KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The Truman State Football team matched their longest winning streak in 28 years and set up a Great Lakes Valley Conference title game with nemesis Indianapolis next Saturday with a 52-7 beat down of McKendree (Ill.) University.
 
The #21 Bulldogs (8-1/5-0 GLVC) rushed for a season high 435 yards, 331 coming in the first half, and held the league's top total and passing offense to only 224 yards overall and 192 through the air.
 
Shamar Griffith set the tone on Truman's first snap from scrimmage as he blasted off into space for a 67-yard touchdown run to put the Bulldogs up 7-0.
 
An interception by Isaiah Estes on McKendree's next possession set up Nolan Hair for a nine-yard scramble into the endzone and just under five minutes into the game, Truman was leading 14-0.
 
Griffith hit pay dirt again on his third carry of the game as he raced in from 37 yards out at the 8:44 mark of the first quarter. He had 107 yards on his first three runs of the game.
 
Grant Ross converted a 26-yard field goal later in the quarter and Collin Sutton broke off a 36-yard touchdown run early in the second for a 31-0 lead.
 
The Bulldogs would score two more touchdowns before half with Matt Hall catching a four-yard pass from Hair and Griffith scoring on a two-yard run. On the seven first half possessions, Truman scored in each.
 
Truman held a 331-54 advantage in yards after the first 30 minutes while the Bearcats were 0-of-7 on third downs and the Bulldogs 5-of-6.
 
Tim Johnson Jr. capped off a nine-play 65-yard drive in the fourth quarter with a 22-yard run with senior Jared Venner knocking in his first career extra point.
 
McKendree broke the shutout with 30 seconds left to play on a fourth down pass of two yards from Turner Pullen to Jacob Bachman.
 
It was the fifth straight win over McKendree and fourth scoring over 40 points against the Bearcats.
 
Griffith recorded his third straight 100-yard rushing day finishing with 165 yards on 15 attempts and three scores. Estes led the defense with seven tackles, 2.5 for loss and the interception.
 
The last eight game winning streak for the Bulldogs occurred during the 1994 season.
 
With Truman's win and Indianapolis' 48-14 victory over William Jewell, the two teams will play for the GLVC Championship next Saturday in Indianapolis. Both teams are 8-1 overall and 5-0 in conference play. Kickoff from Key Stadium is slated for 2 p.m. eastern time.