TIU Football hosts Concordia in 2013 home opener
Greg Gorham
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TRINITY INTERNATIONAL TROJANS (1-0) vs. CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY CARDINALS (0-0)
September 7, 2013 | 1:00 p.m.
Deerfield, Ill. | Leslie Frazier Field
Game Notes | Streaming Video & Live Stats
Twitter Updates: @TIUTrojans | @CUAACardinals
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Kickoff
• The Trinity International Trojans return to Leslie Frazier Field after a 48-0 road win over Trinity Bible College to start the 2013 season. The Trojans will welcome the Concordia Cardinals in the TIU home opener, with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m on Saturday, September 7. A free webcast of the game will be available at www.tiutrojans.com.
Quick Hits
• The Trojans will look to improve to 2-0 for the first time in nine years; TIU started the 2004 season with two straight wins, over 1-0 mark with wins over Greenville (Ill.) and Urbana (Ohio).
• 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 third meeting between the Trojans and Cardinals, all coming in the past three seasons. TIU defeated Concordia 42-0 on Sept. 8 last season, the team's last shutout before last week.
• After the first week of the year, running back Chris Elliott ranks 2nd in the NAIA in rushing TDs (3), 3rd in scoring (18), and 16th in rushing yards per game (103.0).
• The Trojans lead the MSFA in scoring average, with 48 points last week. TIU is also leads the league in total offense, collecting 443 yards against Trinity Bible.
Series History
• Trinity International and Concordia met previously in the 2011 and 2012 seasons, as the Trojans hold a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series.
• The last matchup came in 2012, when the Trojans took a 42-0 victory in Ann Arbor, improving their record to 2-1 at that point in the season.
• TIU hosted the Cardinals for their first-ever meeting in 2011, when the Trojans earned a 13-10 victory in the second week of the season.
Last Time vs Concordia
• The Trojan defense recorded their first shutout in eight years, in a 42-0 victory at Concordia last year, on Sept. 8.
• The Trojans held Concordia to just 262 yards of total offense, and limited the Cardinals to a 4-for-15 performance on 3rd down conversions.
• Quarterback Stephen Anderson threw for 277 yards and five touchdowns, going 21-of-32 with two interceptions.
• Wideout Danny Beals made 16 receptions for 228 yards and four touchdowns. Nigel Pinson had one touchdown catch to go with his four receptions and 41 yards.
About Concordia
• The Cardinals are searching for their first win in program history, as the Concordia football program began operations in 2011.
• Playing a J.V./club football schedule in 2010, the Cardinals went 5-2.
• Three returning Cardinals earned All-MSFA Mideast Honorable Mention honors last year (P Tom Greenwood, LB Takari Johnson, DB Cortez Smith).
Trojans in Home Openers
• TIU is 2-1 in home-opening games under head coach Kirk Wherritt.
• The Trojans are 13-9-1 all-time in home openers, and have won the first game of the year at Frazier Field the past two seasons.
• Trinity won a school-record eight straight home openers from 1999-2006.
A Trojan Win Would...
• ... Give the Trojans two straight victories to open the 2013 season, the first time TIU would have a 2-0 record since 2004.
• ... Improve TIU's all-time record over Concordia to 3-0.
• ... Improve Trinity's current win streak to three games, dating back to last season's finale against Waldorf, the longest win streak since 2004.
A Trojan Loss Would...
• ... Be the first ever loss to Concordia, and drop the all-time series to 2-1.
• ... Be the first home loss in the last three games, after falling to #11 William Penn last season.
Trojan Football History
• The Trinity International Trojan football program has an all-time record of 93-148-2, 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.
