JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri S&T took control of a tight contest late in the first half and exploded after the intermission to a 40-23 win over Lincoln in a Great Lakes Valley Conference contest.

Leading 14-7 with under a minute to play in the first half, Isaac Williams (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet Jesuit) picked off a pass that led to an S&T score as the half ended – and the Miners dominated matters over the 20 minutes that followed to win for the third time in their last four outings.

The Miners got on the scoreboard with just under six minutes to play in the first quarter when Lamar Wilkes (Maryland Heights, Mo./Pattonville) connected with Spencer Elrod (Lancaster, Calif./Eastside) on a 35-yard scoring pass.

Lincoln, however, tied the score with a drive that started late in the first quarter with a 39-yard pass from Owen Jordan to Delvon Rouser and concluded when Bryson Winfrey caught a 16-yard scoring toss from Jordan.

S&T answered back with a 15-play, 75-yard drive that took over seven minutes off the clock and aided by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Blue Tigers on a third down play.  The scoring drive ended with a three-yard scoring run by D'Luis West (Troup, Texas/Troup).

Late in the half, the Miners pinned the Blue Tigers at their two-yard line following a punt, then Williams picked off a Jordan pass at the 15-yard line with 15 seconds to go.  Following a pair of running plays that triggered the use of two of S&T's three timeouts, Wilkes hit Braxton Graham (Seneca, Mo./Seneca) for a five-yard pass as time expired to give S&T a 20-7 lead at the break.

The Miners missed two chances in the third quarter to add to the lead after driving to or inside the Lincoln five.  The first ended when Dalton Major (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bishop McNamara) was stopped short of the goal line on fourth down, then after getting back in scoring range, a bad snap on a field goal attempt stymied that opportunity.

Following the failed field goal effort, the Miners caught a break when Nate Brown (Webb City, Mo./Webb City) intercepted a pass that ricocheted off the umpire, leading to West's second scoring run of the afternoon from 10 yards away.  The Blue Tigers blocked the extra point and Jeremy Rives returned it for two points to make the score 26-9.

Another turnover on the ensuing Miner kickoff, as the ball went through the hands of Clayton Parker and was recovered by Bret Curtis (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard South), gave S&T the ball back at the Lincoln 33-yard line.   West capped the drive with his third scoring run from two yards out a play after a pass interference call on LU in the end zone.

Wilkes threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Dustin Schindler (Waterford, Wis./Waterford) early in the fourth quarter before the Blue Tigers scored two late touchdowns to close the margin.

Lincoln held a 207-169 advantage in total yards at the half, but the Miners had a 215-161 advantage in the second half – including a 167-37 difference in the third quarter as they outgained the Blue Tigers 382-368 for the game.

West finished with 82 yards on the ground to pace a 178-yard rushing effort for the Miners, while Wilkes completed 15-of-25 passes for 204 yards and the three scores.  Graham had 102 yards on his five receptions on the afternoon.

Jordan threw for 255 yards, but completed just 18 of his 39 throws with two interceptions.  Penalties were also a big issue for Lincoln (1-6, 0-4 GLVC), as it committed nine for 104 yards.

The win improved the Miners to 3-3 overall and 3-1 in the GLVC, allowing them to remain tied with McKendree for second in the league standings before two teams square off next Saturday in Rolla in S&T's Homecoming game. 

Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Allgood-Bailey Stadium.