JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln football team scored points in all three phases of the game on Saturday (Nov. 13), but the Blue Tigers dropped a 41-12 decision to Missouri Western in the 2021 season finale for both teams.

Lincoln celebrated Senior Day prior to Saturday's contest, with a special ceremony held to honor Elliott Albert, Kalon Grover, Desmond Hunter, Piere' Jones, Jordan McCoy and Cyril Spells. 

Albert made one of the biggest plays of the day for LU, intercepting a MWSU pass and returning it 42 yards to bring the Blue Tigers inside Griffon territory. Albert also broke up a pass and made seven tackles. Jones had a tackle, and Hunter earned the start at quarterback, throwing for 64 yards.

Missouri Western (6-5, 6-5 MIAA) struck first, converting a fourth down before running the ball into the end zone from the three-yard line on its opening drive of the contest. After forcing the Blue Tigers to punt, the Griffons began their second drive at their own nine. On the first play of that possession, however, TeAndre Skinner tackled the MWSU quarterback in the end zone for a safety. Skinner finished his day with five total tackles.

Clayton Winkler, who averaged 45.0 yards on kickoffs and 35.2 yards on punts, kicked a 26-yard field goal in the third quarter for Lincoln's next points of the contest. In the fourth quarter, Zamar Brake completed a 24-yard pass to Tori Hicks for a Blue Tiger touchdown after the LU defense had forced the Griffons into a 27-yard loss on fourth down. Brake completed three passes for 36 yards, and Hicks finished with 121 all-purpose yards.

Lincoln (0-10, 0-10 MIAA) was led defensively by Zyan Thomas-King with nine tackles and Jaylon Mosley with eight tackles and an interception. Cody Bagby forced and recovered a fumble on a strip sack, and matched Jahkari Larmond and LaMarr Spencer with four tackles. Larmond had a tackle for loss, while Charles Robertson, Malaefono Ale, Jon Jefferson and Spencer each had 0.5 tackles for loss. Thomas-King, Bagby and Ale were each credited with a quarterback hurry.

Hosea Franklin paced LU offensively with 91 yards on 17 carries, and average of 5.4 yards per attempt. Hicks and Chrisshun Robinson each caught four passes, while Charles Johnson had two receptions for 21 yards.