INDIANAPOLIS - The first two Great Midwest Athletic Conference opponents will go head-to-head this week as the league schedule officially opens up in Canton, Ohio, with Malone hosting Alderson Broaddus.
Kentucky Wesleyan makes the trip to Northwestern State in Natchitoches, Louisiana, to face the winless Demons in more non-conference action.
The G-MAC will officially recognize an inaugural league champion and a trophy will be presented to the school with the best conference winning percentage at the end of the season.
This is separate from the second annual G-MAC Founders Cup Game, which will be played this year in Philippi, W.Va., on Nov. 12 to conclude the regular season.
Updated G-MAC Weekly Records (PDF)
Alderson Broaddus (2-2) vs. Malone (1-4)
Saturday, Oct. 8
Canton, OH
GlenOak High School
2 p.m. EST
Media: Live Video | Live Stats | Audio Broadcast
Malone and Alderson Broaddus clash in the first conference game and in the first meeting between the schools since 2013.
The Pioneers and Battlers provided offensive fireworks in that contest while combining over 100 points in a 59-42 Malone victory.
Even though some has elapsed since their last meeting, expect a closely-contested matchup as both teams get used to each other as G-MAC opponents. Malone will be returning home after facing back-to-back Division I FCS opponents on the road while Alderson Broaddus' swarming defense put the clamps on Fort Valley State in Week 5.
Between bruising backs Matt Blasiole (MAL) and Brandon Jones (ABU), both teams will look to establish the ground game early. Both are the top two runners in the league with 93.0 and 105.2 yards per game, respectively.
Jones scored in the 2013 game and AB senior Cooper Schroeder had a pair of touchdown catches from Wilson Vaughn.
Reigning G-MAC Defensive Player of the Week Jeff Stephens is just the latest in a parade of Battlers to earn the honors. AB's defense is suffocating led by the likes of Brandon Lavern (Week 1 Def. POTW), Justin Joyce (Week 2), Michael James (Week 4) and Stephens (Week 5).
This unit is allowing just over 11 points per game and only 208 yards of total offense in the season to date.
Malone's Ryan Weber continues to be the conference's leading tackler with 41. Both kickers in Marcus Moeller (MAL) and Tyler Schiefelbein (ABU) have established themselves as G-MAC Special Teams Player of the Week and should factor in the outcome.
Kentucky Wesleyan (1-4) vs. Northwestern State (0-4)
Saturday, Oct. 8
Nachitoches, LA
Turpin Stadium
6 p.m. CST
Media: Live Video | Live Stats | Audio Broadcast
Kentucky Wesleyan beat a former member of the G-MAC for the Panthers' first win of the season last weekend. KWC's Keelan Cole was named the G-MAC Offensive Player of the Week again and his exploits proved to be decisive in the final.
Cole caught two touchdowns against Marauders, including an 81-yarder, his third play of 80 yards or more in the receiving game this year alone.
At over 125 receiving yards per game, he ranks top 10 nationally along with receiving TD's (7).
Cole should have another big day against the Demons' secondary, which faced nationally-ranked Baylor to begin the season. NSU is another Division I FCS opponent and has three other games against Southland Conference opponents.
KWC defensive back Colton Billups has been an absolute ball hawk with three picks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. James Todd, Ty Martin-Miles, Tim Patterson and Vasco Billberry, rank fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, in the G-MAC in tackling.
