The Truman Bulldogs five-game winning streak came to an end as Central Missouri defeated the Bulldogs 38-17 on Thursday night in front of an national television audience, as both Missouri D-II football schools were featured on the CBS Sports Network.

The Bulldogs took the opening possession and marched down the field only with one of their longest drives of the season going 12 plays and taking just under six minutes off but Derek Koon’s 43-yard field goal missed right.  Central then used their fast-paced offense and went 74-yards in a dozen plays with quarterback Colter Smith beating the Bulldog defended to the near pylon for the seven-yard TD run.

The two teams exchanged interceptions but the Bulldog turnover set up the Mules with a short field. Sean Gorman scored on a three-yard touchdown pass as Central took a 14-0 lead.  The Bulldog defense thought they got on the board as Dennis Walls picked off Smith and marched into the endzone but a holding call took the points off the board. On third down, Conrad Schottel found Dallas Grier in the endzone but after signaling touchdown the play was later ruled incomplete. The ‘Dogs were called for an illegal shift as well and Koon missed from 36 yards.

On the next drive, Smith had his pass tipped and Michael Elliott grabbed the ball in the air and raced into the endzone for his second career pick-six to make it 14-7.  Central was able to get a key score late in the half to push the lead to 21-7 as Ralph Watson caught a 19-yard TD pass from Smith with 52 left.

The Mules got the ball to start the second half and raced down the field in four plays with Corey Washington scoring from eight yards out to make it 28-7.  Koon would hit from 28-yards and Aaron Jamison for the Mules would connect from 48 to make it 31-10.  Washington would score from one yard out at the 7:51 mark however AJ Hartfield would rack up 56 yards rushing for the Bulldogs in the final two drives and Taylor Breen found Paul Taylor in the endzone for the final score with nine seconds left.

The Mules finished with 389 yards of total offense with LaVance Taylor leading the way with 84 rushing yards and Smith finishing 26-of-39 for 246.

The Bulldogs got five turnovers with four interceptions, Elliott, Walls, Robert Gayden and Richie Schumacher each collecting picks. Wade Pelc recovered a fumble.  Hartfield led Truman with his 56 rushing yards and Will Mosquera gained 39 on the ground in 14 attempts. Schottel was knocked out of the game late in the second quarter and finished with just 50 yards passing while Breen had 55 yards and his second career touchdown pass.

Story courtesy of Truman State athletics