Tibbs Tallies 158 Receiving Yards as LU Falls to Truman

KIRKSVILLE, Missouri  --  Blake Tibbs racked up 158 yards on four receptions and the Lincoln football team scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns, but the Blue Tigers fell to Truman State, 20-13, on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 13).

Trailing 20-0 entering the final period, Lincoln (2-5, 1-3 GLVC) scored on its final two possessions to make it a one-score ballgame. Tibbs had three receptions over the final 15 minutes, with the first being a 77-yard reception for LU's first touchdown of the afternoon. The Blue Tigers opted to go for two, but a pass attempt ended up being incomplete.

Truman State (4-3, 3-0 GLVC) entered the game riding a three-game win streak, but the Blue Tigers held the Bulldogs to their lowest point total since their last loss on Sept. 15. Lincoln limited Truman State to just 12 completed passes for 71 yards and held the offense to just two touchdowns and four field goal attempts, two of which ended up being no good. Lincoln also recorded six tackles for loss, broke up four passes and had four quarterback hurries.

The LU defense got a critical third-down stop on Truman State's next drive after the LU touchdown, and the Blue Tigers got the ball back at their two-yard line. Henry Ogala connected with Tibbs on a 41-yard completion, then later found him again for a 35-yard pass down to the Truman State two-yard-line. Three plays later, Ezekiel Lang caught a fade pass in the end zone for the final score of the afternoon.

BOX SCORE

Ogala finished 11-for-12 for 201 yards and two touchdowns, and Kimbo Ferguson led the ground attack with 33 rushing yards. Fernano Ramirez averaged 40.7 yards on kickoffs with a touchback, and Wolky Belancourt averaged 36.9 yards on punts with a long of 49 and two that pinned the Bulldogs inside their own 20.

Defensively, Amani Nelson led LU with 12 tackles, a break up and a hurry. Hasan Muhammad-Rogers and Saint Durassaint each provided 10 tackles, and Victor Williams and Joseph Madrigal were next with nine apiece. Chavon Gross had 1.5 tackles for loss and broke up a pass.

The Blue Tigers will remain on the road next Saturday (Oct. 20), traveling to Liberty, Mo. to play William Jewell at 12:00 p.m. CT.

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS