ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Missouri Western forced six turnovers and scored twice on special teams, handing the Lincoln Blue Tigers an 81-20 loss on Saturday night (Oct. 8).
 
Lincoln quarterback Robert Redmond completed 31 of 45 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 54 yards and a score. The Blue Tigers gained over 200 more passing yards than the Griffons, finishing with 317 yards to Missouri Western's 115.
 
The Blue Tigers also recorded 27 first downs to the Griffons' 16, and the total yards were close with Missouri Western holding a slight 478-452 overall edge. The main difference in the game proved to be the takeaways, however, as Lincoln lost two fumbles and had four interceptions on the night. All six turnovers occurred on Lincoln's side of the field, leading to 34 points for the Griffons.
 
Missouri Western opened the scoring early, as Tarrell Downing returned the Blue Tigers' first punt of the night 72 yards for the first score of the game. The Griffons later scored on kickoff and interception returns while relying on a steady ground game that outgained the Blue Tigers, 376-167. Six of Missouri Western's seven offensive scores came on the ground.
 
Lincoln got on the board with 5:47 left in the first half. Trailing 17-0, O'Hara Fluellen intercepted a pass at the Griffons' 12-yard line. Deon Brock later pushed the ball in from the one to cut the lead to 11 after a blocked extra point.
 
The Blue Tigers were unable to get the ball in the end zone again until the fourth quarter, when Redmond engineered an 80-yard drive that culminated with the quarterback rushing two yards for the score.
 
Lincoln also drove the ball 80 yards on its next possession, highlighted by a 22-yard rush by Donald Malone. The drive ended with Redmond tossing a five-yard touchdown pass to Corderious Gregory for the Blue Tigers' final score of the night.
 
Brock paced the Blue Tigers on the ground with 75 yards on 20 carries and the score while Malone added 34 rushing yards. Gregory gained 170 yards on 13 catches, a new Lincoln single game record.
 
The loss drops Lincoln to 1-5 on the season, including 0-5 in the MIAA. Missouri Western improves its overall record to 4-2 and its conference record to 3-2.
 
The Blue Tigers will be back on the road next week, travelling to Pittsburg, Kansas to take on Pittsburg State on Saturday, Oct. 15. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CDT.