Southwest Baptist Bearcats (1-1, 0-0) at 15 UIndy Greyhounds (2-0, 0-0)
Saturday, Sept. 16, 6 p.m. ET, Key Stadium

ON TAP
The No. 15 Greyhounds open conference play Saturday by hosting the 2016 GLVC-co-champion Southwest Baptist Bearcats. UIndy is 35-4 (.897) versus GLVC competition since the league began sponsoring football in 2012.

HOUNDS vs. BEARCATS
The Greyhounds own a 2-1 edge in the series since their first match-up with Southwest Baptist in 2014. After a lopsided 48-14 road win for the Hounds in the first meeting, the two subsequent contests have been decided by four points or less.

Last season, the Bearcats held on for a 41-37 win in Bolivar, Mo., as UIndy managed a 1st-&-goal situation from the two-yard line late in the game but failed to punch it in.

Andrew Walker scored three rushing TDs that night, while both Malik Higgins and Garrett Willis had 100-yard-receiving games.

LAST TIME OUT
Last week, the Greyhounds defeated their second consecutive GLIAC opponent, edging Wayne State in dramatic fashion. With the score tied at 28-28, the Hounds' final possession started on their own 22-yard line with 57 second remaining. They quickly traversed 64 yards – thanks mostly to a 46-yard reception from Aaron Matio – to set up  the potential game-winning field goal. Senior kicker Brad Schickel made good on his attempt as time expired, lifting UIndy to a last-second 31-28 victory over the in-region Warriors.

POLL POSITION
UIndy moved up three spots in this week's AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, coming in at No. 15. The Hounds' position in the weekly coaches poll marked their highest national ranking since earning the No. 13 spot in week 11 of 2015. UIndy's highest-ever position is 10th, coming in November of 2013.

(MORE) LEAGUE LAURELS
The Greyhounds earned GLVC performance awards for the second straight week. Seven days after both Al McKeller (offensive honoree) and Cole Sigmund (defensive) garnered recognition from the league, Schickel was dubbed the GLVC Special Teams Player of the Week. Not only did the Louisville, Ky., native hit the aforementioned game-winning field goal at Wayne State, but he also went 4 for 4 in extra-point tries and dropped three of his four punts inside the Warrior six-yard line.

DEFENSIVE POSITION
In each of the previous two games, UIndy was matched up with one of the top running backs in the nation. Grand Valley's Marty Cater (1,908 yds in 2016) and Wayne State's Romello Brown (1,564) ranked first and fourth, respectively, in DII in rushing last season. Both All-Americans were held under 60 yards rushing versus the Greyhounds in 2017.

PRECISION PASSING
Through two games, redshirt-junior Jake Purichia leads all NCAA Division II quarterbacks in completion percentage. The local product and former Indiana Mr. Football runner-up is 29 for 36 passing heading into week three, good for a lofty percentage of .806. He also ranks 11th in the nation in passing efficiency (175.9) and has two touchdown passes and zero interceptions to date.

MILESTONE WATCH
A pair of Greyhounds are zeroing in on school records this season. Senior running back Andrew Walker enters the weekend just four rushing touchdowns shy of breaking the UIndy career record of 38 held by Klay Fiechter (2010-13). Meanwhile, senior Tuwan Payton is just 124 yards from surpassing the school's all-time kickoff return yards benchmark of 1,624 (Ryan Forney 2008-11).

HOMELAND SECURITY
Since Head Coach Bob Bartolomeo took over in 2010, the Hounds have amassed an impressive 34-6 (.850) record at Key Stadium. That span includes a 19-1 record versus GLVC competition.