Malone Racks Up Nearly 500 Yards Of Offense In 35-19 Season-Opening Victory Over Apprentice

The Malone University football team, led by fourth-year head coach Mike Gardner, kicked off its 2009 season at Fawcett Stadium on Saturday with a 35-19 victory against The Apprentice (VA) School.  The Pioneer offense averaged over 450 yards per game last season and, despite losing six starters, managed to pick up right where it left off a year ago as the unit piled up 21 first downs and a total of 497 yards. 

Malone, which earned the No. 25 ranking in the pre-season NAIA National Top 25 poll, held a 21-14 advantage at halftime and then scored touchdowns on each of its first two second-half possessions to take a commanding 35-14 lead with a little over six minutes remaining in the third stanza.  Apprentice later added five points with a safety and 44-yard field goal, but it was not enough to overcome the sizable deficit as the Pioneers went on to record the 16-point triumph.

In the season-opener for both teams, the Builders posted 241 total yards with 116 coming on the ground and 125 through the air.  Malone also featured a balance attack with 234 rushing yards and 263 passing yards accounting for its total output of 497.  The Pioneers lost two fumbles but were able to overcome the miscues by tallying four sacks and excelling on third down as the squad converted on nine of its 15 attempts (60%).

Junior running back Markus McFolling (Seaside, CA) got the Pioneers on the scoreboard midway through the first quarter as he dashed into the endzone from 11 yards out.  The Builders answered back on their ensuing possession, knotting the game at 7-7 in the final seconds of the opening stanza on a 22-yard run by tailback Sam Arnold.  Pioneer redshirt freshman quarterback Steve Brohl (Almont, MI), who was playing in his first career collegiate contest on Saturday, then pushed his squad’s lead to 21-7 after tossing second-quarter touchdown passes of 19 and 36 yards to wide receivers Ryan Murphy (Fr., Tuslaw H.S.) and Derrick McLean (Fr., Laural Hill, NC), respectively. 

Apprentice wrapped up the first-half scoring minutes later as it cut Malone’s lead to 21-14 on a 24-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Philip Caralla to wideout Bryan Cain.  Brohl then capped each of the Pioneers’ first two drives of the third quarter with another pair of TD tosses – the first a two-yard strike to junior wide receiver Jeff Perri (Alameda, CA) just over five minutes into the period and the second a 31-yard lob to senior wideout Jason Malone (Warrensville Heights H.S.) with 6:20 remaining in the frame.

Brohl ended his impressive debut performance having completed 17 of 33 pass attempts (51.5%) for 263 yards and four touchdowns.  Jason Malone led all receivers with 101 yards on four catches, including one touchdown.  Perri caught five passes for 46 yards and one TD, McLean pulled in three passes for 45 yards and one score while Murphy followed with two catches for 27 yards and one touchdown.

McFolling and fellow running back Joe Peters (Sr., Oakland, CA) each eclipsed 100 yards rushing in the contest as McFolling totaled 120 yards and one TD on 19 carries while Peters posted 118 yards on 14 attempts.

Junior defensive end Cody Carroll (Chardon H.S.) led the way for the Pioneer defense as he posted 10 total tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.  Freshman linebacker Antonio Scassa (Massillon Washington H.S.) followed with eight total tackles, including two tackles for loss.  Senior defensive back Jon Latimer (Dallas, TX) added seven total tackles with one tackle for loss while junior defensive lineman Chris Story (Las Cruces, NM) compiled six total tackles with one tackle for loss.

Punter Mike Skvor (Sr., Long Beach, CA) posted a 35-yard average on five attempts and three of his kicks were downed inside the 20-yard line.  Kickers Nick Allison (So., Lake H.S.) and Jake Hardy (Ortonville, MI) also contributed by combing to go 5-for-5 on extra point tries.

For Apprentice, Caralla completed seven of 18 (38.8%) pass attempts for 117 yards and one TD.  Cain pulled in four catches for 59 yards and one score.  Arnold posted 79 rushing yards on 28 carries with one touchdown and linebacker Jeremy Drayton led all tacklers with 11 total stops.

This week, NAIA #25 Malone (1-0 overall) will host NAIA #13 St. Ambrose (IA) University in a 2:00 p.m. Mid-States Football Association crossover contest at Fawcett Stadium (St. Ambrose is a member of the MSFA Midwest League while Malone competes in the MSFA’s Mideast League).  The Fighting Bees, who were set to face Trinity International (IL) University on Saturday in their season opener, hold a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series with the Pioneers.  The only previous meeting between the two squads occurred at St. Ambrose in 1998 as Malone fell by a final score of 40-30.

Pioneer Notes:  Carroll’s three sacks marked the highest individual single-game sack total since current Pioneer assistant coach Brian Landies tallied 3.5 against Geneva (PA) College in 2005…Dating back to last season, Malone has tallied 400 or more yards in three straight games…Prior to Saturday, the last time Malone had two players rush for 100 or more yards was on October 18th of last season when running backs Joseph Peters and Maurice Gore each eclipsed the century mark against Walsh University (Peters 134 yards, Gore 100 yards).

Turnovers, Penalties Prove Costly As Malone Falls 34-14 To NAIA #13 Saint Ambrose

The Malone University football team, ranked 25th in the NAIA Preseason National Poll, was unable to overcome six turnovers and twelve penalties on Saturday afternoon at Fawcett Stadium as the squad lost to NAIA #13 Saint Ambrose (IA) University by a final score of 34-14.  The Fighting Bees entered the fourth quarter clinging to a 13-7 lead but then scored three quick touchdowns over a five-minute span to take a commanding 34-7 advantage.  The Pioneers cut into the deficit with a touchdown pass at the 1:03 mark of the final stanza, but it was not enough as St. Ambrose was able to recover the ensuing on-side kick and then run out to clock, cementing the 20-point triumph.  The Pioneers’ overall record dropped to 1-1 following the tough defeat while the Bees, a member of the Mid-States Football Association’s Midwest League, improved to 2-0.

