KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The Lindenwood Lions scored 31 straight points after the Truman Bulldogs took an early 14-0 lead and went on to upend #18 Truman 31-21 on Saturday night.
Truman took the opening kickoff and marched down the field in eight plays and 69 yards with Nolan Hair finding Jacob Morris in the endzone for the early 7-0 lead.
The Bulldogs struck again on the final play of the first quarter when Cody Schrader capped off an 11-play 81-yard drive to make it 14-0.
Robert Giaimo scored the first of his three touchdowns with 6:32 left to play in the half to cut the lead in half.
Disaster struck late in the quarter.
At midfield, Truman tried some ‘razzle dazzle’ with a double reverse play but on the second hand off between Jaylen Jefferson and Matt Hall, the ball popped free and was recovered by the Lions in Truman territory.
Lindenwood took advantage and Giaimo scored on another one-yard touchdown plunge.
On Truman’s next drive, Kai Ross intercepted Hair’s pass at the Lions’ 46 yardline and they were able to move into field goal range with Logan Seibert hitting from 36-yards to close the half with Lindenwood on top 17-14.
Glen Gibbons reeled in a 33-yard pass from Cade Brister midway through the third to go up 24-14 and Giaimo scored on a 22-yard run early in the fourth to put Lindenwood up 31-14.
Matt Hall caught a 17-yard pass from Hair with 7:06 to play but Lindenwood salted the clock for nearly five plus minutes before turning the ball over on downs at the Bulldog three with 1:22 left to play.
Schrader rushed for 132 yards on 25 carries while Hair was 20-of-28 for 201 yards and two scores. Schrader caught five passes for 60 yards as well.
Giaimo finished with 108 yards on 21 attempts and Brister completed 25-of-32 for 291 with Payton Rose catching seven balls for 95 yards. Lindenwood racked up 445 yards of offense.
Three tacklers had over 10 stops for Truman led by 13 from Ben Thomas, 12 from Isaiah Estes and 10 from Ben Watson.
Truman falls to 4-1 on the season and 0-1 in the GLVC. They will be at Missouri S&T (2-3/0-1 GLVC) next Saturday in Rolla, Missouri. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.