WILBERFORCE, OH. – The Lincoln University football team marched on their opening drive, but Central State came through when they needed to stopping the drive and eventually wearing out the Blue Tigers, taking the 22-0 Great Lakes Football Conference victory over Lincoln Saturday afternoon.
Lincoln (0-8, 0-2 GLFC) as they have for most of the season, took a very long drive on their first possession deep into Marauders territory.
A big pass from junior quarterback Allan McClain to junior running back Chris Willis went for 42 yards to help keep the opening drive moving on what was a third-and-15 from the Lincoln 45. Once the Blue Tigers got inside the Marauders’ 10, moving the ball became extremely tough.
Freshman running back Andre Young rushed twice, but was pushed back to the five and after TJ Stewart was stuffed on third down, the Blue Tigers attempted a 25-yard field goal that was blocked and denied Lincoln on a drive that lasted 11 plays and over eight minutes (8:34).
After the Blue Tigers’ strong opening drive, both teams struggled to get anything going the rest of the first half.
Central State (1-6, 1-1 GLFC) moved the ball several times into Lincoln territory, but the Blue Tiger defense made many stops to keep the game scoreless.
The tie was finally broken near the end of the second quarter, with Lincoln backed up deep in their own 20, the Blue Tigers were forced to punt, but the punt was blocked and AJ Simeon had to just kick the ball out of the end zone to prevent a touchdown allowing the safety and a 2-0 Central State lead.
Just like how Lincoln opened the game with a long drive, Central State would do the same to open the second half. The Marauders began the drive at their own 37 and behind the arm of quarterback Jeff Brooks, moved the ball on three pass plays near the Blue Tiger 20. Following a holding penalty, running back Joshua Anderson broke free, rumbling in from 30 yards out to score the first touchdown of the game and following the extra point, expanding the Central State lead to 9-0 early in the third quarter.
It would remain 9-0 into the fourth quarter when the Marauders were able to mount an impressive drive to seal the victory.
Central State marched the ball 73 yards on 15 plays, chewing up over nine minutes off the clock and capping the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run from Anderson to make it 15-0 with fewer than eight minutes to go in the game.
A fumble by McClain on a sack in the end zone that was recovered by the Marauders a few minutes later provided the final scoring on the afternoon.
For the second straight game, the Blue Tigers had more passing yards (108), than rushing (63). The Lincoln defense held Central State to 273 yards of total offense and forced five turnovers, while Lincoln turned the ball over just two times.
Freshman O’Hara Fluellen recorded all three interceptions for the Blue Tigers, including two that were recorded on almost successive plays near the end of the first half helping to keep Lincoln down by just two at halftime. With the three interceptions today, Fluellen now has six on the season.
McClain passed for 108 yards, while also leading the team in rushing with 32. Simeon also saw some action on the ground, gaining 22 yards on seven carries. Young, who entered the game leading the team in rushing, was held to just 11 yards on six attempts. Josh Goffigan, after playing quarterback the past several games, has settled back in at receiver, leading the team again this week, recording four receptions for 59 yards.
The Blue Tigers will look to rest up during their bye week this coming week before playing another GLFC game on the road at Missouri S&T on Saturday, October 31 with kickoff set for 1 p.m. in Rolla.