The Malone offense managed to compile 375 total yards (106 rushing, 269 passing) and 20 first downs on the afternoon but the Pioneers were severely hampered by their 12 penalties that totaled 86 yards and six turnovers (four fumbles and two interceptions) that led to 14 Bee points.  St. Ambrose, meanwhile, posted 412 total offensive yards with 160 coming on the ground and 252 through the air.  The Bees were also heavily penalized in the contest as the visitors were flagged 13 times for 106 yards.  

After the Pioneer offense went three-and-out on the opening possession of the game, Malone’s defense gave the hosts an early 7-0 lead when linebacker Montana Russo (Jr., Monterey, CA) intercepted a St. Ambrose pass near midfield and returned it 46 yards to the end zone.  The Bees were able to knot the contest at 7-7 minutes later, though, as St. Ambrose quarterback Michael Hayward capped a quick two-play, 47-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown run. 

The score then remained deadlocked until the opening possession of the third quarter when St. Ambrose pulled ahead 13-7 after putting together a six-play, 64-yard drive that concluded on a 19-yard TD pass from Hayward to wide receiver Jacob Rhode (extra point was no good).  Malone moved the ball inside the Bees’ five-yard line on each of its next two possessions, but the Pioneers were unable to come away with any points as a turnover on downs and fumble allowed St. Ambrose to maintain its six-point advantage.

The Bees then looked to increase their lead later in the third stanza after a fumbled punt set St. Ambrose up with a first and ten on the Malone 22-yard line.  However, the Pioneer defense pushed the Bees backward, forcing a 45-yard field goal attempt that was blocked by junior linebacker K.P. Fonseca (Aiea, HI).  Malone was unable to manufacture any points on its next two drives, however, and St. Ambrose stuck quickly on its first possession of the fourth quarter, pushing its lead to 19-7 on a 73-yard scoring strike from Hayward to wide receiver Josh Smith (two-point conversion attempt failed).

The Bees then added two more scores just minutes later as a one-yard TD plunge by running back Kyle Ryon and a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown by defensive back Colin Suiter stretched the St. Ambrose lead to 34-7 with just under seven minutes remaining on the clock.

The Pioneers then managed to tally their first offensive points of the afternoon with a little over a minute to play as quarterback Steve Brohl (Fr., Almont, MI) connected with running back Markus McFolling (Jr., Seaside, CA) on a 13-yard touchdown pass.

On the afternoon, Brohl completed 27 of his 47 pass attempts for 269 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.  McFolling gained 69 yards on 19 rushing attempts and also caught five passes for 62 yards and one touchdown.  Freshman wide receiver Derrick McLean (Laurel Hill, NC) posted seven catches for 68 yards while junior wide out Jeff Perri (Alameda, CA) caught five passes for 50 yards. 

Junior defensive lineman Cody Carroll (Chardon H.S.) led the Pioneers in tackles for the second straight week, totaling eight stops, including three sacks.  Fonseca and defensive backs Jordan Scott (Jr., Oakland, CA) and Jon Latimer (Sr., Dallas, TX) each posted seven total tackles while sophomore linebacker Matt Vick (Perry H.S.) notched six total stops with one forced fumbled.

On special teams, senior punter Mike Skvor (Long Beach, CA) averaged 39.3 yards on six kicks while senior running back Joe Peters (Oakland, CA) totaled 21 yards on four punt returns and 131 yards on four kickoff returns.

For Saint Amborse, Hayward completed 14 of 25 pass attempts for 252 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.  Rhode caught seven passes for 93 yards and one TD.  Running Back Jake Elkenberry gained 79 yards on seven rushing attempts while defensive back Colin Green paced the defense with 10 total tackles and one forced fumble.

This week, Malone (1-1 overall) will be idle.  The squad will return to action on September 26th when it travels to Paxton, Massachusetts to take on Anna Maria College.  The AMCATS (0-2 overall) are a member of NCAA Division III and are in their inaugural season of intercollegiate football.

Malone Notes:  With six sacks through two games, Carroll has already eclipsed his 2008 total of 4.5…However, he still has ways to go to threaten Jason Wallick’s incredible 1996 single-season record of 21.5 sacks.

Pioneers Pile Up School-Record 442 Rushing Yards In Dominating 65-10 Victory At Anna Maria

The Malone University football team, ranked 21st in the most recent NAIA National Poll, wrapped up its non-conference schedule on Saturday afternoon with a convincing 65-10 win at Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts.  The Pioneers scored rushing touchdowns on six of their first seven possessions to build a commanding 42-0 halftime lead and then added three more touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) and a field goal over the final two quarters to account for their 65-point outburst – the second highest point total in program history.  Malone’s ground game fired on all cylinders throughout the contest as the Pioneers set new single-game records for rushing yards (442), rushing attempts (70) and rushing touchdowns (8).  Malone’s overall record improved to 2-1 with the victory while the AMCATS, members of NCAA Division III who are in their inaugural season of intercollegiate football, dropped to 0-4.

Despite committing three turnovers, the Pioneers held a 560 to 122 advantage in total offensive yards and a 32-6 advantage in total first downs.  Malone also enjoyed an over nine-minute advantage in time of possession and converted on eight of its 14 third-down attempts.

Junior running back Markus McFolling (Seaside, CA) got the scoring started with a seven-yard plunge into the end zone at 12:12 mark of the opening stanza.  Senior running back Joseph Peters (Oakland, CA) then capped each of Malone’s next two drives with touchdown runs of 17 and four yards.  The Pioneers made it 28-0 on their next possession as junior running back Courtney Greer (Midland, TX) scored from six yards out. 

The visitors then added two more rushing TD’s in the second quarter as McFolling and Greer pushed the lead to 42-0 with scoring runs of two and seven yards, respectively. 

After recovering a fumble deep in Malone territory, the AMCATS got on the scoreboard near the start of the third quarter with 29-yard field goal.  The visitors quickly answered back, though, pushing their advantage to 65-3 with four more scores including a 19-yard TD pass from freshman quarterback Steve Brohl (Almont, MI) to freshman wide receiver Ryan Murpy (Tuslaw H.S.), a one-yard plunge into the end zone by Peters, a three-yard TD run by Greer and a 38-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Jake Hardy (Ortonville, MI).

