Big First Half Pushes #22 UIndy Past Lincoln (Mo.)

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGER ATHLETICS

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- Indianapolis took advantage of a quick start and a big first half to hand the Lincoln football team its first conference loss of the season on Saturday night (Sept. 29). Indianapolis, ranked No. 22 in the American Football Coaches Association's Division II poll, beat the Blue Tigers, 41-17.

Indianapolis (3-1, 2-0 GLVC) opened the game by returning the kickoff 99 yards for a score, and tallied 31 first-half points to enter halftime with a 31-7 lead. Lincoln (2-3, 1-1 GLVC) scored just before halftime on a seven-yard reception by Ezekiel Lang, set up by a 30-yard catch by Blake Tibbs. Tibbs led LU with 95 receiving yards on eight grabs.

Lincoln tightened up defensively in the second half, giving up just 10 points, and ended the game with 23 first downs compared to 22 for the Greyhounds. The defense held Indianapolis to just 3-for-9 on third down conversions, while Lincoln finished 7-for-15 in that stat, and the Blue Tigers were also successful on both of their fourth down attempts.

BOX SCORE

Kimbo Ferguson had a big night in the ground game, leading all rushers with 127 yards on 20 carries for a 6.4 average. Henry Ogala gained 32 yards on the ground and completed 15 passes for 168 yards and the score. The duo combined for 41 rushing yards on LU's first drive of the second half, which was capped off by a one-yard touchdown dive by Terry Hunter.

Edwin Durassaint and Victor Williams led Lincoln defensively with seven tackles apiece, and Isaiah Gray made two tackles for loss while Steve Henderson added five takedowns and broke up a pass. JaJuan Chambers provided six tackles, and Amani Nelson, Chavon Gross and Joseph Madrigal each recorded four tackles.

Fernando Ramirez closed out the scoring for LU with a 32-yard field goal, and averaged 43.0 yards on kickoffs. Wolky Belancourt, meanwhile, averaged 39.8 yards on four punts, with one pinning Indianapolis inside the 20.

The Blue Tigers return home next Saturday (Oct. 6) to celebrate Homecoming by hosting Quincy in a 2:00 p.m. CST showdown.

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