Box Score
ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- The 18th-ranked Mules rolled to a 31-0 win at Lindenwood on wet and windy Saturday afternoon to run their win streak to six games. The Mules improve to 7-2 on the season and earn their first shutout since a 44-0 win over Washburn last season.
The Mules got on the board on their second drive of the game.
Eric Siebenshuh, making his first career start, hit
Ian Toalson for a 17-yard touchdown to put UCM in front 7-0.
UCM struck again early in the second quarter. Lindenwood had first and 10 from their own 23, but
Sam Smith forced a fumble and
Austin Miller recovered giving UCM the ball at the Lion 10. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Siebenshuh found a wide open
Josh Pickrell in the back of the endzone for the 10-yard score and the Mules lead was 14-0. Both teams put together decent drives near the end of the first half, but none producing any points and the Mules led 14-0 at halftime.
Lindenwood (3-6, 3-6 MIAA) put together a solid drive to start the second half, driving to the UCM 19. Facing a fourth and four in the UCM redzone the Lions failed to convert and the Mules took over. The Mules put together a 11-play, 68-yard drive culminating in a 30-yard
Billy Greco field goal to give the Mules a 17-0 lead.
Following a three and out by the UCM defense, the offense put together another 11 play drive this one spanning 55 yards. Siebenshuh gained the final seven yards on the drive with three runs, including a two-yard touchdown run to put the Mules in front 24-0.
The Lions drove to the UCM 45 on their next possession, aided by a long kickoff return, but the UCM defense held and forced a punt.
Seth Hebert came through the line untouched and blocked the punt and the Mules took over at the Lindenwood 33.
After a false start penalty to begin the drive, Siebenshuh hit
Jaylen Zachery for a 37-yard gain to the one. Two plays later Siebenshuh scored his second rushing touchdown of the game and UCM had a 31-0 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The only thing in doubt after three quarters was whether or not the Mules would get the shutout. The UCM defense held the Lions out of the endzone and stopped them on downs three different times in the fourth quarter.
Siebenshuh ended the day 25-of-44 for 260 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed 23 times for 101 yards and two scores.
Markel Smith had 17 carries for 83 yards and Zachery hauled in seven passes for 103 yards, his fifth 100-yard receiving game of the season.
Monteze Latimore led the UCM defense with nine tackles and had two interceptions and two pass breakups.
Sam Smith finished with tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss, while
Jason Venckus registered four tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble in the win, moving him in to a tie for seventh place on UCM's career TFL list with 31.
The Mules out-gained the Lions 469-243 and held LWU to just 77 yards rushing on 33 carries.
Mason Bendigo was 16-of-44 for 166 yards and two interceptions for the Lions. DeAngelo Strickling rushed for 62 yards on 13 carries and Tre' Roby had three catches for 54 yards. Connor Harris, the MIAA's leading tackler coming in to the game, led LWU with 15 stops.
The Mules have now won six straight games for the second straight year and the third time overall under
Jim Svoboda. They return home next Saturday for the final regular season home game against Pittsburg State. Kickoff at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field is set for 2:37 p.m. as the game will be televised on the MIAA TV Network.
