FAYETTE, Iowa – Truman State football took the lead early in the fourth quarter and held off Upper Iowa late to win its first conference game of the season, 26-23.
The Peacocks got things rolling midway through the first quarter after trading punts with Truman State on the opening three drives. Upper Iowa's first touchdown of the night – a 14-yard strike from Darryl Overstreet Jr. to Mante Morrow – finished a 5 play, 76-yard drive taking 2:37 off the clock. The Bulldogs answered right back with a 4-yard scamper from
Denim Cook but a missed extra point attempt set the score at 7-6, Upper Iowa, after one quarter.
The Peacocks extended their lead to 10-6 with 8:10 to play in the second on a 25-yard field goal, but Truman State took less than 90 seconds to go 53 yards on three plays to claim the lead for the first time on a 34-yard Jack Overton touchdown reception from
Dylan Hair.
Vinnie Calvaruso split the uprights on a 25-yard Bulldog field goal to give the Purple and White a 16-10 lead at half.
After trading punts on drives to open the third, Upper Iowa started a scoring drive at its own 45 that culminated in a 7-yard touchdown pass with 5:06 to play. The 17-16 Peacock lead would be the last of the evening as Truman State, starting from its own 35, drove 61 yards across 10 plays capped with a 21-yard Calvaruso field goal seconds into the fourth to give the Bulldogs a 19-17 lead they would never relinquish.
Joseph Spaulding reeled in a 25-yard strike from Hair to widen the 'Dog lead to 26-17 lead and 8:21 left to play. Following a UIU three-and-out, the Bulldogs started a 26-yard drive resulting in a punt but one which took 4:45 off the clock to leave the Peacocks down nine at their own 32 with 2:11 to play. Their final drive of the evening, a 68 yard, 10-play consuming 1:19 of the clock, brought UIU within one score on a 40-yard pass, but Truman State's
Jake Closser blocked the PAT with the 'Dogs recovering the onside kick at the UIU 48 and only 51 seconds to play. Two kneel downs by Hair sealed the victory for Truman State.
The Bulldogs racked up 384 yards total offense with Hair completing 13 of 20 passes and two scores while adding 60 yards on 12 carries rushing. Cook gained a season-high 157 yards on the ground on 21 attempts and one score with three receptions for 11 yards through the air. The Bulldog defense got tough on third down, holding UIU to 2 of 12 conversions, but the Peacocks made up for it finishing the night 4-5 on fourth down.
UIU falls to 2-1 in GLVC action, 3-3 overall, while Truman State evens its conference record at 1-1 and a 2-3 overall mark.
Next week Truman State welcomes Missouri S&T to Stokes Stadium at 6 p.m. for the lone home night game of the season.
