INDIANAPOLIS – The 10th-ranked UIndy football team (5-0, 2-0 GLVC) capped an eventful Homecoming night with a 34-19 victory against visiting Truman State University (1-4, 1-2) Saturday. The win was fueled by a career-high 190 yards receiving by senior wideout Garrett Willis.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After falling behind 10-0 early, the Greyhounds snatched the lead by the middle of the second quarter and never relinquished it. UIndy used a number of timely plays to move in front and remain in control.

With the Bulldogs leading 10-7 and driving past midfield, junior cornerback Robert Williams picked off Truman QB Jaden Barr on the first play of the second quarter to stop the 'Dogs momentum. Later in the first half, freshman Daveon Bell recorded the second-longest punt return by a Greyhound since 1983* when he zipped 86 yards for the go-ahead score.
 

Daveon Bell with the 2nd longest punt return in school history! The 86-yard return gives the Hounds a 14-10 lead! pic.twitter.com/Kyjyf6fV0q

— UIndy Athletics (@UIndyAthletics) September 30, 2017

 
^{*first year return information is available}

With the home team up eight points early in the third, the UIndy defensive line blew up a pooch-punt attempt, as the penetration led to a blocked punt by sophomore Jacob Schmatz.
 
Still a one-score game later in the third, QB Jake Purichia threw his first interception of the season, but two plays later, senior corner Mike Hamilton managed the first of two picks on the night to give the ball right back to the Hounds.
 
Facing a 3rd & 17 late in the third, Purichia found Willis with a 52-yard bomb to position the Hounds in the red zone and set up a 16-yard TD pass between the two. making 31-13.
 
The final two nails came late in the fourth when UIndy orchestrated a 13-play, clock-eating drive that ended in a Brad Schickel field goal, followed by Hamilton's second INT to terminate Truman's last offensive drive.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Willis notched his fifth 100-yard-receiving game with the aforementioned career-high 190-yard output.
- Purichia finished 14 for 21 passing for 236 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. His first pick of the year puts his touchdown-to-interception ratio at a still-stellar 11:1.
- Since return information became available in 1983, Bell's 86-yard punt return is second only to Reece Horn's 92-yard refund in 2015.
- Freshman All McKeller was the leading rusher for the Hounds, compiling 77 yards on 15 carries (5.1 ypc).
- Redshirt-freshman Aaron Matio managed his second TD of the season with a 17-yard TD catch late in the first half.
- Linebacker Joe Lambright continued to rack up tackles in his first season as a starter, amassing a game-high 14 stops. The redshirt-freshman is averaging an even 13 tackles over the last four weeks.
- Hamilton is the first Greyhound to have a multiple-interception game since Korey Rogan picked off three passes in last year's Homecoming date versus McKendree.
 
HOUND BYTES
Head Coach Bob Bartolomeo on playing teams that beat UIndy last year:
"They're payback games now, don't worry about that. That's pointed out to (the team) each and every Monday. 'It's a payback week.' And we've got Quincy coming up on down the road so that'll be another one."
 
MORE NOTES
In addition to the usual Homecoming court and golf cart judging, Saturday night's halftime also included an official Guinness world record, as "Ace" got 128 high-fives, most ever by a mascot in 60 seconds ... As part of the annual Coach To Cure MD initiative, UIndy coaching staff joined programs across the country in wearing a patch on their left arms to help defeat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Visit coachtocuremd.org to find out how you can help … UIndy is now 5-0 for the first time since 1997, a year that saw the Hounds win their first six games before finishing at 8-3 – the first of back-to-back eight-win seasons … The Hounds have won 13 of their last 14 Homecoming match-ups, including each of the last seven.
 
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds head to Lebanon, Ill., next week for a battle of GLVC leaders, as UIndy faces McKendree Saturday, Oct. 7. Both teams are 2-0 in conference play.