Pitt State tramples over Bulldogs' Homecoming
Josh Sisson
Issue date: 10/27/05 Section: Sports
By halftime, Pitt State had built up a 31-7 lead.
Pitt State attacked the Truman defense with an option play all afternoon.
Senior linebacker Marcus Yokeley said knowing assignments is the key to defending the option.
"The coaches did a great job preparing us for the game," Yokeley said. "You can never be perfectly prepared for a team like Pitt State. Defensively, we had things that should've worked. We just didn't execute to the best of our ability for whatever reason."
Currier also stood by the defensive game plan.
"We thought our scheme was solid even after the game," Currier said. "When you watch the film, it's pretty easy to see that we had guys in the right spots, but we weren't making the plays, and that's what it comes down to."
Pitt State's offense came into Saturday's game ranked first in the nation, averaging 51 points per game. It looked like the country's best offense, gaining yardage in huge chunks all afternoon.
Offensively, the 'Dogs are on the opposite end of the spectrum. The Gorillas scored more points Saturday than Truman has totaled in its last five games combined. The 'Dogs only gained 262 yards of offense with just 66 of them coming on the ground.
Long completed 17 of 40 passes for 196 yards and three interceptions.
Currier said he thinks his young quarterback is trying to do too much.
"A lot of times good quarterbacks have confidence they can throw the ball anywhere," Currier said. "Right now, he thinks certain guys are open when they might be slightly covered. You like that mentality, but we need him to be a little more conservative with his throws."
Senior wide receiver James Walton said much of the responsibility for Long's struggles lies with the veterans on offense.
"Mike's a young quarterback, and we need to do more to help him out and get him his first win as a starter," Walton said.
Walton is one of eight senior Bulldogs who played their final football game at Stokes Stadium on Saturday.
Walton said two of his favorite football memories involve battles for the old Hickory Stick. First, he spoke of the matchup his true freshman year when former Truman quarterback Eric Howe led the Bulldogs to a come-from-behind win against the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats.
Then, he recalled last year's Homecoming game when the 'Dogs nearly shocked the world with a win against the undefeated Bearcats but came up just short, 45-42.
Walton drew a parallel between the two games.
"My true freshman year we came back and won the Hickory Stick because we never gave up and played 60 minutes of football ... ," Walton said. "Last year was special too. We didn't give up then. The difference was we played 59-and-a-half minutes of football. I remember the elation of winning the Hickory Stick and of almost pulling off one of the greatest upsets in college football history."
Pitt State attacked the Truman defense with an option play all afternoon.
Senior linebacker Marcus Yokeley said knowing assignments is the key to defending the option.
"The coaches did a great job preparing us for the game," Yokeley said. "You can never be perfectly prepared for a team like Pitt State. Defensively, we had things that should've worked. We just didn't execute to the best of our ability for whatever reason."
Currier also stood by the defensive game plan.
"We thought our scheme was solid even after the game," Currier said. "When you watch the film, it's pretty easy to see that we had guys in the right spots, but we weren't making the plays, and that's what it comes down to."
Pitt State's offense came into Saturday's game ranked first in the nation, averaging 51 points per game. It looked like the country's best offense, gaining yardage in huge chunks all afternoon.
Offensively, the 'Dogs are on the opposite end of the spectrum. The Gorillas scored more points Saturday than Truman has totaled in its last five games combined. The 'Dogs only gained 262 yards of offense with just 66 of them coming on the ground.
Long completed 17 of 40 passes for 196 yards and three interceptions.
Currier said he thinks his young quarterback is trying to do too much.
"A lot of times good quarterbacks have confidence they can throw the ball anywhere," Currier said. "Right now, he thinks certain guys are open when they might be slightly covered. You like that mentality, but we need him to be a little more conservative with his throws."
Senior wide receiver James Walton said much of the responsibility for Long's struggles lies with the veterans on offense.
"Mike's a young quarterback, and we need to do more to help him out and get him his first win as a starter," Walton said.
Walton is one of eight senior Bulldogs who played their final football game at Stokes Stadium on Saturday.
Walton said two of his favorite football memories involve battles for the old Hickory Stick. First, he spoke of the matchup his true freshman year when former Truman quarterback Eric Howe led the Bulldogs to a come-from-behind win against the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats.
Then, he recalled last year's Homecoming game when the 'Dogs nearly shocked the world with a win against the undefeated Bearcats but came up just short, 45-42.
Walton drew a parallel between the two games.
"My true freshman year we came back and won the Hickory Stick because we never gave up and played 60 minutes of football ... ," Walton said. "Last year was special too. We didn't give up then. The difference was we played 59-and-a-half minutes of football. I remember the elation of winning the Hickory Stick and of almost pulling off one of the greatest upsets in college football history."