The Kirksville Tiger defense has turned “bend but don’t break” into a fine art this season. The Tigers forced Mexico to turn the ball over on downs five times and held off the Bulldogs 28-14 on Homecoming night. It was an absolutely crazy game with wild swings of emotion, from ecstatic highs to crushing lows. The Tigers overcame a slow second half offense with a 10 play, 66 yard drive which consumed 4:43 of the fourth quarter, locking down the win with Isaac Danielson’s 5 yard touchdown run with 3:20 to play, giving the Tigers a two-score lead. The drive was helped by two 15 yard penalties by Mexico, one was a defensive pass interference call, and the second was an unsportsmanlike conduct call which put the ball deep in Bulldog territory. The scoring drive was put together after the Bulldogs were forced to turn over the ball on downs for the fourth time. The fifth time it happened effectively ended the game. KHS never trailed. They took the opening kickoff and cashed in on a 31 yard catch and run by our Shelter Insurance Player Of The Game, Randon Baumgartner with 9:41 to play in the first quarter. After Mexico turned the ball over on downs for the second time of the game, Baumgartner scored on a 70 yard catch and run which gave the Tigers a 13-0 lead midway through the 2nd period. KHS managed the clock masterfully right before halftime with an 11 play, 82 yard drive, ending with a Drew Chrisman 27 yard touchdown catch on 4th down and 10 with 1:16 to play. That gave the Tigers a 21-7 lead at the break. KHS had 415 yards of total offense for the game. Baumgartner finished with 8 catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Isaac Danielson completed 18 of 26 passes for 317 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, one of which was returned 105 yards for a Bulldog touchdown in the second quarter. Mexico collected 330 total yards, including 295 rushing yards. Kirksville climbs to 4-3 on the year, 3-1 in the NCMC. Next, it’s a trip to Fulton next Friday. The Hornets lost to previously winless Marshall Friday 30-7.