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The Truman Football team scored 25 unanswered points to down non-conference McKendree University (Ill.) by a score of 25-10 on the road Saturday. 

 Derek Koon broke the school record for consecutive field goals made by hitting a pair in the first half.

The Truman offense sputtered to start the game with a pair of three and outs and an interception but the ‘Dog defense shined by only allowing a 26-yard field goal with just over two minutes left in the first quarter.

The defense was put back out on the field again and the Bearcats were able to grind out a 13-play, 79-yard touchdown with a four-yard pass from Austin Fisher to Jacob Strausbaugh to take a 10-0 lead.

Earl Jackson sparked the team by poking the ball free from wide receiver Myron Hicks to set up the Bulldogs at the McKendree 37.

J.B. Clark wasted little time by finding Anthony Brown on a post pattern in the endzone on the next play and with the blocked extra point it was 10-6.

On the ensuing kickoff, Nick Jones coughed up the ball and Jeff Klott jumped on it for the Bulldogs at the McKendree 20.

Brown picked up Truman’s first, first down of the contest to set up first and goal but the offense had to settle for a 19-yard field goal by Koon to close within one.

For Koon, that was his 10th consecutive made field goal and tied the Truman school record held by Scott Breshaw in 1990.

Koon would break the mark as the ‘Dogs were able to put three more on the board at the end of half to go into the locker room with a 12-10 lead.

The wind played a factor in the third quarter as Truman had it and was able to gain field position by starting an early drive in Bearcat territory.

The running game got going and Donald Harvey capped off a short field with a five-yard TD run to put the Bulldogs up 19-10 with just over six minutes to play in the third quarter.

The defense did their job again forcing another punt into the wind and Truman took over at the McKendree 45.

 Harnish Ayora was the featured back for this drive as his number was called five times ending with a five-yard TD scamper and a 25-10 lead.

Led by Jackson’s career-high 14 tackles, the Truman defense held McKendree to just 82 yards of total yards in the second half and 263 yards for the game.

Anthony Brown had four first half catches for 101 yards with Ayora leading the running attack with 53 yards on 14 carries.

The Bulldogs improve to 2-3 while McKendree remains winless on the season at 0-4.

Truman will host nationally-ranked and unbeaten Washburn University (Kan.) next Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Stokes Stadium.

Courtesy Truman State University