The ‘Dogs failed to gain their first win of the 2015 football season during the home opener against Missouri University of Science & Technology. Truman State fell 10-7 during the Family Day night game after leading 7-0 during the first quarter.
The loss against the Miners marks only the second time during the team’s past 26 meetings the Bulldogs have fallen to Missouri S&T. The only other loss during that span was a 2008 overtime game played at Stokes Stadium.
Saturday marked the 78th time the two universities have played one another, the first game taking place during 1909. Truman scored during the first quarter on a pass from junior quarterback Devonte Black to junior wide receiver Joey Schenck, capping off an 85-yard drive accomplished in 15 plays. The Bulldogs were able to take a 7-3 lead by the halftime break. The ‘Dogs gained 80 more yards from the line of scrimmage than the Miners during the first half, but when the final whistle blew, Missouri S&T had outgained the Bulldogs’ 287 yards with 321.
Miner sophomore kicker Nolan Mannino began the game 1-of-3 on field goals, missing two attempts from within 30 yards during the first half. The Miners started one of those possessions inside the Bulldog 10-yard line after a muffed punt by junior wide receiver Derek Hammann, but were unable to capitalize.
Although the Bulldogs now sit at 0-3, junior defensive back Austin Zoda says the team put itself in a situation to win the football game Saturday night but ultimately was unable to walk away victorious. He says this has been an unfortunate recurring theme for the Truman football program for a few years, but he says it will inevitably be corrected.
“When we step up and execute in the fourth [quarter], it’s going to be a culture change,” Zoda says. “Once we find it one week, it’s going to be something that’s going to carry on for the remainder of my time, and hopefully longer after. It’s one of those things that as a team and as a program you just gotta figure out how to do it.”
The Bulldogs gained 13 yards of total offense during the fourth quarter, and the Truman defense was on the field for nearly 12 minutes. Zoda says though he thought his team made mistakes that contributed to Saturday’s loss and needed to be more disciplined, his teammates have done an excellent job of keeping their heads up and looking forward to the next eight weeks of football.
“As a member of this team, it’s really encouraging to see everyone still bought in as if it was day one of practice,” Zoda says. “Our record really doesn’t show how good this football team is.”
For complete analysis of the Bulldog’s game with Missouri S&T, pick up a copy of the Index or click here to read online on Issuu.
