yards per carry average.
Bulldogs 2009 Schedule One Of Nation’s Toughest
Through the first seven games of the season, the Bulldog opponents have a record of 41-14 (.745) with four schools (Minnesota State, Northwest Missouri, Missouri Western and Central Missouri) being ranked in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 poll.
One other opponent, Nebraska-Omaha appeared in the D2Football.com media top 25 earlier this season as well and Fort Hays State was in the first NCAA Southwest Regional rankings.
Truman has #16 Washburn on Oct. 31st left on the schedule and will play Pittsburg State, who peaked at number four before dropping out of the poll.
The Bulldogs last victory against a ranked opponent was a 26-20 double over time victory over #16 Nebraska-Omaha on Oct. 4, 2008.
Last Meeting with the Hornets:
Emporia State used three touchdowns in the final 17 minutes of the game to rally from a 10-point deficit to defeat the Bulldogs 35-24 last season.
Truman was clicking in the first half as they had 138 yards rushing and 233 yards of total offense and had limited the Hornets to 109 yards of total offense heading into the break.
The Bulldogs even got a big turnover to start the second half as Eric Sternberg picked off SloanEl at the ESU 29 yardline but the Bulldogs could not finish as they struggled from first and goal at the seven and momentum swung the Hornet way when Mickey Masucci hit the left upright from 21-yards out.
Emporia took the missed field goal and marched down the field for an 18-play 80-yard drive to cut the Truman lead to three.
On the ensuing kickoff Kurt Webster forced a fumble by Phil Kenney and Kameron Gee raced in from 32 yards out for the go ahead score.
What’s At Stake?
- The Bulldogs are looking for their first conference victory of the season and their first in seven league games dating back to last season (Missouri Southern).
- The Bulldogs will be looking for their 293rd MIAA victory (292-177-20) and 526th (525-362-34) win in the program’s history.
- Emporia State is looking to break a eight game MIAA streak dating back to last season (Truman).
- The Hornets have not won an MIAA road contest since Sept. 23, 2006 (Southwest Baptist – 14 games).
About The Bulldogs (Defense):
Truman’s defense is ranked 10th in the conference in scoring (35.4 ppg), rushing (190.4 ypg) and eighth in total defense (396.2 ypg). The Bulldogs are third in passing yards allowed per game at 205.9.
The Bulldogs have allowed 28 plays (with 11 touchdowns) from scrimmage to go for over 25 yards this season. Last season, Truman’s D allowed 23 plays (with eight touchdown) of 25 or more in 11 games.
Nearly half of the touchdowns scored by opposing teams this season (32, offensive drive touchdowns) have come on plays of 15 or more yards (15). Truman has allowed 74 of the 538 plays this season to go for 15 or more yards (13%).
Truman has two of the top four defensive players in regards to tackles in the conference. Senior Demetrius Lavant leads the MIAA with 9.6 tackles per game while sophomore Michael Elliott is fourth at 8.8, both are in the top 30 of Division II.
Senior Eric Sternberg leads the conference in sacks and tackles for loss. Sternberg has 7.5 sacks this season and 10 tackles for loss. He is the active player career leading in tackles with 184, 30.0 tackles for loss and 13.0 sacks. Sternberg is also tied for 12th in Division II in sacks per game at .94
The top nine Bulldog tacklers this season are linebackers or defensive backs. Ryan Ploesser leads the defensive linemen with 23 total tackles or 2.8 per game.
Defensive Quick Hits:
- The Bulldogs have forced 15 turnovers this season (1.8 per game) with two being directly returned for touchdowns. Just three other forced turnovers were turned into points. Last season, the Bulldogs forced 28 turnovers (2.5 per game) with half (14) being turned into points.
- In 333 rushes, Truman’s defense allowed 1523 yards rushing for a 4.6 yards per carry average.
- In 113 pass completions for 1647 yards, opponents averaged 14.6 yards per completion.
- In 538 offensive plays, opposing teams average 5.9 yards per play.
- Opponents have made 30 trips into Truman’s redzone and come away with 19 touchdowns and five field goals.
- The Bulldog defense has been on the field on average 29:49 minutes per game this season and has allowed 248 points.
- Opponents have converted on third down 46% of the time (49-of-106) with 25-of-48 in the first half and 24-of-58 in the second half.
- The longest third down converted was a 3&12 by Northwest Missouri.
- Opponents are 2-of-8 in fourth down conversions.
- The longest drives by the opposing team this season have been 16 plays, 84 yards and took 7:01 off the clock. The result of the drive by Oklahoma Panhandle State was a turnover on downs at the Bulldog one-yard line. Northwest Missouri had the longest drive in terms of yards going 95 in 10 plays with a touchdown.
- In six of the team’s losses, the Bulldogs have given up a score with less than three minutes before the halftime gun. Four of the six scores have come in the final minute.
About the Bulldogs (Offense):
The Bulldogs have used four starting quarterbacks this season. Junior Phillip Davis entered the season as number one but was knocked out of the Fort Hays State game with an injury. Davis has 676 passing yards (60-of-116) and five touchdowns to go along with 145 yards rushing on 42 attempts. Davis is listed as probable against Emporia State.