Anna Maria’s lone touchdown then came with a little over three minutes to play on a 10-yard run by quarterback Sean Quinlivan.

On the afternoon, Brohl completed 10 of 14 pass attempts for 118 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.  Junior tight end Brent Altenburger (Black River H.S.) was the Pioneers’ leading receiver with three catches for 31 yards.

McFolling ended his outstanding day with 173 rushing yards on 19 carries (9.1 average) and two touchdowns.  Peters carried the ball 15 times for 101 yards (6.7 average) and three scores, freshman running back Justin James (Green H.S.) posted 96 rushing yards on 12 attempts (8.0 average), while Greer tallied 86 yards on 17 carries (5.1 average) with three scores.

Defensively, junior linebacker Wesley Kauffman (Anchorage, AK) led the way with seven total tackles.  Junior defensive lineman Chris Story (Las Cruces, NM) followed with four tackles while junior defensive back Patrick O’Malley (Padua Franciscan H.S.) totaled four stops with one forced fumble.  Freshman linebacker Nick Towns (Copley H.S.) also made an impact with an interception and a fumble recovery.

For the AMCATS, Quinlivan completed four of 10 pass attempts for 74 yards to go with his rushing touchdown.  Wide receiver Dom Concepcion caught two passes for 63 yards.  Running back Nate Adames gained 31 rushing yards on 15 carries while linebacker Rich Brandt led the way on defense with 19 tackles.

This week, NAIA #21 Malone (2-1 overall, 0-0 MSFA Mideast) will begin Mid-States Football Association Mideast League play with a 7:00 p.m. contest at home on Saturday night against the NAIA’s fourth-ranked team, the University of Saint Francis (3-0 overall, 1-0 MSFA Mideast).  The Cougars hold a 10-1 advantage in the all-time series, having won each of the last ten meetings between the two teams.

Pioneer Notes: Malone’s 42 points through the first two quarters on Saturday tied the school record for most points scored in one half…The Pioneers also scored 42 points in the first half of a 59-14 victory over Tri-State (IN) University in 1996 and in the first half of a 56-6 win against Urbana University in 1995…Malone’s highest single-game point total occurred in 1995 as the Pioneers routed Tri-State on the road by a final score of 70-7…Malone’s 32 first downs tied for the second highest first-down total in school history…The Pioneers set the school record for first downs with 37 in a 42-35 overtime victory against Walsh University in 2007.

NAIA #4 Saint Francis Pulls Away Late For 42-14 Victory Over Malone

The Malone University football team, ranked 23rd in the most recent NAIA National Poll, dropped its Mid-States Football Association Mideast League opener at home on Saturday night to the University of Saint Francis (IN) by a final score of 42-14.  After falling behind 28-0 to the Cougars, who were rated fourth in this week’s NAIA National Poll, the Pioneers fought back into the contest, trimming the Saint Francis lead to 28-14 on a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes by redshirt freshman quarterback Steve Brohl (Almont, MI).   Malone was unable to get any closer over its next two possessions, though, and Saint Francis then put the game away by tacking on two late touchdown runs in the final minutes.  The hard-fought defeat dropped the Pioneers’ record to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the MSFA Mideast while the Cougars kept their unblemished record intact, improving to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in league play.

Despite committing a total of four turnovers and being penalized 11 times for 95 yards, the Cougars were able to pile up a total of 556 offensive yards (366 rushing, 190 passing), thanks in large part to three long touchdown runs of 74, 81, and 38 yards.  Although Malone was held to just 61 total yards through the first two quarters, the Pioneers got their offense on track in the second half, ending the night with 281 yards of total offense (135 rushing, 146 passing).  However, Malone struggled somewhat on third down (converted on only six of 17 attempts), threw two interceptions and twice turned the ball over on downs inside the Cougars’ five yard-line. 

Saint Francis set the tone early on in Saturday’s contest by putting together three lengthy touchdown drives on each of its first three possessions.  After keeping Malone off the scoreboard with a goal line stand late in the second quarter, the Cougars then increased their advantage to 28-0 early in the third stanza on a 74-yard sprint to the endzone by running back Daniel Carter.

The Pioneers pulled to within 28-7 on the first play of the fourth quarter as Brohl zipped a six-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver Jason Malone (Warrensville Heights H.S.).  After recovering a fumble deep in Cougar territory, Malone then made it 28-14 with a little over nine minutes to play as freshman wide receiver Derrick McLean (Laurel Hill, NC) wrestled a three-yard Brohl pass away from a defender in the endzone for his second career touchdown catch.  The Pioneers were unable to manufacture anymore points over the remainder of the contest, though, and Saint Francis cemented the win with its two touchdown runs over the final two and a half minutes of play.

Brohl completed 18 of 38 pass attempts on the evening for 146 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.  McLean caught six passes for 48 yards with the one score while also returning five kickoffs for 139 yards.  Junior running back Markus McFolling (Seaside, CA) carried the ball 15 times for 89 yards and senior running back Joseph Peters (Oakland, CA) gained 57 rushing yards on 11 attempts.

Defensive back Tim Claiborne (So., Hanover, VA) paced the defense with seven tackles and one interception.  Defensive back Isaiah Wyatt (Fr., East H.S.), and linebackers Matt Vick (So., Perry H.S.) and K.P. Fonseca (Jr., Aiea, HI) each followed with six tackles while defensive back Jon Latimer (Sr., Dallas, TX) contributed five total tackles with one fumble recovery and one interception.

For Saint Francis, Carter gained 173 rushing yards on 22 carries with two touchdowns.  Quarterback Shaine Tierney completed 16 of 25 pass attempts for 168 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.  Tierney also gained 40 rushing yards on six carries with one rushing TD.  Wide receiver Jared Clodfelter caught five passes for 73 yards and one touchdown.  Defensive back Troy Hudson paced the Cougar defense with 11 total tackles.

