Lincoln Blue Tigers Fall in Defensive Tussle

QUINCY, Illinois -- In a game controlled by defense and special teams, Quincy edged the Lincoln football team, 7-3, on Saturday night (Sept. 16).

Lincoln (1-2, 0-1 GLVC) held Quincy (2-1, 1-0 GLVC) to just 55 yards through the air, but 48 came on the decisive touchdown pass in the third quarter. The Hawks also rushed for 134 yards, but averaged 3.6 yards per play while the Blue Tigers averaged 4.4.

The Blue Tigers got on the board with 1:35 remaining in the first quarter, as Wolky Belancourt hit a 45-yard field goal to give LU the early lead. Eriq Torrey hauled in a 22-yard pass from Henry Ogala to begin the drive, and Miles Drummond had 16 rushing yards to set up the early score.

Near the end of the third quarter, Lincoln nearly re-took the lead. Ogala found Harold Lacy for a 20-yard gain, then later found him again on a 31-yard pass that ended in Lacy being tackled just outside the end zone. On the next play, however, the Blue Tigers fumbled while running into the end zone, and Quincy recovered for a touchback.

Lacy and A'Jani Johnson led Lincoln with 53 receiving yards apiece, with Lacy averaging 13.3 yards per catch and Johnson finishing with a team-high eight receptions. Blake Tibbs caught five passes for 49 yards while Justin Korakakos made two grabs for 19 yards. Lacy also gained 49 yards on 16 carries, and Drummond finished with 34 rushing yards.

Ogala completed 15 passes for 166 yards, and Eugene Sainterling went 5-for-8 for 30 yards. On special teams, Wolky Belancourt averaged 60.0 yards on kickoffs and 34.6 yard on punts while Tibbs averaged 21 yard on kick returns.

Aaron Brown had nine tackles to lead the Lincoln defense, followed by Willard Cotton with eight and Taj Moore and Addison Tucker with five apiece. Isaiah Gray made a pair of tackles for loss, and he and Jervonta Jones each were credited with a sack. Moore and Antonio Watts broke up passes, and Julius Jackson had a quarterback hurry.

Lincoln will be back in Jefferson City next Saturday (Sept. 23) to host Truman State at 2:00 p.m. CDT. In addition to be LU's annual Homecoming game, it will also be the Blue Tigers' Blue Out game, as fans are encouraged to arrive decked out in their favorite blue Lincoln gear.

BOX SCORE

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS