DETROIT - The Truman Football team scored 14 points in the wraparound between the first and second half with Jaylen Jefferson scampering 92-yards to return the third quarter kickoff in the Bulldogs 27-9 road win over Wayne (Mich.) State.
It was the eighth straight non-conference victory for the Bulldogs and in each, the defense has surrendered 14 points or fewer.
The "D" set the tone early forcing a three and out on the Warriors first possession of the game and a punt into a stiff wind gave the Bulldogs the ball in WSU territory. Nolan Hair and the offense found their groove in Motown as he connected with Jake Ellis for 15 and Cody Schrader for 11 yards. Schrader caught a second pass to move inside the 10 and on the next snap took it left and found the end zone for his fifth rushing score of the season. The point after was blocked.
The defense again forced a quick possession and Truman took advantage of another short field. Hair found Dante Ruffin for seven on third and six and for 13 on another third and six play. Two snaps later it was Ellis in the end zone making his 22nd career touchdown reception, tying him for the school record with Lloyd Henry and Andrew Blakely making it 13-0 Bulldogs.
Moving to the second quarter, Hair was intercepted by Samari Dean and the Warrior returned the ball down to Truman's 30. The Bulldogs dug in and forced a 20-yard field goal to make it 13-3 with 2:43 left in the half.
Facing the wind, Truman scratched out a pair of first downs, with Jefferson gaining six yards on third and one with a minute left in the half. Two plays later, Tate Crane slipped behind the Wayne defense and went untouched as Hair found him for a 45-yard touchdown reception with 41 seconds left in the half making it 20-3.
The second half fireworks began with the kickoff as Jefferson retreated to the eight and didn't stop until he reached the opposite goal line for his second career kickoff return for a touchdown to make it 27-3.
The Warriors got their only touchdown of the game on a two-yard run with 5:33 left in the third by quarterback Jake AmRhein.
Collin Alves recovered a fumble deep in Wayne territory late in the third but the Bulldogs went backwards with Josh Scheiderer missing for 38-yards out.
The Warriors engineered their longest drive of the game following the missed field goal but after 14 plays they ended a yard short as Truman stuffed two goal line attempts to turn the Warriors over on downs at the one.
Ryan Olivas and Ben Thomas led the Truman defense that forced three turnovers and registered two quarterback sacks on the afternoon.
Hair was 14-of-27 for 148 yards and two touchdowns while Schrader carried the ball 23 times for 80 yards.
The win moved Gregg Nesbitt into sole possession of second on the Bulldog all-time wins list with 63 and Truman will look to extend their non-conference winning streak to nine when they host Hillsdale (Mich.) next Saturday at noon in Kirksville.
