The Truman Bulldogs will host Fort Hays State on Saturday as the ‘Dogs look to bounce back following their week one loss to Northwest Missouri while the Tigers claimed a big win over in-state rival Emporia State at home. Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m. from Stokes Stadium.
A week after playing last year’s MIAA champion in Northwest Missouri, Truman will turn their attention to last season’s last place team in the Tigers.
However, the Tigers took advantage of some late miscues by the Hornets and scored 13 points in the final quarter to win 27-17 last Thursday in Hays, Kan.
The Bulldogs ran into an emotional and determined Bearcat team in their opener.
Following all the offseason turmoil, Northwest took advantage of four straight turnovers in the second quarter en route to a 65-3 win over Truman in the Ol’ Hickory Stick game.
Last season, Hays scored three times late in the fourth quarter to break open just a 14-9 score with 10 minutes left in the game for a 34-9 final.
After the Bulldog defense recorded a safety with 11:52 remaining, the Tiger defense shutdown the Bulldogs on three straight plays forcing a punt.
On the ensuing drive, that started at their own 13-yard line, the Tigers marched down the field, converting on a fourth and 1 at the Bulldog 24-yardline for the insurance touchdown.
This will be just the sixth meeting between the ‘Dogs and Tigers and third in Kirksville.
The teams have split the two previous meetings in Kirksville.
The Tigers are 2-20 in games played on the road in the MIAA since joining the league in 2006.
Those wins both came in 2009 with one in Kirksville and the other against Missouri Southern in Joplin.
Five Things To Watch:
1 – Ball Security
The Bulldogs four turnovers led to 28 points against Northwest Missouri in the opener, two being returned directly for touchdowns while the other two were quick strikes (two plays and one play respectively) following the turnover.
The Tigers scored 10 points, all in the fourth quarter, on the four turnovers they forced in their win against Emporia State.
Fort Hays grabbed three fumbles and one interception while only turning the ball over once in the 27-17 win.
2 – Senior Transfer Quarterbacks
Both teams are under the direction of senior transfer quarterbacks.
The Bulldogs are led by J.B. Clark, a transfer from Division I FCS Lehigh University while the Tigers have Blake McAhren at the helm from Solano Community College in California.
Clark was 14-of-30 in his Bulldog debut while McAhren was 19-of-30 for 215 yards and two touchdown passes in his first start.
3 –Getting The “O” Going
The Bulldog offense will look to get going against a team that allowed over 500 yards of total offense last week.
The Tigers allowed Emporia State to a balanced 246 on the ground and 270 through the air while the ‘Dogs had just 258 against a stingy Northwest D.
4 – Third Down Efficiency
The Bulldogs were just 3-of-16 on third down against Northwest and didn’t convert one until the third quarter while the defense gave up nine first downs in 13 attempts against Northwest, including the first five straight.
The Tigers were 7-of-16 in third down situations offensively and 6-of-14 defense against Emporia State.
5 – Avoiding The Yellow Hanky
The Bulldogs committed just four fouls for 20 yards in their opener, but all four occurred in the first five minutes of the game.
Three were false starts against the offensive line, the other an offside call that negated a Bearcats’ incomplete pass.
Fort Hays was flagged 13 times for 114 yards
Courtesy Truman State University
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