JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Tori Hicks rushed for 170 yards and finished with over 230 all-purpose yards, but the Lincoln football team fell to Central Missouri, 77-35, on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 30).

Hicks scored a pair of rushing touchdowns while Zamar Brake threw two touchdown passes and ran for another. Winston Ausmer led LU's receivers with four receptions for 74 yards and a score.

Central Missouri (3-6, 3-6 MIAA) took advantage of a big first half, as UCM led by 14 after the first quarter and shut the Blue Tigers out in the second. LU's defense stiffened up in the second half, though, as Lincoln (0-8, 0-8 MIAA) allowed just two touchdowns during the final 30 minutes. The Blue Tigers out-scored the Mules, 21-14, during the last two quarters.

The Blue Tigers rushed for 234 yards on 57 attempts, an average of 4.1 yards per carry. Lincoln defensively limited the Mules to 124 yards on the ground, but Central Missouri ended up throwing for 419 yards for the game. Brandon Mackey added 34 yards on 12 carries, and Brake rushed for 26 yards, while Hicks averaged 5.7 yards per run. 

Central Missouri jumped out to an early 14-0 lead, but Lincoln cut its deficit in half on Hicks' 17-yard scoring run with 5:55 remaining in the first quarter. Brake completed passes of 10 yards and 13 yards to Samuel Ingoli and Ausmer, respectively, before connecting with Charles Johnson on a 35-yard pass to set up the score.

The Mules ended up scoring on each of their next two drives, but Lincoln got back on the board on the final play of the quarter as Brake ran the ball in from two yards out on fourth down to pull LU to within 28-14. UCM had tried an onside kick, but Cody Bagby scooped the ball up and brought it down to the UCM eight-yard line to put LU in prime position to score.

Ausmer hauled in a 45-yard pass from Brake midway through the third quarter for Lincoln's next touchdown, and the Blue Tigers got on the board twice in the fourth quarter. On the first scoring drive, Hicks, Brake and Mackey combined for 54 rushing yards, with Hicks racing 20 yards into the end zone to cap off the series. On Lincoln's next possession, Ealy caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Brake after Mackey brought LU into Central Missouri's side of the field on a 26-yard run.

Bagby had 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack to go with five tackles, and Elliott Albert made eight takedowns to go with an interception and a broken-up pass. TeAndre Skinner also had eight tackles, and Jaylon Mosley had a hurry to go with seven tackles. Zyan Thomas-King, who recorded six tackles, and Charles Robertson, who was next with five, each notched a tackle for loss. Malaefono Ale provided a sack, Terrion Williams broke up a pass, and Zori Dotson was responsible for three tackles.

Clayton Winkler made all five of his extra point attempts and averaged 45.5 yards on kickoffs and 30.7 yards on punts. Hicks returned four kickoffs for 78 yards, and Ausmer added 41 combined yards on punt and kick returns.

Lincoln plays its final road game of 2021 next week, with the Blue Tigers traveling to Emporia, Kan. to play Emporia State at 1:00 p.m. CT.