Burk, Blakley connection too much for Drake to handle
Dale Sweetnam
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           Oppressive heat couldn't stop Truman's football team from winning its first game of the year 38-14 over Drake University (Des Moines, Iowa) on Saturday.
           "It was real hot, but we were a more physical football team and we wore them down in the end," head coach John Ware said.
           After a slow first half, the team put on an offensive display led by senior quarterback Dusty Burk and senior wide receiver Andrew Blakley.
           The afternoon started ominously because Truman had trouble getting started early in the game. The team fell behind 14-7 late in the first half, but a 69-yard run by Burk and a 33-yard field goal by senior Austin Lepper put the 'Dogs in the lead entering halftime.
           "We just came out slower than we had hoped and anticipated," senior running back Mike Redding said.
           Once play resumed, there was a considerable scoring drought. The third quarter ended with neither team scoring, and Truman entered the last quarter still up by three points.
           That three-point deficit was the closest Drake would come to the 'Dogs, who torched Drake with 21 points to close out the game.
           Ware said impressive performances on all ends of the ball helped lead Truman to the victory.
           Burk passed for 251 yards and three touchdowns while also leading the team in rushing with 162 yards and one rushing touchdown. Redding said Burk's teammates were impressed by his performance, but they expected it.
           "He played an excellent game, but he showed me during two-a-days that he was capable of doing what he did on Saturday," Redding said.
           Despite the powerful performance by Burk, he remained modest.
           "The credit goes to the offensive line," Burk said. "I had good protection and I was fortunate to make some big plays."
           With the strength of the offensive line and the second-half dominance of the Truman defense, the team surrendered no sacks during the game and allowed no points during the third and fourth quarters.
           Blakley's consistent play aided the 'Dogs greatly, Ware said. Blakely caught 12 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown. His performance also came as little surprise, Ware said.
           "He is an extremely reliable guy who can make the tough catches for you," Ware said. "He is an extremely hard worker."
           The team has illustrated its tendency to throw the long ball and make big plays through the air, a trait that has become familiar to fans during the last few seasons.
           Although the 'Dogs place considerable emphasis on passing, they do not intend to become a one-dimensional team, Ware said.
           "We like to throw the ball," Ware said. "We throw the ball to try and set up the run."
           Redding, who rushed for 46 yards against Drake, agreed with Ware's assessment.
           "I always want to have more yards than that, but I know we have a lot of playmakers," Redding said. "Giving them the ball spreads out the defense."
           The 'Dogs walked away Saturday with a win but were not as pleased as they had planned. The team still thinks it has some improvements to make, Ware said.
           Truman will begin preparing this week for Quincy University (Illinois), a team it routed last season 51-7.
           Although the 'Dogs defeated Drake and are hanging a formidable win over the heads of their next opponent, they will not take Quincy lightly, Burk said.
"We're going to approach the game by watching a lot of film," Burk said. "They might try and do things a little unorthodox, but we just need to stick to our game plan."
Even though they count towards the 'Dogs overall record, the first two games of the season act more as exhibition games for the team as it prepares to challenge for the title in one of the most competitive conferences in Division II football, Ware said.
The 'Dogs, ranked fourth in their conference, were not the only team to start the season with a win. Each of the top three teams also easily defeated their season-opener opponents.
"Our conference is tough," Ware said. "This may be the strongest conference in the country among Division II conferences."
The 'Dogs intend to focus on one game at a time despite the competition that rests at the end of their regular season schedule, Ware said.
With one game behind them and an entire season in front of them, Ware is optimistic about the team's season but said he has no intention of getting ahead of himself. With an intimidating conference and a solid talent core, it remains to be seen how the 'Dogs will measure up.
"You just got to keep on keeping on," Ware said.