Taylor Breen started both the Northwest Missouri and Central Missouri games before leaving in the second quarter against the Mules. Breen was 13-of-42 for 186 yards and one touchdown. His return is doubtful.
Caleb Roberts replaced Breen against the Mules and was 9-of-12 for 110 yards with eight rushes for 32. Roberts started against Missouri Western and was just 1-of-9 for six yards and five sacks.
Andy Mundwiller played the final drive of the third quarter and all of the fourth quarter against Missouri Western and was 4-of-8 for 90 yards. Mundwiller was the third string quarterback last season and was moved to the linebacker corps at the start of the season. He was moved back to quarterback two weeks ago after the injuries.
Mundwiller is 16-of-34 for 212 yards with no touchdown or interceptions.
Truman has had 19 plays (2.3 per game) from scrimmage go for 25 yards or more, four of which have gone for touchdowns. Last season, the Bulldogs had 29 plays (2.6 per game) and nine touchdowns on plays of 25 yards or more.
Junior Vanness Emokpae leads a host of Bulldog rushers with 332 total yards on 47 carries. Emokpae has averaged 7.1 yards per carry and has been caught behind the line of scrimmage just four times out of the 47 attempts.
Emokpae has the longest rush (52 yards) since Jake Cunningham reeled off a 74-yard run 36 games ago. Emokpae’s 150 yards rushing against Missouri Southern was the most from a Bulldog running back since Cunningham went for 197 against Southwest Baptist in 2006 (30 games).
Junior Anton Bernard has the most touches with 56 for 146 yards and a 2.6 yards per carry average. Bernard has one touchdown and a long of 13 yards.
Donald Harvey is second in yardage with 227 on 42 carries. Harvey had a season-long 42 yard rush against Missouri Southern and has averaged 5.4 yards per attempt.
Truman has had 13 receivers catch 99 passes from the Bulldog quarterbacks. Five have caught over 10 passes with sophomore Anthony Brown leading the way with 18.
Brown has 249 yards receiving with a long of 47 and a 13.8 yards per catch average. Emokpae has three touchdown receptions and 233 yards receiving with a 14.6 per catch average. Emokpae has 12 career touchdown receptions.
Senior Steve D’Antonio leads the team in per catch average with 12 for 200 yards or a 16.7 average.
Offensive Quick Hits:
- The Bulldogs have recorded 124 first downs on this season, 50 by passing, 54 by rushing and 20 by penalty.
- In 308 rushing attempts, Truman is averaging 3.3 yards per carry.
- Truman gained 1012 yards this season on the ground.
- With 99 pass completions, the Bulldogs had 1190 yards passing and a12.0 yards per completion average.
- With 525 offensive plays, the Bulldogs have amassed 2202 yards of total offense for a per play average of 4.2 yards.
- In their 25 trips to the redzone this season, the Bulldogs have nine touchdowns, six field goals.
- The Bulldogs are 43-of-125 (34%) on third down conversions. They are 23-of-73 in the first half and 19-of-52 in the second half.
- The longest third down conversion was a 3&12. A completed pass for 15 yards from Taylor Breen to Anthony Brown against Northwest Missouri.
- Truman 5-of-13 on fourth down conversions. The longest fourth down converted this season was a 4th&16 that went for a 31 yard touchdown pass from Phillip Davis to Jordan Flores.
- The offense has been on the field 30:11 per game this season and has scored 115 points.
- The Bulldogs longest drive of the season has been a 13-play 80-yard drive that consumed 6:52 and resulted in a touchdown.
- The last 1,000 yard rusher for the Bulldogs was Jerard Leverson (1012 yards) following the 2003 season.
About the Bulldogs (Special Teams):
Senior Mickey Masucci is Truman’s all-time career field goal kicker with 37 makes Masucci is 37-of-59 (62%) on field goal attempts for his career and passed Scott Bresaw (1989-91) and Jeff Klee (1996-99).
Masucci is seventh in kicker scoring at 4.9 points per game. Masucci has 221 career points and has made 110 point after attempts with the last 48 being consecutive. Masucci is tied for 23rd in Division II in field goals at 1.00 per game.
Freshman Eric Phillips is sixth with a 38.2 per punt average. Phillips has a career long of 62 yards against Nebraska-Omaha is 47th in Division II in punting average.
Truman averages 20.0 yards per kickoff return on this season with Vanness Emokpae’s 62 yard return down to Minnesota State’s 16-yard line being the season long thus far.
Phil Kenney has 31 returns for 627 yards or 20.2 yards per return average. Kenney has 97 career kick returns with a long of 59 and an average of 22.2.
Albert Coker has six punt returns for 32 yards (5.3 per return) this season and for his career has averaged 7.8 yards per return and has a touchdown.
Truman has had 12 special teams plays (all kick returns) go for 25 yards or more with no touchdowns. Last season, the Bulldogs had 21 returns (1.9 per game) of 25 yards or more.
Opponents have had 18 special teams plays (six punt returns, 12 kick returns) go for 25 yards or more with three returns (one kick, two punt) for scores. Last season, Truman had 17 returns (all kick) go for 25 or more yards with no touchdowns.
