Box Score

ROLLA, Mo. – A spectacular first half and a strong finish defensively gave the Miners one of their biggest victories in the last three years Saturday night, as Missouri S&T knocked off a high-powered Lindenwood squad 19-13 at Allgood-Bailey Stadium.

Facing a team that was averaging 44.5 points per game and had scored 122 points over the last two weeks, as well as having a victory in the ledger over an NCAA Division I opponent, the Miners held the Lions scoreless in the first half and got two key defensive stops in the final seven minutes to secure the victory.

S&T took the lead on a 36-yard field goal by Will Morrison (Rolla, Mo./Rolla) at the 8:50 mark of the opening period, then used the big play in getting its next two scores soon after the Miner defense made one of its own.

Lindenwood drove from its own 31 after the Morrison field goal to the Miner three, but on a second-and-goal play, Hilton Dawson (Compton, Calif./) knocked the ball free from Therman McGowan and S&T's Lonnell Jones (Kansas City, Mo./Ruskin) recovered it at the seven to halt the scoring opportunity.

Two plays into the second quarter, Josh Firm (Lancaster, Calif./Quartz Hill) connected with Kevin Dillon (Plano, Texas/Plano East) on a 72-yard scoring pass, as Dillon caught the ball inside the 30 and beat Lion safety Cody Fogle to the goal line to make it 10-0. On the Miners' next possession, Ryan Taylor (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) had a 42-yard run to the Lindenwood two-yard line to set up a five-yard scoring pass from Firm to Jake Giljum (St. Louis, Mo./Bishop DuBourg) two plays later.

S&T surprised the Lions with an onside kick and recovered it at its own 43, but had to punt after regaining possession. However, on the first play after the Lions got the ball back, Chris Emesih (Houston, Texas/Westfield) forced a fumble on a swing pass to McGowan that Cameron Williams (Princeton, Ky./Caldwell County) recovered at the Lindenwood 21.

Following that turnover, the Miners needed six plays to add to the lead, as Morrison connected on a 28-yard field goal with 4:47 to go in the half.

In the first half, the Miners outgained the Lions 234-125 as the defense held Lindenwood without a first half point for the first time since 2005.

The Lions got on the scoreboard the first time they got the ball in the second half, driving 63 yards as they converted a pair of fourth down plays along the way. After quarterback Josh Uribe ran 10 yards on a fourth-and-one to keep the drive going, McGowan raced 20 yards for a score to cut the lead to 19-6; Lindenwood failed on a two-point conversion attempt after the touchdown.

Lindenwood got closer in the fourth quarter when Uribe connected with Terance Jackson on a 12-yard scoring pass – a play after getting a touchdown called back due to a holding penalty – to trim the margin to 19-13.

After an S&T punt, the Lions got the ball back with 6:16 to go, but the Miners got a three-and-out to force a punt. S&T got one first down on its next possession, but had to give the ball back to Lindenwood at its own 15 with 2:11 to play.

Uribe completed a third down pass to Andrew Helmick for a first down, then after completing another to him for nine yards on the next play, tried to go downfield for Tim Celestine but overthrew him and had the pass picked off by Hilton Dawson (Compton, Calif./) with 1:19 to go to end the final Lion chance.

Lindenwood, who lost for the first time in four contests, ended the night with the advantage in total offense with 367 yards to the Miners' 342, but S&T forced three turnovers and recorded three quarterback sacks in the contest.

Firm completed 19-of-38 passes for 195 yards and two scores, while Smook Thomas (Quincy, Fla./East Gadsden) had nine receptions for 72 yards. Dillon caught three for 87 yards including the long scoring reception in the second quarter.

Taylor paced the Miner ground game, which produced 147 yards on the night, with 61 yards on nine carries.

Defensively, Emesih had 11 tackles and Dawson finished with six, including the forced fumble and game-clinching interception.

The Miners, now 2-2 on the season, will return to the road next week with a 3 p.m. game at Northwestern Oklahoma State in Alva, Okla.