This week, Malone (2-2 overall, 0-1 MSFA Mideast) will look to bounce back as it hosts its Homecoming game on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. against Taylor (IN) University (2-2 overall, 0-1 MSFA Mideast).  The Pioneers hold a 7-4 advantage in the all-time series with the Trojans and have won each of the last four meetings between the two teams.

Fourth-Quarter Touchdown Pass Pushes Taylor Past Pioneers, 23-17

The Malone University football team fell 23-17 to Taylor (IN) University on Saturday afternoon in a closely-contested Mid-States Football Association Mideast League game at Fawcett Stadium.  After entering the fourth-quarter trailing by a 17-14 deficit, the Pioneers knotted the contest at 17-17 when sophomore kicker Jake Hardy (Ortonville, MI) capped a 15-play, 80-yard Malone drive with a 22-yard field goal.  Taylor regained the lead for good just 60 seconds later, however, as 6’6” tight end Travis Tomaszewski leaped high in the air to snag a 20-yard pass in the endzone from Trojan quarterback Shaun Addison.  Although the visitors missed their ensuing extra point, Taylor forced a punt on the Pioneers’ next possession and then converted on three straight third downs to run the final six minutes off the clock and preserve the six-point triumph.  With the hard-fought defeat, Malone’s record fell to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the MSFA Mideast while Taylor improved to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in league play.

The Pioneers jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after taking the opening kickoff and putting together an impressive nine-play, 72-yard scoring drive that ended with a one-yard plunge across the goal line by redshirt freshman quarterback Steve Brohl (Almont, MI).  The score then remained unchanged until the 9:21 mark of the second stanza when the Trojans got on the scoreboard with a 23-yard field goal by kicker Cameron Parker. 

After thwarting a fake punt attempt on Malone’s next possession, Taylor pulled ahead 9-7 on a nine-yard touchdown run by running back Cory Anderson.  Pioneer junior defensive lineman Chris Story (Las Cruces, NM) was able to block the visitors’ extra-point try, though, leaving the Trojan lead at just two points.

Malone went three-and-out on its ensuing drive but quickly got the ball back as an interception and a 19-yard return by senior defensive back Jon Latimer (Dallas, TX) set the Pioneer offense up with a first-and-10 on the Taylor 19 yard-line.  Two plays later, Malone senior running back Joseph Peters (Oakland, CA) sprinted to the end zone, putting his squad back in front 14-9 with three and a half minutes remaining in the second quarter.

The Trojans managed to pull ahead once again, though, as Addison connected with wide receiver Ryan Magnuson on a 28-yard TD pass with less than a minute to play in the half.  Taylor then converted on a successful two-point conversion pass from Addison to tight end Matt Orvis, giving the Trojans a 17-14 lead at intermission.

Malone threatened to regain the advantage midway through the third quarter as a 41-yard run by Peters moved the ball inside the Taylor 20 yard-line. However, the drive short-circuited with a lost fumble and the Pioneers were able to manufacture just three points over the remainder of the game.

The two squads ended the day with almost identical yardage totals as Taylor accumulated 347 offensive yards while Malone countered with 346.  The Trojans did most of their damage through the air (268 passing, 79 rushing) while the Pioneers gained most of their yards on the ground (209 rushing, 137 passing).  Taylor held an over eight-minute advantage in time of possession after allowing Malone to convert on only four of its 14 third downs.

On the afternoon, Brohl completed 11 of 26 pass attempts for 137 yards.  Peters gained 160 rushing yards on 21 attempts (7.6 average) with one touchdown.  He was also Malone’s leading receiver with five catches for 61 yards.  Freshman wide receiver Derrick McLean (Laurel Hill, NC) caught two passes for 19 yards, gained 14 rushing yards on two attempts, returned one punt for 19 yards and posted 37 yards on two kickoff returns.

Defensively, junior linebacker K.P. Fonseca (Aiea, HI) led the way with a game-high 12 tackles.  Latimer followed with 11 total stops, one pass break-up and the interception.  Senior defensive lineman Nick Rousher (Canfield H.S.) added nine total tackles with one tackle for loss while fellow defensive linemen Cody Carroll (Jr., Chardon H.S.) and Frank McCormick (Fr., Medina H.S.) each notched one sack apiece.

On special teams, senior punter Mike Skvor (Long Beach, CA) tallied 298 yards on seven punts (42.6 average) and had three kicks downed inside the Taylor 10 yard-line.

For the Trojans, Addison completed 23 of 41 passes for 268 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.  Anderson gained 52 rushing yards on 19 attempts with one TD.  Magnuson hauled in 10 receptions for 159 yards and one score while linebacker Reed Smith posted a team-high eight tackles.

This week, Malone (2-3 overall, 0-2 MSFA Mideast) will travel to Chicago, Illinois for a 2:00 p.m. EST (1:00 p.m. CST) contest against Saint Xavier University (7-0 overall, 4-0 MSFA Mideast).  The Cougars, who were ranked ninth in last week’s NAIA National Poll, hold a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams.  The squads have split the last four match-ups as Malone won the most recent meeting 27-23 at Fawcett Stadium on November 1st of last season.

Malone Notes: Although Saturday’s loss snapped the Pioneers’ four-game winning streak over the Trojans, Malone still holds a 7-5 advantage in the all-time series with Taylor…Despite its three losses this season, the Pioneers are still averaging 29.0 points and over 400 yards of offense per game, including an average of over 225 yards rushing…Skvor is averaging over 41 yards per punt and 10 of his 27 kicks have been downed inside the opponent’s 20 yard-line this season…The Pioneers have outscored their opponents by a 49-28 margin in the first quarter of their first five games….However, Malone’s opponents have outscored the Pioneers by a 51-27 margin in the fourth quarter so far this season.

42 First-Quarter Points Vault NAIA #8 Saint Xavier To 66-31 Victory Over Malone

The Malone University football team endured a 66-31 Mid-States Football Association Mideast League loss on the road Saturday afternoon to Saint Xavier (IL) University.  The Cougars, who were ranked eighth in the most recent NAIA National Poll, quickly pulled away in the contest as the hosts entered the second quarter with a 42-0 lead.  Saint Xavier scored on each of its first five offensive possessions and then tacked on a blocked punt for a TD in the final seconds of the opening stanza.  Although Malone was able to get its offense on track later in the game, the Pioneers were unable to overcome Saint Xavier’s first-quarter scoring barrage as the Cougars went on to record the 66-31 victory.  The loss dropped Malone’s record to 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the MSFA Mideast while SXU kept its unblemished record intact, improving to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in league play.

