LEBANON, Ill. - Three defensive interception returns for touchdowns by the Truman State Bulldogs helped run their record to 5-0 and pick up their first Great Lakes Valley Conference win on Saturday 56-24 victory over McKendree (Ill.).
Christopher Kerr caught a 25-yard pass from Nolan Hair to open the scoring at the 5:44 mark of the first quarter and on the next McKendree drive Thomas Spaulding stepped in front of a pass and marched in 19-yards to put Truman up quickly 14-0.
The Bearcats closed the gap with two scores in the second quarter to make it 14-10, however the Bulldogs zipped down the field on a six-play, 67-yard drive just before halftime and Jack Butchko punching it from two yards out and Truman State led 21-10.
The third quarter was all Bulldogs. After a blocked punt by Connor Baxley, Tate Crane reeled in a 14-yard pass from Hair at the 10:04 mark. On the ensuing Bearcats possession, Jake Closser picked off the pass and scored from 20-yards out to open up a 35-10 advantage.
Mason Huskey got in the act with another 60-yard touchdown run this season with 40 seconds showing in the third quarter. It was his third score this season, two on the ground and one through the air, of 60 or more yards.
Ryan Olives made career interception number 10 memorable as he took it home from 67 yards out to make it 49-10 in favor of the visiting Bulldogs.
McKendree added a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns before the Bulldogs salted nearly seven minutes off the clock and punched it by Tim Johnson Jr. on a four-yard run for the final score of the game.
The Bulldogs outgained McKendree 390 to 339 and won the ground game 189 to 50.
Hair was 13-of-19 for 201 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Huskey finished with 112 yards on the ground and Zach Zerwig caught five passes for 54 yards.
Yogi Flager Jr. of McKendree made 12 catches for 166 yards and two scores.
Ben Thomas led the defense with nine tackles and three for loss and Connor Baxley blocked a punt on McKendree's first drive to start the second half.
Truman State will turn their attention to the 4-1 (1-0 GLVC) Quincy Hawks to start three straight at Stokes Stadium next Saturday. The high-flying Hawks defeated Southwest Baptist at home 38-33 in their conference opener. Kickoff from Kirksville is scheduled for 1 p.m.
