GAME 2: SBU BEARCATS (0-1) at TRUMAN BULLDOGS (1-0)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 • 7:00 PM
STOKES STADIUM • KIRKSVILLE, MO
RADIO: KBFL 99.1 FM (Josh Thompson, play-by-play)
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LIVE STATS: via Sidearm

GAME NOTES: SBU | TRUMAN

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KIRKSVILLE, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats will look to put last week's disappointing loss at home to Central Missouri aside as they go on the road to Kirksville, to take on the Truman State University Bulldogs. The Bulldogs defeated St. Joseph's College 23-13 last week in Renasseler, Ind., while SBU fell to Central Missouri 60-13.

The centerpiece of the Bearcat attack is senior QB Steve Gachette. Gachette holds 16 school records and was named the D2football.com All-Independents Offensive Player of the Year, Football Gazette's All-Super Region Four Third Team and was a regional finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, which honors the nation's top Division II football player. In 2009, Gachette completed 61.6% of his passes for 3015 yards and a school record 28 touchdowns, while he ran for 975 net yards and eight touchdowns on the season. His 3990 total offensive yards easily surpassed his school record of 3360 yards, set in 2008. SBU also was fifth nationally in total offense (482 yds per game).

In week one against Central Missouri, Gachette went 19 for 39 for 292 yards and one touchdown, but did have two interceptions. He also rushed for 56 yards. Junior receiver Charles Johnson had six catches for 118 yards and a touchdown.

Junior Thad Everson was second to Gachette in 2009 with 659 rushing yards on 133 carries and six touchdowns. Everson is sharing duty with sophomore Justin Duhaney, who ran for 323 yards on 66 carries. Johnson led the team with 766 yards and tied with former 'Cat Johnnie King for the team lead with 51 grabs and eight scores. A key set of tackles anchor the offensive line, in junior left tackle Michael Wormley and sophomore right side Derrick Okafor.

The Bearcat secondary should be a strength for the team, despite the struggles against UCM. Junior cornerback Anthony Wiggins is the top returning tackler, with 62 stops in 2009. Wiggins had a good effort last Saturday night against the Mules, including a third quarter 43-yard fumble recovery returned for a touchdown.

A trio of sophomore SBU linebackers led the team in tackles against the Mules, topped by Shaquille Shedd with 12 tackles including seven solos. Andre Hicks had nine tackles and two fumble recoveries while Austin Otwell recorded eight takedowns.
   
THE COACHES AND THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Keith Allen has already engineered a significant turnaround, moving the 'Cats from 0-11 his first year as interim coach, to 5-6 in 2008, to the winning record of 6-5 in 2009. Allen served as defensive and recruiting coordinator before being named head coach in 2007. His past coaching experience has included stops at San Jose State, Quincy, TCU and Oklahoma.
   
Gregg Nesbitt picked up his first win as a college head coach last week at Saint Joseph's. Nesbitt is in his first season with the Bulldogs and is the 22nd head coach in the program's history. Prior to moving to TSU, Nesbitt was co-defensive coordinator at Central Missouri since 2007. He also had stops at Central Methodist as a defensive coordinator, state champion head coach at Columbia Hickman High School. Truman leads the all-time series 17-3 and has won all ten meetings in Kirksville. The last meeting between the teams was SBU's last season in the MIAA in 2007, a Bulldog 55-31 win. SBU's last win came in 2005, a 38-36 win in Bolivar.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
The Bulldogs scored on three straight possessions at St. Joseph's last Saturday and led 20-0 at the half. Quarterback Phil Davis was 8-of-15 passing, throwing for 130 yards while rushing for 42 yards. Harnish Ayora rushed 25 times for 95 yards with two touchdowns. Dallas Grier caught five balls for 106 yards including 51 yard grab.

In 2009, Davis threw for 1035 yards and seven touchdowns, rushed for 229 yards and was one of four Truman quarterbacks to see significant action. The Bulldogs continued to split action between their signal callers in week one, with Conrad Schottel and Taylor Breen getting in the game.

Truman is the winningest NCAA football program all-time in the state of Missouri with a .588 winning percentage. Mizzou leads with 607 wins overall with the Bulldogs second at 527.

The Bulldogs were picked for 10th in both of the MIAA preseason coaches and media polls.