An interception return for a touchdown and 31-yard field goal increased the Saint Xavier lead to 52-0 midway through the second frame.  The Pioneers refused to give up, though, as the visitors managed to pull within 52-14 at halftime after a one-yard touchdown plunge by junior running back Markus McFolling (Seaside H.S.) and a 16-yard touchdown pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Steve Brohl (Almont, MI) to junior wide receiver Jeff Perri (Alameda, CA).

The Cougars answered back quickly, however, pushing their advantage to 66-14 with a pair of touchdown passes in the first five minutes of the second half.  Despite the large deficit, Malone continued to chip away over the remainder of regulation, adding 17 more points on a 44-yard field by sophomore kicker Jake Hardy (Ortonville, MI), a fumble recovery in the end zone by defensive back Jon Latimer (Sr., Dallas, TX), and a 10-yard TD pass from Brohl to Perri.

Malone ended the day with 356 total offensive yards with 195 of those coming on the ground and 161 coming through the air.  Saint Xavier, meanwhile, registered 112 rushing yards and 422 passing yards for a total of 534 offensive yards.  The Pioneers held a nearly six-minute advantage in time of possession but also committed four turnovers (one fumble, three interceptions) and converted on just three of 18 third downs.

Brohl completed 15 of 33 pass attempts on the afternoon for 137 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.  Perri hauled in a total of eight catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns while fellow wideout Mike Medina (Jr., San Diego, CA) snagged four receptions for 47 yards.

Senior running back Joe Peters (Oakland, CA) gained 99 rushing yards on just 14 carries (7.1 average) while also returning three kickoffs for a total of 72 yards.   McFolling posted 55 yards and one TD on 13 rushing attempts.

Junior defenisve lineman Cody Caroll (Chardon H.S.) led the way for the Pioneer defense with 10 total tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss.  Junior linebacker K.P. Fonseca (Aiea, HI) followed with nine total tackles and one tackle for loss while junior defensive back Eric Hart (Labrae Local H.S.) posted seven solo tackles with one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

On special teams, senior punter Mike Skvor (Long Beach, CA) averaged 42.2 yards on six punts with two of those kicks downed inside the 20 yard-line.

For SXU, quarterback Anthony Kropp connected on 20 of 27 pass attempts for 424 yards and five touchdowns.  Wide Receiver Mike Maher caught eight passes for 172 yards and two scores.  Running back KJ Franklin rushed five times for 34 yards and a touchdown while linebacker Ryan Fejedelem   paced the defense with five solo tackles.

This week, Malone (2-4 overall, 0-3 MSFA Mideast) will take on NAIA #21 Walsh University (5-2 overall, 2-1 MSFA Mideast) in a 1:00 p.m. home contest at Fawcett Stadium.  The winner of the annual rivalry contest receives the rotating Dick Gallagher Memorial Trophy, named in honor of the late former Executive Director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  The Cavaliers lead the all-time series between the two schools 8-6 although the Pioneers have won each of the last three meetings, including a 24-21 victory last season.

Malone Notes:  SXU’s 66 points marked the most ever allowed by the Pioneers…Prior to Saturday, the most points ever scored against Malone was 58 in a 58-17 home loss to the University of Saint Francis (IN) on October 27, 2001… Malone has gained 195 or more rushing yards in four of six games so far this season.

Strong Second Half Keys NAIA #20 Walsh To 31-14 Win Over Pioneers

The Malone University football team dropped its fourth straight Mid-States Football Association Mideast League game on Saturday afternoon at Fawcett Stadium as local rival Walsh University recorded a 31-14 victory after erasing a 14-7 halftime deficit with 24 unanswered third-quarter points.  The loss snapped a three-game Pioneer winning streak in the annual battle for the Dick Gallagher Memorial trophy while dropping Malone’s record to 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the MSFA Mideast.  The Cavaliers, who were ranked 20th in the most recent NAIA National Poll, improved to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in league play with the win.

After a closely contested first half, Walsh dominated the final two quarters, limiting the Pioneers to one first down and 107 yards of total offense.  The Cavaliers held a an over 15-minute advantage in time of possession on the afternoon, forced three Malone fumbles, and allowed the hosts to convert on only three of their 11 third-down attempts.  Walsh totaled 316 offensive yards with 257 of those coming on the ground and just 59 coming through the air.  Malone countered with 117 passing yards and 159 rushing yards for a total offensive output of 276 yards.

The Cavaliers pulled ahead 7-0 at the 3:45 mark of the first quarter as quarterback Jim Shiplett capped a 12-play, 99-yard scoring drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Joe Morgan.  Pioneer wide receiver Derrick McLean (Fr., Laurel Hill, NC) returned the ensuing kickoff 60 yards to the Walsh 28 yard-line and five plays later, junior running back Markus McFolling (Seaside, CA) dashed into the end zone from a yard out to even the score at  7-7.  The Pioneers then grabbed a 14-7 advantage with exactly four minutes remaining in the first half when McFolling powered his way across the goal line on another one-yard TD run.

The Cavaliers came out of the locker room and quickly seized momentum at the start of the third quarter as defensive back Brian Williams set the Walsh offense up with a first and goal on the Malone five yard-line after returning to second-half kickoff 87 yards.  Cavalier running back Clint Blossomgame then evened the score at 14-14 on the very next play with a five-yard rushing TD.

A fumbled kickoff return and a three-and-out limited the Pioneer offense’s time on the field over the next few minutes and Walsh capitalized at the 5:27 mark of the third stanza, pulling ahead for good on a 42-yard field goal by kicker Eric Buchanan.

