No. 24 Trojans travel to Robert Morris looking for fourth straight win
Greg Gorham
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#24 TRINITY INTERNATIONAL TROJANS (3-0) at ROBERT MORRIS EAGLES (3-1)
September 28, 2013 | 7:00 p.m.
Arlington Heights, Ill. | Morris Field
Game Notes: Trinity International | Streaming Video (RMU) | Streaming Audio (TIU) | Live Stats
Twitter Updates: @TIUTrojans | @RMUEagles
Join the Conversation: #TIUFootball
Kickoff
• The Trinity International Trojans will look to make it four straight wins to start the season, in their first game as a nationally-ranked squad since 2005, as TIU travels to Arlington Heights, Ill. to face the Robert Morris Eagles. Kickoff against the Eagles is set for 7:00 p.m. this Saturday, September 28, and a free webcast of the game will be available at www.EagleSportsNetwork.com. An audio-only broadcast will also be available via the TIU Sports Network, which can be found by using the 'Watch Now' link at www.TIUtrojans.com.
Quick Hits
• The Trojans will look to improve to 4-0 for the first time in nine years; TIU last started a season with four 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 2nd meeting between the Trojans and Eagles. Robert Morris earned a come-from-behind 31-28 win with 21 fourth-quarter points over TIU last season at Morris Field.
• TIU currently leads the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 13.7 yards on the ground per game.
• Trinity earned it's first ranking in the AFCA Coaches' Poll since 2005 this week, debuting at No. 24.
Series History
• Trinity International and Robert Morris first met in 2012, when the Eagles earned the home victory, 31-28 at Morris Field.
• TIU held a 13-10 lead at the half, and a 16-10 lead after three quarters, but were outscored 21-12 in the fourth in last season's meeting.
Last Time vs Robert Morris
• Quarterback Stephen Anderson passed for 180 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game to injury.
• Backup QB Ruben Pena threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 12-for-22 passing after Anderson left the game.
• Senior wideout Danny Beals caught 11 passes for 132 yards, while Nigel Pinson made 10 catches for 92 yards, and a pair of TDs.
• Robert Morris running back LaMont Wims ran for 226 yards and three scores, all in the fourth quarter, to fuel the comeback.
About Robert Morris
• The Eagles are looking to bounce back after last week's 41-10 loss to No. 5 St. Xavier.
• RMU started the season with three straight wins, over Ave Maria (Fla.), Waldorf, and Olivet Nazarene. The 34-20 win over Ave Maria in the opening week of the season was played at Soldier Field in Chicago.
• Running back LaMont Wims is fourth in the MSFA in rushing, with 105.2 yards per game, and is one of five backs to be over the 100-yards per game mark.
• Wide reciever Deshawn Weaver leads the team with 7.5 receptions per game, and ranks second in the MSFA. Weaver also leads the NAIA with 30 total receptions this season.
• Defensively, linebacker Dontaye Johnson is one of seven players to average over 10 tackles per game, and ranks 5th in the MSFA with 10.0 tackles per game.
A Trojan Win Would...
• ... Give the Trojans four straight victories to open the 2013 season, the first time TIU would have a 4-0 record since 2004.
• ... Complete a perfect non-conference schedule with a 4-0 mark.
• ... Even the all-time series with the Eagles to 1-1.
• ... Improve Trinity's current win streak to five games, dating back to last season's finale against Waldorf, the longest win streak since 2003-2004.
• ... Give TIU its first win as a ranked program since the opening week of the 2005 season, when the then-No. 16 Trojans defeated Greenville, 26-17.
A Trojan Loss Would...
• ... Be the second straight loss to Robert Morris, falling behind in the all-time series 2-0.
• ... Be the first road loss since the Trojans fell to Olivet Nazarene in Boubonnais last season.
• ... Be the third straight loss for Trinity International as a nationally-ranked team.
Trojan Football History
• The Trinity International Trojan football program has an all-time record of 95-148-2, 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 6-11 at home in the Wherritt era, and are 47-68-1 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.
• The Trojans have won their last three games at Frazier Field, their longest home win streak since earning eight straight wins from 2003-2005.
TIU in the Polls
• The Trojans earned the No. 24 spot in the latest AFCA Coaches Poll after their upset win over then-No. 17 St. Francis (Ill.) on Saturday.
• TIU was one of five new teams to enter the poll, and was the only one to break the top-25 without receiving a single vote last week.
• Trinity's last ranking came in 2005 (No. 24, Sept. 19).
• TIU has been ranked 16 times in the program's history, and hold a record of 14-9 as a nationally-ranked team.
• The MSFA has a total of seven teams in the top 25, and nine MSFA programs are at least receiving votes in the latest poll.
• With the 3-0 start, the Trojans are currently in a four-way tie for the No. 1 spot in the NCCAA Rankings, with 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.
National Leaders
• The TIU defense has statistically been the best in the NAIA through the first four weeks of the season, leading the country in rushing yards allowed (13.7 per game). The Trojans also rank 4th in total defense (235 ypg), and 7th in scoring defense (15.0 ppg).
• Offensively, the Trojans rank 2nd in the NAIA with 48.7 points scored per game.
• TIU is one of the most penalized teams in the country, averaging 86 yards worth of penalties called per game, 11th-most in the NAIA (ranked 3rd a week ago, the Trojans lowered their average by committing just 24 yards of penalties against St. Francis).
• Kicker Jeremiah Carter is one of 18 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 then went 2-for-2 including the game-winner against St. Francis (Ill.).
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.
