JEFFERSON CITY, MO. – The Lincoln University football team battled on senior day, but couldn’t come through with enough plays, falling at home to Kentucky Wesleyan, 21-6, Saturday afternoon at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Great Lakes Football Conference action.
KWC (2-8, 2-1 GLFC) came out ready to go after stopping the Blue Tigers’ on downs at midfield, the Panther offense marched it down the field on just seven plays, finding the end zone on a nine-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Vincent Lalonde to Damarcus Ganaway to make it a 7-0 advantage just six minutes into the contest.
After the teams’ traded possessions, the Panther offense again went to work, once again starting out near midfield. A big third-and-11 pass play for 12 yards help keep the drive alive that was eventually finished off by Lalonde’s one-yard quarterback keeper to expand the lead to 14-0 late in the first quarter.
Then Lincoln (0-10, 0-4 GLFC) finally got the offense on the track on their next drive, beginning at their own 23, the Blue Tigers used several Alex Campbell rushes to get down inside the red zone. With the ball inside the KWC 20, Chris Willis broke free on a big third-and-four to scamper 14 yards to set up a first-and-goal at the six. After failing to get into the end zone on the first two tries, on third-and-goal, Willis broke free around the left side of the line to get into the end zone from seven yards out to cut the lead to eight after Lincoln failed to convert on a two-point try.
The teams would battle into halftime with the score still 14-6 and the Panthers would open the second half strong.
KWC opened the second half at their own 36 and chewed up over five minutes off the clock capping the drive with a Tyler Curran two-yard run, and after the extra point, the Panthers were in control up 21-6 five minutes into the third quarter.
The Blue Tigers would keep the game interesting in the fourth quarter, driving down inside the Panthers’ 20 twice, but an interception in the end zone denied Lincoln and later, the Blue Tigers marched back into the red zone, but a holding penalty turned away a touchdown and the drive later ended on another interception in the end zone to help preserve the win for the Panthers.
Lincoln outgained KWC, 292-238 total yards, but turned the ball over four times to the Panthers’ one. Campbell had a big game out of the backfield for the Blue Tigers, as he led all runners rushing for 89 yards on 17 carries. Willis added 71 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown. Panthers’ quarterback Lalonde did it both on the ground and through the air, leading KWC in rushing with 74 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown, while also throwing for 64 yards and a touchdown.
The Blue Tigers will conclude the 2009 season on the road next Saturday, November 14 when they will play at Mississippi Valley State with kickoff set for 3 p.m. CT.
Box Score (Final)
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
----------------- -- -- -- -- -----
Kentucky Wesleyan... 14 0 7 0 - 21 Record: (2-8,2-1)
Lincoln University.. 0 6 0 0 - 6 Record: (0-10,0-4)
Scoring Summary:
1st 08:45 KWC - Ganaway,D. 9 yd pass from Lalonde,Vincent (Fangman,Richard kick), 7-53 2:52, KWC 7 - LU 0
00:56 KWC - Lalonde,Vincent 1 yd run (Fangman,Richard kick), 8-51 2:26, KWC 14 - LU 0
2nd 09:32 LU - Willis, C. 7 yd run (Goffigan, J. pass failed), 12-77 6:17, KWC 14 - LU 6
3rd 09:22 KWC - Curran,Tyler 2 yd run (Fangman,Richard kick), 12-64 5:33, KWC 21 - LU 6