Special Teams Quick Hits:
- The Bulldogs are 8-of-13 on field goal attempts this season. The longest attempt has been 47 yards (missed).
- Truman has converted on 48 straight point after kick attempts have not tried a two-point conversion this season.
- Opponents are 37-for-37 on extra point attempts and have not tried a two-point conversion this season. They are 8-for-10 on field goal attempts with the longest make being from 47 yards (Andrew Gassen – Missouri Southern).
- Truman averaged 60.3 yards per kickoff and 36.7 yards per punt.
- Opponents are averaging 59.6 per kickoff and 33.3 yards per punt.
- The Bulldogs averaged 20.0 yards per kick return and 7.8 per punt return.
- Opponents are averaging 23.7 yards per kick return and 18.5 per punt return.
- The Bulldogs have blocked three punts this season, Minnesota State – Jordan Flores, Missouri Western – Luther Eta and Missouri Southern – Luther Eta.
- Truman has had two punts blocked this season (Northwest & Central Missouri).
- Truman allowed their first kick return for a touchdown since 1999 against Northwest Missouri. Tyler Shaw took the second half opening kickoff 92 yards for the touchdown. Kerry Byers went 100 yards for Missouri Southern back in 1999.
The Series:
This will be the 23rd meeting between Emporia State and Truman on the gridiron with the series dating back to 1927.
The Hornets hold a 14-9 advantage over the Bulldogs and have won seven of the last nine meetings. ESU is 6-5 in games played in Kirksville but lost their last time in overtime 33-30 in 2007.
Emporia’s last win in Kirksville was a 41-12 victory in 2005.
Coaches:
Aaron Vlcko is in his first season as the head coach of the Truman Bulldogs and fifth season overall with the program. As the team’s offensive coordinator, the Bulldogs have averaged 345.7 yards per game with nearly 10,000 yards passing.
Truman has averaged 24.2 points per game under Vlcko calling the plays.
Maurice “Red’ Wade is the dean of Truman coaches with 143 games coached and 99 victories. Don Faurot is the Bulldog leader in win percentage at an .816 clip from 1926-1934, the year before he left for the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Truman is 85-78-4 under first year head coaches. Ten of the 21 Head Coaches have had winning seasons in their first year, the last was a 6-5 record posted by John Ware in 1995. The best winning percentage of first year head coaches belongs to both Don and Fred Faurot who each went 7-1 (.875) in 1926 and 1935 respectively.
The most wins of any first year Truman coach was nine set in 1990 by Eric Holm.
Garin Higgins is in his third season at his alma mater of ESU. Higgins is 8-22 during his tenure at Emporia State and has a career record of 59-31 in seven years as a head coach.
Bulldogs At Stokes Stadium:
Truman is 225-128-9 (.645) all-time at Stokes Stadium, the home of the Bulldogs since 1930.
The squad is 11-8 in Kirksville over the past two seasons.
Truman’s longest winning streak in Kirksville is 30 games dating from 1930-1936 under Coach Don Faurot and his brother Fred.
All-Time Records:
· This will be the 922nd game in Truman football history. The Bulldogs are 525-362-34 (.588) all time.
· Truman is 4-1 in overtime games. All five games have been played at Stokes Stadium with the last being on Nov. 15, 2008 against Missouri S&T (L 39-38).
· The Bulldogs have finished .500 or above in 70 of the 101 seasons of football played at the University and have had five wins or more in 62 seasons.
· Truman is the winningest NCAA program all-time in the state of Missouri with the .588 win percentage. The University of Missouri has the most wins with 603 with the Bulldogs second with 525.
Truman/Missouri Southern Game Footnotes:
- The Bulldogs won their first coin toss of the season and broke a nine-game coin toss loosing streak dating back to the 2008 season.
- Michael Elliott and Terrance Byrd each had an interception with Richie Schumacher picking up a fumble force and recovery.
- Anthony Freeman had 1.5 sacks while Eric Sternberg (.5) and Patrick Blackwell (1.0) had the other two.
- The defense held the MIAA’s second best rushing offense (168.2 ypg) to just 120 yards on 43 carries (2.8 ypc).
- The Bulldogs established season bests in rushing yards (228) and sacks (3).
- It was the second straight game against Missouri Southern that Truman rushed for over 200 yards.
- It was the third game this season that Truman did not commit a turnover and second straight game of a positive turnover margin (+4).
- Despite the loss, Truman still leads the overall series with Missouri Southern 14-8.
Up Next:
Truman will be “Trick or Treating” in Topeka, Kan. next Saturday as they will visit nationally ranked Washburn University for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.
The Ichabods rebounded from a tough loss at Nebraska-Omaha with a 55-3 thrashing of Pittsburg State last week. Washburn has a big match-up with Northwest Missouri in Maryville on Saturday.
Washburn has won the last two meetings against the Bulldogs with the latest being a 31-17 victory at Stokes Stadium in 2008. Truman’s last visit in Topeka didn’t go well as the ‘Bods poured it on in a 71-35 victory.