HOMECOMING FOR BLUE TIGERS
The 2006 edition of football Homecoming is a battle of cats between the Lincoln University Blue Tigers (1-5 overall, 1-1 Great Lakes Football Conference) and the Pumas of St. Joseph’s (Ind.) College (4-2, 1-0) at 2:00 p.m. on Oct. 14 in Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
The Pumas travel to Jefferson City after winning their Homecoming over NCAA Division I-AA Valparaiso 43-14. The 43 points scored by the Pumas was their largest point production of the season. The Blue Tigers have not played since a 52-10 defeat on the road at the hands of Millsaps College (Jackson, Miss.), Sept. 30.
The Pumas rank No. 3 in NCAA DII in passing offense at 286.8 yards-per-game. St. Joseph’s is No. 27 in total offense (376.8 yards-per-game) and No. 42 in scoring offense (27.2 points-per-game). Anthony Lindsey (jr., QB) delivers the ball for the pass now, run later offense employed by St. Joseph’s. In the victory over Valparaiso, Lindsey became the Pumas all-time record holder for completions (596) and passing yards (6913). He is currently No. 8 in NCAA DII in total offense (271.3 ypg) and No. 15 in passing efficiency (152.2). Catching the bulk of the passes for the Pumas is Dan Paulsen (jr., WR). Paulsen became St. Joseph’s pass reception leader (134) upon completion of the Valparaiso game. He is No. 4 in NCAA DII with 7.3 receptions-per-game and averages 106.3 receiving ypg.
A host of Blue Tigers will try and slow down the Pumas offense. Prime candidates who will play key roles in order to hamper the Pumas offensive efforts are Derrick Manning, Anthony Allen, Clourse Hardy and Chigbogu Anunoby.
While the Blue Tigers are trying to avoid a fourth shutout of the 2006 season, the Pumas want to post their first shutout of an NCAA DII team in 2006. The Pumas opened the 2006 campaign with a 37-0 triumph over University of St. Francis (Ill.) an NAIA school.
The Pumas defense is impressive as Rob Perricone, Fred Blanton, Ethan Tyler and Deqwan Young along with a cast of others have forced opponents to focus on more than St. Joseph’s offensive exploits. As a unit the defense of the Pumas is No. 34 in total defense allowing opponents only 261.5 ypg. The most total yards gained by Lincoln University were 204 in the 52-10 loss at Millsaps on Sept. 30. The Pumas allow only 89 rushing ypg (No. 29 NCAA DII) but the Blue Tigers season high on the ground is 51 set during the 16-0 loss at West Virginia State on Sept. 9. The potent Puma defense is giving up only 19 points-per-game (No. 63 NCAA DII), are No. 8 in turnover margin (+1.5 per game) and No. 39 in pass efficiency defense, 102.7.
The Blue Tigers punt return squad is better on paper than the Pumas, 8.94 yards-per-return (No. 72) to 7.2 ypr (No. 101). The Pumas (23.41 yards-per-kickoff return, No. 21) average more kickoff return yards than the Blue Tigers (18.25 ypkr, No. 92).
Lincoln University has an unplanned by week on Oct. 21 after canceling the home game with Stillman College. The Blue Tigers end their season with back-to-back road games at Langston (Okla.) University on Oct. 28 and Tiffin (Ohio) University, Nov. 4.
GAME SEVEN RECAP - BAND PLAYS ON; BLUE TIGERS RUN INTO PUMAS 60-3
The St. Joseph’s College Pumas spoiled homecoming for the Lincoln University Blue Tigers. The Pumas (5-2 overall, 2-0 Great Lakes Football Conference) kept alive their hopes of becoming the inaugural GLFC Champions by posting a 60-3 defeat over the Blue Tigers. The 60 points scored by St. Joseph’s College is a season high.
The lack of a consistent run game once again hampered the Blue Tigers offense. On 27 rushing plays, the Blue Tigers gained only 9 net yards. The passing attack could not be counted on either as a trio of Lincoln University quarterbacks had 8 pass receptions on 26 pass attempts (31 percent). A bright spot for the Blue Tigers was they were 2-of-3 (66.7 percent) on fourth down conversion attempts.
The Pumas scored on all six of their trips into the red zone. The Blue Tigers were 1-of-2 (50 percent) in red zone chances.
The Blue Tigers produced 50 total yards of offense on 53 plays. The Pumas piled up 478 yards of offense (258 run-220 pass) on 69 plays.
Lincoln University has allowed the opposition 450 passing yards or more in five of their seven games played.
Gerardo Cornejo (sr., K/P/PK) scored the only points of the game for the Blue Tigers. The senior from Bellflower, Calif. booted a season-long 34-yard field goal with 11:18 left in the game to make the score 46-3.
The opponents have been able to post a safety in five of the seven games against the Blue Tigers this fall.
The last time Lincoln University won a homecoming game, which counted toward NCAA standings and statistics was a 26-7 victory over Westminster College (Fulton, Mo.) on October 13, 2001. The most recent victory for the Blue Tigers on homecoming over an NCAA Division II opponent was Oct. 14, 2000. Lincoln University defeated Stillman College 30-24 in Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
The Blue Tigers end their season with back-to-back road games at Langston (Okla.) University on Oct. 28 at 2:00 p.m. and Tiffin (Ohio) University, Nov. 4 at 6:00 p.m. EST.
