LIBERTY, Mo. - The Lincoln football team scored a late touchdown to send the game into halftime tied, but a big third quarter allowed William Jewell to get by the Blue Tigers, 48-17, on Saturday (Nov. 5).

The Cardinals scored on their first drive of the afternoon, punching the ball in from the one-yard line to score on fourth-and-goal. The Blue Tigers tied the game with a big special teams play later in the quarter, as Anthony Price recovered a fumble on a William Jewell punt return in the end zone for a touchdown.

After ending the first quarter with a 7-7 tie, Lincoln (1-9, 0-7 GLVC) struck first in the second period. Bryson Winfrey rushed for 15 yards and completed a six-yard pass to Delvon Rouser to move LU into field goal range, and Alex Templeton's kick from 49-yards out split the uprights to give the Blue Tigers a 10-7 advantage.

William Jewell (1-9, 1-7 GLVC) answered with a 42-yard field goal of its own on the ensuing possession, then later scored on a 15-yard run to take a 17-10 lead. Late in the second quarter, however, Willard Cotton intercepted a WJC pass and ran it back 47 yards to the 28. A sideline interference penalty gave Lincoln first down at the 14, and on the first play of the drive, Winfrey found Darius Hicks in the back corner of the end zone to send the contest into halftime with the score tied, 17-17.

The second half was a different story, however, as Lincoln's first three drives of the half ended with two fumbles and an interception, leading to 17 quick points for the Cardinals. William Jewell also scored a touchdown on its fourth drive of the half, and another in the fourth quarter to pull out the victory.

Reko Lysius led the Blue Tigers with 39 rushing yards while Winfrey was next with 29. Templeton averaged 41 yards on punts with a long of 55 and 65 yards on kickoffs with three touchbacks. Hicks provided 71 yards on punt and kick returns.

Cotton led LU defensively with seven tackles while Jeff Jones added six and Addison Tucker and Noah Johnson each made five. Jones, Tucker, Johnson, Maurice Simmons, Rashon Riddles and Anthony Mitchell each had tackles for loss, with Mitchell also recording a sack. Lawrence Hogue recovered a fumble and broke up a pass.

Lincoln will close out its 2016 campaign at home next Saturday (Nov. 12) as the Blue Tigers host Southwest Baptist at 1:00 p.m. CST.