Football 8/30/2012 10:03:00 PM Kevin White, Truman Athletics

Elliott's Three Picks In Fourth Quarter Preserve 24-14 Victory

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BOLIVAR, Mo. – Senior Michael Elliott returned to the field after a year off and had three interceptions to help the Bulldogs hold on to a 24-14 victory over Southwest Baptist (Mo.) University on Thursday night. Chico Orlando had a 15-yard TD reception and Garrett White scored twice for the Bulldogs.

Truman was stuffed on their first possession of the game on a fourth and short inside the Bearcat 10 but got the ball right back after forcing a quick three and out.

A 19-yard Bearcat punt set the Bulldogs up in great field position and Conrad Schottel found Dallas Grier for an 11-yard reception before hitting the tight end Orlando over the middle for the first touchdown.

Later in the second, Richie Schumacher picked up his second blocked punt of his career and recovered the ball at the Bearcat three. Three plays later, White crossed the line for a 14-0 lead that Truman would take into halftime.

The Bulldogs took the opening possession of the second half and wasted little time as Schottel found White on a screen and the sophomore tailback picked up some down field blocks to scamper 42-yards into the endzone and a 21-0 advantage.

The Bearcats found their offensive mojo after being held in check in the first half. Connors engineered a 12-play, 77-yard drive that resulted in a two-yard TD pass to Derwin Lauderdale to cut the margin to 14.

The teams exchanged three and outs before Connors completed passes of 17 and 22 yards and then called his own number from six yards away to trim the lead to 21-14 with less than a minute left in the third quarter.

Truman went quickly in their next possession and SBU took over to start the fourth quarter with a chance to tie. Elliott grabbed the first of three interceptions in the quarter as he snared a Conners' pass at the Bulldog 48.

The 'Dogs went out quickly but Eric Phillips boomed a 46-yard punt that was downed at the Bearcat two by Dennis Walls.

After having Truman drives stall out inside SBU territory, the Bulldogs finally got some much needed offense when Schottel found Grier for a 40-yard pass midway through the fourth. That pass eventually set up a 37-yard insurance field goal by Derek Koon that would prove to be the final score.

Elliott would wrestle the ball away from a Bearcat receiver on SBU's next possession and would seal the win with his third pick at the two minute mark.

The Bulldog defense was stellar most of the night limiting the Bearcats to 257 yards of total offense. SBU gained 166 yards on their possessions they scored in the second half but did not convert on their first 10 third down conversions and finished 3-of-19 for the game.

Tremaine Millender led the squad with 10 tackles and Patrick Blackwell finished with nine stops including two of the team's five sacks.

Will Mosquera and White led the rushing attack with 79 and 67 yards respectively on 38 carries. Schottel finished 14-of-32 for 221 yards and Grier caught five balls for 68 yards receiving.

Connors was 20-of-45 for 176 yards with Tiras Harris gaining 52 on the ground for the Bearcats.

The Bulldogs have won three straight games dating back to last season and will open the home slate of games next Saturday night when they host Lincoln (Mo.) University at Stokes Stadium at 7:00 p.m.

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