Truman State's James Franklin III needed 60 seconds of game clock to turn a football game into a rout Saturday.
With 7:08 left in the second quarter, Franklin picked off Lincoln quarterback Antwon McKay Jr. at the Lincoln 37 and ran it back for a touchdown. At 6:08, on Lincoln's very next third down, Franklin picked off McKay again at the 39 and took that one to the end zone too.
A 13-3 game was 27-3 with 6:08 left in the half. Truman State (5-4, 5-1 GLVC) rolled from there to a 48-3 win over Lincoln (2-6, 1-5 GLVC) in the rain at Stokes Stadium in Kirksville.
Both picks came on third down. The first followed a Lincoln timeout on third-and-10 from its own 20. The second came after another Lincoln timeout, on third-and-11 from the 24. In between, Lincoln ran two plays and lost a yard.
The Bulldogs got going early. Lincoln's opening drive reached the Truman 34 before Truman State's Alijah Jackman forced a fumble by Lincoln's Kantrell Jordan and recovered it himself. Six plays later, Truman State's Madden Irving went 39 yards up the left side for a 7-0 lead with 10:01 left in the first quarter.
Lincoln answered with its best drive of the day, 15 plays and 73 yards over 7:16, but stalled at the 9. Lincoln's Jayce Laughter kicked a 26-yard field goal to make it 7-3. Those were Lincoln's only points. Laughter later missed from 53 yards at the end of the half and from 46 in the third quarter.
Irving finished a 9-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard run early in the second quarter. The kick failed, leaving it 13-3 until Franklin took over.
Irving ran 11 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Truman State quarterback Dylan Hair completed 11 of 15 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception.
Hair hit Truman State's Kel Battle for an 8-yard score with 3:25 left in the third quarter to make it 34-3. Early in the fourth, Truman State's Witt Tatum recovered a muffed Lincoln punt at the Lincoln 4. Hair found Truman State's Vance Herring from 15 yards out two plays later for a 41-3 lead. Truman State's Askia Bullie went 44 yards on a run with 9:06 to play for the final score.
The Truman defense sacked Lincoln quarterbacks five times. Truman State's Jack Weltha had 2.5 sacks for 17 yards among seven tackles. Bryant Pool, of Truman State, led the Bulldogs with nine tackles, including a sack, and forced a fumble. Lincoln turned it over four times.
Lincoln ran 63 plays to Truman's 49 and held the ball for 33:21, but managed 63 rushing yards on 33 carries. Truman ran for 246 yards at 7.5 a carry and outgained Lincoln 385-239.
Truman State plays at William Jewell at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, in Liberty.
Final tally: 48-3 Truman State.