Lincoln Blue Tigers Fall in Senior Day Shootout

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri -- The two teams combined for 82 points and 878 yards, but McKendree got the better of the Lincoln football team in the season finale for both programs on Saturday (Nov. 10). Lincoln fell, 50-32, in its final game as a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

It was Senior Day for the Blue Tigers, and Saint Durassaint celebrated in style, scoring on a 49-yard interception return that helped pull the Blue Tigers to within three halfway through the third quarter. Kimbo Ferguson ran the ball in for a two-point conversion that made it a 27-24 ballgame in favor of the Bearcats, but McKendree scored 23 of the game's next 31 points to secure the victory.

McKendree (6-5, 4-3 GLVC) returned the opening kickoff for a score and later converted a fumble recovery into a field goal, but Lincoln (3-8, 2-5 GLVC) closed the gap down to three when Ferguson scored on a one-yard run. Ferguson averaged 5.8 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns while gaining 157 yards on the ground.

After McKendree built a 27-7 lead, Lincoln got some momentum heading into halftime when Fernando Ramirez made a 25-yard field goal to pull LU to within 17. The Blue Tigers then scored the first two touchdowns of the second half, with Ferguson scoring on a four-yard run before Durassaint's pick-six pulled LU to within 27-24.

The Bearcats answered with a pair of touchdown drives, but the Blue Tigers got back on the board for the final time on a five-yard run from Ferguson. Henry Ogala, who completed 11 passes for 144 yards and rushed for 58 yards, ran the ball for a two-point conversion that made the score 41-32. That was as close as LU would come to completing the comeback, however, as the Bearcats forced a safety and got another touchdown to end the contest.

BOX SCORE
ATTENDANCE: 1783

Tylan Oglesby also broke up a pass and recorded an interception, and Garen McKinney blocked a McKendree field goal attempt. Antonio Watts, meanwhile, registered six tackles, and Steve Henderson broke up a pass.

A'Jani Johnson finished with 78 all-purpose yards and Muhammad-Rogers had 62 kick return yards while Wolky Belancourt averaged 39.3 yards punting with a long of 49. Ramirez averaged 46.8 yards on kickoffs.

With Saturday being Senior Day, Lincoln honored Belancourt, Jamal Brown, Lorenzo Davis, Dieujuste, Durassaint, Karl Evans, Jr., Isaiah Gray, Joseph Madrigal, Nelson, Elijah Oglesby, Blake Tibbs, Franklyn Richardson, Williams and Brenton Wrigley in a halftime ceremony. It was also Heroes Weekend as the Blue Tigers honored police and highway patrol officers, EMT personnel, firefighters and active and veteran members of the military for their service.

Lincoln football will return to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association starting in 2019.

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