Walsh concluded its 24-point, third-quarter scoring outburst with two more trips to the end zone, putting the game out of reach with an eight-yard TD run and a 23-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

McFolling ended the day with 105 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries (8.8 average) while fellow running back Joe Peters (Sr., Oakland, CA) picked up 69 rushing yards on 16 attempts to go with four pass receptions for 25 yards.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Steve Brohl (Almont, MI) completed 12 of 28 pass attempts for 117 yards.  Wide receiver Jeff Perri (Jr., Alameda, CA) notched three pass receptions for 34 yards while senior wide out Jason Malone (Warrensville Heights H.S.) caught two passes for 14 yards.

Senior defensive back Jon Latimer (Dallas, TX) notched a game-high 15 total tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss.  Linebacker Wesley Kauffman (Jr., Anchorage, AK) followed closely with 14 total stops, including 1.5 tackles for loss while defensive back Patrick O’Malley (Jr., Padua Franciscan H.S.) totaled nine tackles with one pass break-up.  Punter Mike Skvor (Sr., Long Beach, CA) averaged 41.8 yards on five punts and twice pinned Walsh inside its own eight yard-line.

For the Cavaliers, Blossomgame registered 103 rushing yards on 35 carries with one TD.  Shiplett completed six of 16 passes for 59 yards and one score while wide receiver Robert Wigfall caught two passes for 38 yards.  Linebacker Mike Welce paced the defense with seven solo tackles, including three tackles for loss and one sack.

This week, Malone (2-5 overall, 0-4 MSFA Mideast) will host Trinity International (IL) University (0-9 overall, 0-5 MSFA Mideast) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in its final home game of the season.  The Pioneers hold a 5-1 advantage in the all-time series with the Trojans and have won each of the last two meetings between the teams, including a 32-27 victory in the most recent matchup that occurred on September 1st, 2007.

Malone Notes:  Walsh now holds a 9-6 lead in the all-time series between the local rivals…The Pioneers have gained 150 or more rushing yards in five of their seven contests this season…2009 marked the second year in a row that Malone has held Walsh under 60 passing yards as the Cavaliers gained just 34 yards through the air in the Pioneers’ 24-21 victory last season.

Malone Posts Nearly 600 Yards Of Total Offense In Convincing 48-12 Victory Over Trinity International

The Malone University football team racked up 580 yards of total offense on Saturday night at Fawcett Stadium as it rolled to a 48-12 Mid-States Football Association Mideast League victory against Trinity International (IL) University.  The Pioneers led 27-6 at halftime and then tacked on a pair of third-quarter rushing touchdowns to put the contest out of reach.  The win improved Malone’s record to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the MSFA Mideast while Trinity International fell to 0-10 overall and 0-6 in league play.

The Pioneers tallied 244 yards through the air and 336 yards on the ground to account for their season-high total of 580 offensive yards.  The Trojans countered with 168 rushing yards and 91 passing yards for a total output of 259 yards.  In addition to its sizable advantage in yardage, Malone also led 29-11 in total first downs, intercepted two Trinity International passes and held the Trojans out of the end zone on two trips inside the Malone 20 yard-line.

Junior running back Markus McFolling (Seaside, CA) put the Pioneers in front 7-0 on the game’s opening possession after capping a nine-play, 69-yard Malone scoring drive with a four-yard TD plunge.  After recovering a Pioneer fumble deep in Malone territory, TIU then pulled to within 7-6 at the 2:58 mark of the first quarter when Trinity quarterback Daniel Beals connected with tight end Kyle Mowen on a 33-yard touchdown pass.  The Trojans then looked the knot the score but their extra-point try was blocked by Pioneer defensive lineman Chris Story (Jr., Las Cruces, NM), keeping Malone in front 7-6.

The second quarter was all Pioneers as the hosts scored touchdowns on all three of their possessions in the frame while outgaining Trinity International by a 214 to 20 margin.  McFolling pushed the Malone lead to 14-6 with 10:46 remaining in the half on a one-yard touchdown run.  After forcing a punt on the Trojans’ ensuing drive, the Pioneers then struck quickly as redshirt freshman quarterback Steve Brohl (Almont, MI) found freshman wide receiver Derrick McLean (Laurel Hill, NC) on a 94-yard scoring strike.  The lengthy catch and sprint to end zone by McLean pushed Malone’s lead to 20-6 (ensuing extra point was no good) and broke the Pioneer school record for the longest pass from scrimmage (the previous mark was established during Malone’s inaugural season against Geneva College on a 90-yard touchdown pass from Shane Nalepa to Eric Miller).  Brohl then wrapped up the second-quarter scoring with his second TD pass of the evening, a two-yard toss to tight end Brent Altenburger (Black River H.S.) that stretched the Pioneer advantage to 27-6.

Malone’s lead then grew to 41-6 in the third stanza with two more touchdown runs, the first an 11-yard sprint by senior running back Joseph Peters (Oakland, CA) and the second a seven-yard dash by junior running back Courtney Greer (Midland, TX).

Trinity trimmed the deficit 41-12 just over two minutes into the fourth quarter as Beals raced to the end zone on a 90-yard TD run.  The Trojans were unable to get any closer over the remainder of the contest, however, as McFolling capped the scoring two minutes later with his third touchdown run of the game, this time from eight yards out.

Brohl completed 13 of his 19 pass attempts on the evening for 244 yards and two touchdowns.  Junior wide receiver Jeff Perri (Alameda, CA) pulled in four catches for 70 yards, junior wide receiver Mike Medina (San Diego, CA) snagged three catches for 36 yards while McLean caught two passes for 101 yards, including the record-setting TD grab.

Peters, Greer and McFolling all eclipsed 80 rushing yards in the contest as Peters totaled 153 yards on 21 attempts (7.3 average) with one TD, Greer posted 99 yards on 10 carries (9.9 average) with one score, and McFolling registered 81 yards on 14 attempts (5.8 average) with three touchdowns.

Defensive back Jon Latimer (Sr., Dallas, TX) and defensive end Cody Carroll (Jr., Chardon H.S.) each posted a team-high eight tackles with Latimer also tallying one interception and Carroll recording three tackles for loss, including two sacks.  Senior defensive lineman Nick Rousher (Canfield H.S.) and freshman linebacker Antonio Scassa (Massillon Washington H.S.) each followed with five stops apiece.

Punter Mike Skvor averaged over 47 yards on his three punts with a long of 63.  In addition to the lengthy boot, his other two kicks were each downed inside the Trinity eight yard-line.

For the Trojans, Beals completed 10 of his 21 pass attempts for 91 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.  He also notched 114 rushing yards on 18 carries, including the long TD run.  Wide receiver Dave Hardt caught three passes for 26 yard while defensive back Pete Miller recorded a game-high 11 tackles.

This week, Malone (3-5 overall, 1-4 MSFA Mideast) will travel to Indianapolis, Indiana for a 1:00 p.m. matchup with Marian University (5-4 overall, 2-3 MSFA Mideast).  The Pioneers won both of their previous two meetings with the Knights, including a 45-37 victory at Fawcett Stadium last season.

Malone Notes:  The Pioneers’ 580 total yards marked the highest offensive output since the squad piled up 633 yards in a 42-17 win over Taylor (IN) University on October 11th of last season…Saturday marked the second time this season that the Pioneers have eclipsed 300 rushing yards as the squad tallied a school-record 442 yards on the ground in a 65-10 win at Anna Maria (MA) College on September 26th…Malone now holds a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series with Trinity International.

Late Touchdown Drive Carries Marian Past Pioneers, 28-24

The Malone University football team lost a hard-fought Mid-States Football Association Mideast League contest at Marian University in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday afternoon as the host Knights fought back from a 21-7 third-quarter deficit to register a 28-24 victory.  After Marian had tied the game 21-21 at the start of the fourth quarter, Malone put together a methodical 73-yard, 19-play drive, grabbing a 24-21 lead with just over two minutes remaining on a 31-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Jake Hardy (Ortonville, MI).  However, the Knights got the ball back with 2:11 showing on the clock and proceeded to drive 68 yards on 13 plays, converting a pair of fourth downs before taking their first lead of the game with only 10 seconds to play on a two-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Rogers to running back William Stubbs.  The Pioneers managed to move the ball into Marian territory in the final moments but were unable to reach the end zone before time expired.  Malone’s record fell to 3-6 and 1-5 in the MSFA Mideast while the Knights improved to 6-4 overall and 3-3 in league play with the come-from-behind victory.

Each team posted 20 first downs in the evenly-matched contest.  The Pioneers totaled 174 rushing yards and 210 passing yards for 384 total yards of offense while Marian posted 98 yards on the ground and 272 yards through the air for 370 total yards.  Malone converted on nine of 17 third-down conversions and held a slight edge in time of possession (31:23-28:37) but the visitors were also penalized 11 times for 120 yards.

The Pioneers pulled ahead 7-0 midway through the first quarter when senior running back Joe Peters (Oakland, CA) broke free for his longest run of the season, a 62-yard sprint to the end zone.  After an interception by Pioneer senior defensive back Jon Latimer (Dallas, TX) brought Marian’s ensuing drive to a halt, redshirt freshman quarterback Steve Brohl (Almont, MI) pushed Malone’s lead to 14-0 with just four seconds remaining in the opening stanza after connecting with junior wide receiver Jeff Perri (Alameda, CA) on a 17-yard touchdown pass.

The Knights cut the deficit to 14-7 at the 11:33 mark of the second frame as they scored the only points of the quarter on a 36-yard TD pass from Rogers to wide receiver Julian Williams.  The Pioneers answered back on their opening drive of the second half when Peters took off on his second lengthy touchdown run of the game, this time for 36 yards, to put Malone on top 21-7.

Rogers evened the score at 21-21 after hitting wide out Chris Rutherford on touchdown passes of 15 and 59 yards.  Malone then took almost 11 minutes off the fourth-quarter clock with its long drive that culminated in Hardy’s go-ahead field goal.  Marian had just enough time left, though, as the Knights drove down the field for the game-winning TD.

On the afternoon, Brohl completed 22 of 34 pass attempts for 210 yards and one touchdown.  Perri caught five passes for 54 yards and one score while junior wide receiver Mike Medina (San Diego, CA) pulled in four catches for 49 yards. 

Peters totaled 145 rushing yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns.  He also contributed in the passing game with five catches for 42 yards.  Sophomore linebacker Matt Vick (Perry H.S.) led all tacklers with 12 stops.  Junior defensive back Patrick O’Malley (Padua Franciscan H.S.) followed with nine tackles, including one tackle for loss while Latimer and freshman linebacker Antonio Scassa (Massillon Washington H.S.) each posted six tackles apiece.

Senior punter Mike Skvor (Long Beach, CA) averaged 46.2 yards on four kicks with a long boot of 66 yards.

For Marian, Rogers completed 17 of 29 passes for 272 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.  Stubbs gained 91 rushing yards on 20 attempts.  Rutherford caught six passes for 150 yards and two scores while linebacker Brock Caraboa paced the defense with 11 total tackles.

This week, Malone (3-6 overall, 1-5 MSFA Mideast) will conclude its season with a 1:30 p.m. CST (2:30 p.m. EST) contest at Olivet Nazarene (IL) University.  The Pioneers hold a 4-0 lead in the all-time series and defeated the Tigers on the road last season by a final tally of 43-3.

Malone Notes:  Saturday marked the first time that Marian, now in its third year of intercollegiate football, has defeated the Pioneers (Although Malone still holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series)…Peters needs just 74 more rushing yards to become the fourth Malone player to rush for 1000 yards in a single season…Latimer needs one more interception to tie the Pioneer single-season record of five.

