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TRINITY INTERNATIONAL TROJANS (2-0) vs. #17 SAINT FRANCIS FIGHTING SAINTS (2-0)
September 21, 2013 | 1:00 p.m.
Deerfield, Ill. | Leslie Frazier Field
Game Notes: Trinity International | St. Francis | Streaming Video & Live Stats
Twitter Updates: @TIUTrojans | @USFSaints
Join the Conversation: #TIUFootball
Kickoff
• The Trinity International Trojans will go for their first 3-0 start since 2004, as they host fellow unbeaten University of St. Francis Fighting Saints, Saturday afternoon at Leslie Frazier Field. Kickoff against the Saints is set for 1:00 p.m., and a free webcast of the game will be available at www.tiutrojans.com.
Quick Hits
• The Trojans will look to improve to 3-0 for the first time in nine years; TIU last started a season with three straight wins in 2004, when the Trojans went 8-2 and made an appearance in the NAIA Tournament.
• The Trojans are coming off a 4-7 season a year ago, where they doubled their win total from the previous season, and recorded the program's highest win total in six years.
• This game will mark the 11th meeting between the Trojans and Fighting Saints. TIU leads the all-time series 6-5, but have dropped the past four games, with the last win over USF coming in 2006.
• TIU currently leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 3.0 points per game, and 132 yards of total offense. The Trojans have the best run defense in the NAIA, averaging -17.5 yards allowed.
• The Trojans rank 10th in the country in total scoring offense, having posted 105 points in the first two games of the year. Quarterback Stephen Anderson ranks 2nd in the country in pass efficiency, with a 182.9 rating.
Series History
• Trinity International and St. Francis first met in 2000, when the Saints shut out the Trojans, 16-0 at Frazier Field.
• The latest chapter in the matchup came in 2012, when the Trojans fell to the then-20th ranked Saints, 48-17 in Joliet.
• TIU won six straight meetings over USF from 2001-2006, but St. Francis has claimed the last four games, dating back to 2007.
Last Time vs St. Francis
• Trinity held a 17-14 halftime lead at ATI Field last season, but 34 unanswered second half points put the Saints in front, in a 48-17 win on Oct. 13.
• The Trojans held St. Francis to just 78 yards passing, but gave up 348 yards on the ground, as the Saints kept drives alive by going 7-for-15 on third down conversions.
• Quarterback Stephen Anderson threw for 129 yards and one touchdown, going 9-of-18 with one interception.
• Running back Chris Elliott totaled 58 yards rushing on 19 carries.
• St. Francis had a pair of 100-yard rushers, in quarterback E.J. White (169 yards, 3 TDs) and running back Anthony Hubert (128 yards, 1 TD).
About St. Francis
• The Saints are also looking for a 3-0 start to the season, for just the second time in program history.
• USF went 6-5 last season, and 3-3 in the MSFA Midwest League, placing 4th.
• Quarterback E.J. White became USF's all-time rushing leader last week, after collecting 72 yards on 12 carries against Lindenwood-Belleville. White has 2,443 rushing yards, 7,435 passing yards, 80 passing TDs and 626 completions, all school records for St. Francis.
A Trojan Win Would...
• ... Give the Trojans three straight victories to open the 2013 season, the first time TIU would have a 3-0 record since 2004.
• ... Improve TIU's all-time record over St. Francis to 7-5, snapping a four-game slide againt the Saints.
• ... Improve Trinity's current win streak to four games, dating back to last season's finale against Waldorf, the longest win streak since 2004.
• ... Be the first win over a ranked opponent since Oct. 30, 2004, when the Trojans upset St. Xavier, 28-21.
• ... Be the first win over a ranked opponent in the Kirk Wherritt era.
A Trojan Loss Would...
• ... Be the fifth straight loss to St. Francis, tying the all-time series at 6-6.
• ... Be the first home loss in the last four games, after falling to #11 William Penn last season.
Trojan Football History
• The Trinity International Trojan football program has an all-time record of 94-148-2, dating back to their first season as a varsity program in 1990.
• TIU's head coach for the inaugural season in 1989 through 1996 was Leslie Frazier. Frazier is currently the head coach of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, and had a record of 38-37-3.
• The Trojans have won three MSFA Midwest League titles in school history, in 1994, 1995, and 2003.
• Trinity International has earned two NAIA playoff berths, in 1994 and 2004. TIU is still searching for their first NAIA playoff victory, falling to Northwestern (Iowa) and Georgetown (Ky.), respectively.
• TIU has one appearance in the NCCAA Victory Bowl, where they fell to Garner-Webb (N.C.), 54-14, in 2001.
Leslie Frazier Field
• TIU is 5-11 at home in the Wherritt era, and are 46-68-1 all-time at Frazier Field.
• Including the win over Concordia this season, the Trojans are 14-9-1 all-time in home openers, and have won the first game of the year at Frazier Field the past three seasons.
• Trinity is 3-3 against St. Francis at home in the all-time series.
TIU in the Polls
• With the 2-0 start, the Trojans are currently in a five-way tie for the No. 1 spot in the NCCAA Rankings, with Point (Ga.), Geneva (Pa.), Greenville (Ill.), and North Greenville (S.C.).
• The top two teams in the NCCAA Rankings at the end of the regular season will meet for the 2013 Victory Bowl, taking place Nov. 23 in Rome, Ga.
• The Trojans are currently unranked in the latest AFCA Coaches Poll. Their last ranking came in 2005 (No. 24, Sept. 19).
National Leaders
• The TIU defense has statistically been the best in the NAIA through the first three weeks of the season, leading the country in rushing yards allowed (-17.5 per game), total defense (132 ypg), and scoring defense (3.0 ppg).
• Offensively, the Trojans rank 2nd in the NAIA with 52.5 points scored per game.
• TIU is one of the most penalized teams in the country, averaging 117 yards worth of penalties called per game, third-most in the NAIA.
• Kicker Jeremiah Carter is one of 19 kickers in the NAIA tied for the national lead with a 100% field goal percentage. Carter went 3-for-3 in the season-opener at Trinity Bible, with a long of 44 yards, and did not attempt a field goal against Concordia.
TIU Sports Network
• All TIU Football home games will be broadcast live, and on-demand, with Brian Snow of Arena Sports Network on the call.
• A live and on-demand audio broadcast will be available for each road game in 2013.
• Selected TIU Athletics home events are also broadcast online, including Trojan volleyball, and men's and women's soccer matches during the fall season.
• Broadcasts are available through the 'Watch Now' link on the homepage at
www.TIUtrojans.com.
