The Missouri Southern Lions got a glimpse of a former, and in 2011, a future MIAA opponent in Lincoln University Saturday afternoon.
If Saturday’s results are any indication, the Lions might enjoy the this match up.
Missouri Southern dominated the Blue Tigers of Lincoln, winning 38-7 at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.
Dating back to 1974, it was the fifth straight win for MSSU over Lincoln.
Junior quarterback Collin Howard sparked a Lions offensive attack that saw the team score in five of their first six possessions and when the starters left early in the third quarter, the team was up 31-0.
Howard passed for 231 yards and a touchdown, while running for a 4-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
The Lions racked up 578 yards in total offense in win last week’s against Minnesota State-Moorhead. This week, the Lions finished with 429 yards, giving the Lions 1,007 in two games.
MSSU (2-0) punted on their first possession, but after that, the offense came alive and surged ahead of the Blue Tigers. Lincoln’s first drive of the game was a good one until they got to the MSSU red zone and fumbled at the 21-yard line. Desmond Horsley, a sophomore from Atlanta, Texas, recovered it for the Lions.
Turning the ball over to the offense, Steven Sumpter, a redshirt freshmen from Edmond, Okla., had a 22-yard gain in the drive and later scored on a 1-yard run. Dallas Herndon’s point after attempt made it 7-0.
The Lions scored all three times they had the ball in the second quarter and expanded its lead to 24-0 by halftime. With the ball back early in the third quarter, MSSU needed only three plays to get on the board. The Webb City connection of Howard and Landon Zerkel capped a three-play drive with a 42-yard touchdown pass.
Leading 14-0, the Lions defense held Lincoln to a three-and-out and another punt. Then, the offense put up more points. Howard, a junior, connected with Ne’Ronte Threat for a 19-yard gain and then a 25-yard gain to Anthon Aiono set the Lions up for a 1st-and-goal. Then, Howard took the snap and scored on a 4-yard run.
The Lions got a 45-yard field goal from Herndon, a sophomore from Harrisonville, to take a 24-0 lead at halftime.
Lincoln (0-1) opened the second half with a new quarterback, Maurice Woodard, who took the snap and scrambled 70 yards. A tackle by Maurlon Bembry at the 3-yard line prevented the touchdown.
Then, the Lions defense really stepped up, holding the Blue Tigers out of the end zone, stopping them on 4th-and-1 from the 1-yard line, when Nick Teer and Skyler Vandiver stopped Woodard at the 2-yard line.