Malone Wraps Up Season With 57-35 Victory In Offensive Shootout at Olivet Nazarene

The Malone University football team brought its 2009 campaign to a close in thrilling fashion on Saturday afternoon at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois as the squad racked up 669 yards of offense in a 57-35 Mid-States Football Association Mideast League victory.  The Pioneers trailed 16-13 at the end of the first quarter but then tallied four second-quarter TD’s to take a 41-28 lead into the locker room at halftime.  A field goal and touchdown pass allowed Malone’s advantage to swell to 50-28 midway through the third stanza before the Tigers cut into the deficit, trimming the Pioneer lead to 50-35 on a TD pass with just under a minute remaining in the period.  Olivet was unable to get any closer in the fourth quarter, however, as Malone running back Joe Peters (pictured above; Sr., Oakland, CA) cemented the win with a 26-yard touchdown run with just 1:49 remaining on the clock.  With the victory, the Pioneers concluded their season with a record of 4-6 overall and 2-5 in the MSFA Mideast while the Tigers dropped to 2-9 overall and 1-6 in league play.

In addition to the 92 points scored, the two squads also combined for 59 first downs (28 for Malone, 31 for ONU) and 1130 yards of total offense.  The Pioneers posted 266 rushing yards and 403 passing yards to account for its total output of 669 yards, marking the third-highest yardage total in the program’s history.  Olivet Nazarene countered with 53 yards on the ground and 408 yards through the air for 461 total yards.  Malone was penalized 15 times for 154 yards in the contest but also forced a season-high five turnovers.

The Pioneers set the tone early on in Saturday’s contest as, on the second play from scrimmage, redshirt freshman quarterback Steve Brohl (Almont, MI) hit freshman wide receiver Derrick McLean (Laurel Hill, NC) with a 73-yard touchdown pass.  The Tigers answered back on their ensuing possession, marching 73 yards on a seven-play TD drive to knot the score at 7-7. 

Peters made it 13-7 minutes later after scoring the first of his three rushing touchdowns on the day, this one from six yards out.  Olivet took some luster off the score, though, as the hosts blocked the extra point and returned it all the way to the end zone for two points, cutting the Pioneer lead to 13-9.

The Tigers then pulled ahead 16-13 at the 2:39 mark of the first quarter on a nine-yard TD pass from quarterback Nick Darland to wide receiver Aaron Swart.  Malone took the lead back on its opening drive of the second quarter when Brohl connected with junior wide receiver Jeff Perri (pictured left; Alameda, CA) on a four-yard pass, making the score 20-16.

The Pioneer lead then grew to 27-16 when junior running back Courtney Greer (Midland, TX) dashed across the goal line on a 22-yard rush with 11:05 remaining in the first half.  A nine-yard Darland TD pass to running back Marshall Fraley trimmed the Malone advantage to 27-22 (two-point conversion failed) before Peters found the end zone on a five-yard run, making the score 34-22.

The back-and-forth affair then continued as each team scored touchdowns on their next possessions.  Darland made it 34-28 with his fourth TD pass of the half, this one a 39-yard strike to wide out Andrew Butler (extra point blocked).  Brohl answered right back for the Pioneers, wrapping up the high-scoring first half with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Perri.

A 31-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Jake Hardy (Ortonville, MI) and a 47-yard TD pass from Brohl to Perri gave Malone a substantial 50-28 advantage with four minutes to play in the third quarter.  ONU pulled to within 50-35 with 58 seconds remaining in the third stanza on Darland’s fifth TD pass of the game, a 15-yard toss to Butler.  However, the Tigers were unable to get any closer before Peters put the game away with his late touchdown run. 

Brohl completed 23 of 37 pass attempts on the afternoon for a career-high 403 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions.  McLean posted eight catches for 186 yards and one touchdown to go with three kickoff returns for 114 yards and one rush for 43 yards.  His 346 all-purpose yards in the contest (that included a three-yard loss on a punt return) marked a new Malone single-game record.  The impressive total also made a mark on the MSFA record book as it ranks as the second-highest total for all-purpose yards in MSFA history (The only player to post more yards in a single game was Terry Taylor, who piled up 400 all-purpose yards for Iowa Wesleyan University in 1999).  Perri also put together a stellar afternoon as he tallied seven catches for 158 yards and three touchdowns.

Peters gained 122 rushing yards on 14 carries (8.7 average) with three touchdowns while also pulling in four catches for 13 yards, returning two kickoffs for 60 yards and running back two punts for 17 yards.  With this strong afternoon, Peters moved his 2009 rushing total to 1048 yards, becoming just the fifth Pioneer to rush for 1000 yards in a single season (Bernard Payton rushed for 1637 yards in ’07, Joel Peterson gained 1165 yards in ’01, Eric Smith posted 1012 yards in ’04 and Dan DeGeorge gained 1003 yards in ‘94).  Greer also turned in a solid performance, gaining 105 rushing yards on 23 carries (4.6 average) with one TD to go with three pass receptions for 39 yards.

Defensive back Jon Latimer (pictured left; Sr., Dallas, TX) notched a team-high seven tackles to go with a pair of interceptions.  With the two picks, Latimer moved his 2009 total to six, breaking the Pioneer single-season record for interceptions (previous record of five was accomplished eight different times).   Linebacker K.P. Fonseca (Jr., Aiea, HI), linebacker Montana Russo (Jr. Monterey, CA) and defensive back Patrick O’Malley (Jr., Padua Franciscan H.S.) each followed with six stops apiece.  In addition to their tackle totals, Fonseca also notched one fumble recovery while Russo picked up a sack and forced a fumble.

Senior punter Mike Skvor (Long Beach, CA) averaged 37.7 yards on three punts with two of those kicks downed inside the 20.  Skvor ended an excellent senior year with an average of 42.0 yards per punt and 18 kicks downed inside the 20, both new Malone single-season records.

For Olivet Nazarene, Darland completed 36 of 66 pass attempts for 408 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions.  Tight End David Scherer posted eight catches for 124 yards and one TD.  Fraley gained 49 rushing yards on seven carries while also pulling in eight catches for 83 yards and one score.  Linebacker Travis Powers paced the defense with eight tackles and a fumble recovery.

Malone Notes:  The Pioneers and Tigers combined for 811 passing yards on Saturday which marked the highest combined single-game passing yardage total in Malone history…McLean’s 186 receiving yards marked the third-highest single-game total in school history (Josh Settlemire tallied 198 receiving yards  against Urbana University in 2005 and Derek Deardorff posted 187 against Northwestern College in the 2008 Victory Bowl).