Box Score

Oct. 16, 2010

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The Truman Football team used big plays on both sides of the ball to prevail 23-6 in the 2010 Homecoming game against the Missouri Southern State University Lions.  Junior defensive back Michael Elliott had two forced fumbles, a sack, two interceptions, including a pick six to lift the 'Dogs to their first conference win.

Elliott and Adam Reynolds got Truman's momentum going early with a big stop on fourth and one from the Bulldogs' 25 yard line in the games first possession. 

The Bulldogs then took to the air as quarterback Phillip Davis completed his first six passes and marched down to the Lions' 11.  His seventh pass fell incomplete on third down and Derek Koon gave the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead with a 28-yard field goal.

The defense shined again in the next Southern possession as Richie Schumacher got a big sack on third and one to force the Lions out of field goal range. 

Elliott picked off his first pass of the day in the second quarter as the Lions struggled holding on to the football.  Southern ended the day with seven turnovers (three interceptions and four fumbles lost).

Truman took a 6-0 lead into the locker room as Koon hit from a career-best 41 yards out with 49 seconds left in the half.

Koon capped off an 11-play 62-yard drive with a 27-yard field goal late in the third quarter to give the Bulldogs a 9-0 advantage.

Southern quarterback Roland Thompson, who replaced Collin Howard at half, completed a pass to Cornell Gedward.  Elliott poked the ball free from Gedward at Truman's 30 and Tremaine Millender recovered for the Bulldogs.

Davis then hooked up with Dallas Grier for a 66-yard pass play down to the Lions three to set up Harnish Ayora's one-yard plunge and a 16-0 Bulldog lead.  Davis to Grier was the longest pass play of the season.

A bad snap gave the Lions the ball at Truman's nine yard line but Terrence Byrd picked off Thompson in the endzone to keep Southern scoreless.

The Lions would get on the scoreboard at the 3:50 mark of the fourth quarter when Thompson found Kellen Cox for a 30-yard catch and run but failed on the needed two-point conversion.

Elliott capped off the scoring by picking off Thompson and going in for the pick six from 21-yards out with 44 seconds showing.

Davis finished with 189 yards through the air on 12 completions out of 16 attempts while also running for 36 yards on just seven carries.  Ayora was the workhorse for the 'Dogs as he carried the ball 24 times for 42 yards.

Thompson threw for 165 after relieving Howard at half.  Howard was eight of 16 for 76 yards and one interception.

The Bulldogs will face Emporia State next Saturday at 2:20 p.m.  The game is part of the MIAA Television Package and will be seen in major mid and western Missouri markets on various cable and dish channels.  The Hornets were tied with #6 Northwest Missouri 28-28 before falling 42-28 in Maryville on Saturday.

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