The Lincoln University football team's passing game was just about the only thing that appeared to be working right for the Lions as they dropped their second consecutive game 49-19 to Lincoln University of Missouri Saturday evening at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City, Missouri.
 
The Lions fall to 0-2 while the Blue Tigers improve to 1-1 on the season.
 
Lions quarterback Vincent Espinoza (Madera, Calif./Madera (West Hills)) tossed three touchdown passes to three different receivers while completing eight of 18 pass attempts for 182 yards of offense without an interception.   Rameses Owens (Warrensville Hgts., Ohio/Shaker Heights Robert Morris)) rushed for a net total of 27 yards, however the Lions as a team were held to zero net yardage on the ground.
 
On the defensive side, the young Lions squad gave up 442 yards of total offense to the Blue Tigers including 265 yards on the ground.  Junior linebacker Deion Miller (Sayreville, N.J./Jersey Coast Academy) did record 17 total tackles (12 unassisted), equaling the third highest single game total in recent program history. 
 
Trailing 21-0 just six minutes into the second quarter, the Lions, for the second consecutive game found themselves forced to play from behind.  On their first possession of the second quarter, the Lions got on the scoreboard as Espinoza connected with Andre Price (Rialto, Calif./Jurupa Hills (Chabot)) for a 24 yard touchdown pass.  The touchdown was set up by Price's 49-yard catch from Espinoza one play earlier. 
 
The Lions forced a three-and-out on the Blue Tigers next possession and following a poor punt had excellent field position at the Blue Tigers 26-yard line.  Espinoza needed just one play to give the Lions their second touchdown of the game, connecting with Carlos Croslin (Baltimore, Md./Frederick Douglass (Globe Tech) ) for 26 yards and the score.  Cody Waddell (Elkton, Md./Northeast) added the extra point making the score 21-13.
 
The Blue Tigers had another chance late in the quarter to put points on the board after Waddell had his punt blocked and the Blue tigers recovered at the Lions 16.  The defense however held and Lincoln (Mo.) was unable to score, missing a field goal from the Lions 1-yard line with four seconds left.
 
A second consecutive drive by the Blue Tigers into the red zone went for naught as the Lions' Keenan Reid (Somerset, N.J./Franklin) intercepted Eugene Sainterlings pass  giving the Lions the ball on their own three-yard line.  One play later Justin Johnson (Etters, Pa./Red Land) was brought down in the end zone for a Blue Tiger safety and a 23-13 lead.
 
Wolky Belancourt's field goal on the Blue Tigers' next possession made the score 26-13 where the scored remained until the start of the fourth quarter.  Sainterling had a nine yard touchdown toss to Miles Drummond, making the score 33-13 and on the Lions next possession, Waddell's punt attempt was again blocked  and this time recovered in the end zone for another Blue Tiger touchdown and a 40-13 lead.
 
Croslin had a short return on the ensuing kickoff giving the Lions the ball on the Blue Tigers 34 yard line.  On the first play from scrimmage, Espinoza hooked up with Elijah Smith (Elmont, N.Y./Sewanhaka (Monroe College)) for 66 yards and the touchdown..  The extra point attempt however was fumbled and was run back by Blue Tiger Amani Nelson for a two-point defensive PAT, making the score 42-19. The Blue Tigers rounded out the scoring on the next possession with a 10-play 73-yard drive, all on the ground to make the final score 49-19.
 
Sainterling finished the game with 177 yards passing on 15 of 26 with one interception to pace the Blue Tigers.  Harold Lacy rushed for 133 net yards and Travis Martin added 94 more on the ground.  The Blue Tigers ran 88 total plays to the Lions 42 and held a nearly 3 to 1 advantage in time of possession (44:32-15:28).
 
The Lions move on to their next contest on Saturday, September 16, 2017 when they travel to Philippi, West Virginia to face Alderson-Broaddus University.  Kickoff time is noon.