KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – It was the Truman seniors that made the most of “Senior Day” on Saturday at Stokes Stadium as the Bulldogs shutout Lincoln University (Mo.) 53-0. It was the first shutout by a Bulldog team since 2004 and snapped a four-game losing streak.
Senior Donald Harvey rushed for a career high 143 yards as the Bulldogs gained 396 on the ground, the first time over 300 yards in over 14 years. Harvey and fellow senior Harnish Ayora both went over 1000 career rushing yards with Harvey scoring twice and Ayora rushing 23 times for 111 yards and a touchdown.
The Blue Tigers had their opening drive halted by a chop block and was forced to punt. The Bulldogs took over and Harvey started rolling. He had 30 yards on his first three carries and Conrad Schottel, making his first start, ran for another 17 to move the ball quickly down to the Blue Tiger 29. Schottel then went play-action and hit senior Anthony Brown for a touchdown pass and the early lead.
Lincoln threatened on their next possession as they marched down the Bulldog half yard line. On fourth and goal, quarterback Percy Turner tried to stretch the ball into the endzone for the tie but Kyle Whitcher knocked it loose and recovered behind the goal line for a touchback.
Ayora then turned the field around as he ran the ball 10 times for 62 yards finishing it off with a one-yard plunge a 14-0 Bulldog lead. Schottel also completed a 20-yard pass to Brown during the 13-play, 80-yard drive.
The floodgates then opened as Truman blocked a punt for a safety, Schottel connected with Dallas Grier for a 46-yard touchdown pass and senior Andy Mundwiller for a 26-yard TD before Derek Koon rounded out the first half scoring with a 30-yard field goal. The Bulldogs took a 33-0 lead into the locker room.
Harvey then set up his next touchdown just 22 seconds into the second half with a 33-yard kick return then two rushes for 28 yards and a touchdown. He would go in from seven yards out later in the quarter followed by Garrett White's 25-yard touchdown run to end the scoring with under five minutes left in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs racked up over 600 yards of total offense, scored seven touchdowns and had one field goal in their first eight possessions. Truman was also 8-of-14 on third downs while Schottel went 9-of-12 for 182 yards and three scores.
The game was marred by 31 total flags with 16 called against Lincoln for 120 yards and nine against the Bulldogs another 65.
Truman became the first team this season to shutout the Blue Tigers. With the win, Truman moves to 3-7 on the season and will look to match last year's record with a trip to Southwest Baptist next week to close the season. Kickoff from Bolivar is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
