GLVC Football Weekly Release #6 - Oct. 9, 2013
Focused on Four
For the first time this season, just four games will be on Saturday’s GLVC football slate as all eight league teams will be competing in conference action. Truman State will look to move to 2-0 in GLVC play with a road contest at William Jewell (0-1 GLVC), while Indianapolis (1-0) and McKendree (1-0) square off in Lebanon. Elsewhere, Saint Joseph’s (1-0) will vie to stay on top of the standings following a road trip at Quincy (0-1), and Missouri S&T and Kentucky Wesleyan will battle in Owensboro for their first GLVC win of the year.
Rain Hinders GLVC Football Action Last Week
In early GLVC football action last Saturday, Truman State earned its first-ever conference win with a 33-0 shutout at Quincy, while Saint Joseph’s bested Kentucky Wesleyan, 35-9 in a game that was called in the third quarter after a two-hour delay for lightning. In non-conference action, McKendree dropped its Homecoming matchup to Findlay, 38-21. Two games were also on the docket Saturday evening as Indianapolis survived frequent downpours and lightning to top Missouri S&T 34-3, while William Jewell fell 34-17 on the road at Fort Hays State.
UIndy Maintains at No. 21 in AFCA Top 25 Poll
Indianapolis, the defending GLVC Champion, remained 21st in the latest American Football Coaches Association Division II Top 25 Poll, following its 34-3 victory over Missouri S&T last Saturday. The Greyhounds actually share the No. 21 spot with Tarleton St. (Texas), which moved up from 22nd last week.
Pumas Moving the Ball on Offense
In the latest NCAA Statistics report released Monday, Saint Joseph’s is found among the top-25 NCAA Division II programs in both rushing and total offense, as well as passing efficiency. The Pumas enter the weekend ranked 15th overall with 259.2 rushing yards per game and 20th in the country at 494.0 yards of total offense each time out. Senior quarterback Billy VandeMerkt is also among the nation’s most efficient passers, ranking 19th overall with a QB rating of 156.1.
UIndy Putting a Stop to Opposition
Just as impressive as Saint Joseph’s has been on offense this season, Indianapolis has been equally dominant on the defensive side of the ball. After five weeks of play, UIndy ranks 10th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 15.4 points per game. The Greyhounds also rate 12th in passing defense (157.8) and 17th in total defense (297.8).
Places to Go
Last week two GLVC rushers set impressive conference marks in yardage per carry. McKendree’s Ryan Herring carried eight times for 104 yards in a loss to Findlay, which equated to an average of 13.0 -- the best clip in the conference this year. Not far behind him was Missouri S&T’s Chris Kennard, who rushed for 12.0 yards per carry last Saturday at UIndy. He finished the night with six attempts for 72 yards.
When Returns Are Allowed
While heavy rains halted much of the GLVC’s offensive units this past week, the special teams success continued to shine as yet another punt return was taken back for a touchdown. Kentucky Wesleyan’s Jeff Ward returned a Saint Joseph’s punt 79 yards for the Panthers’ lone touchdown of the game. The runback was the longest punt return in the conference this season and is the second-best in conference history, matching Quincy’s Jarrod Sergent’s mark set last year against McKendree. Ward’s return also marked the third punt return to be run back for a touchdown this season, while the GLVC also boasts four kickoff returns for scores this year.
Returns Revisited
The GLVC continues to be represented by some of the nation’s top return games this season. In punt returns, three conference squads rank in the top five nationally, including No. 1 McKendree (42.0), No. 2 Kentucky Wesleyan (30.8), and No. 5 William Jewell (21.2). In kickoff returns, Truman State (31.13) ranks second overall, followed by No. 12 McKendree (26.06). Individually, a pair of Truman State standouts rank in the top 10 among kickoff returners nationwide. Tremaine Millender (40.0) has the nation’s third-best average, while teammate Aaron Hartfield (32.5) is ninth.
Pick Five or Pick Six?
Speaking of returns, while there have been a total of seven punt and kickoff returns taken back for scores this season, not one “pick six” has occurred in the secondary. However, UIndy has become a favorite of the “pick five” this season, having now twice picked off five interceptions in a game. The Greyhounds first accomplished the feat against Saint Xavier on Sept. 14 and then matched that mark last week in the driving rain against Missouri S&T. With the Hounds’ five picks last week, they soared to No. 1 on the Division II charts with 12 interceptions and fourth overall with 15 turnovers gained on the year. Junior defensive back Andre Smith snatched a conference-record three interceptions in the game and was named GLVC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
GLVC, MIAA Enter Strategic Scheduling Alliance in 2014
The GLVC and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) announced jointly last week that the two NCAA Division II conferences have entered into a Strategic Conference Football Scheduling Alliance, which will enable MIAA members Lincoln University and Southwest Baptist University to join the GLVC in the sport of football only. The proposed four-year agreement, which is slated to begin in 2014, will give both Lincoln and Southwest Baptist associate member status within the GLVC. Each school will remain full active members of the MIAA in all other sports and will continue those MIAA competitive schedules. The Strategic Conference Football Scheduling Alliance provides scheduling stability and non-conference flexibility for both conferences moving forward, while also addressing two major scheduling goals for each league. For more information on the SCFSA,
click here.