The William Jewell College football team closed out the 2016 season on Saturday playing host to Lincoln University in Great Lakes Valley Conference action.

Before the game, the Cardinals honored 18 seniors who were playing in their final contest in a Jewell uniform. 
The Cardinals scored 31 points in the second half to run away with a 48-17 win to improve to 1-9 overall and 1-7 in the GLVC while Lincoln fell to 1-9 overall and 0-7 in league play.

The Cardinals got on the board first when senior running back Darrick Strzelecki scored the first of his three touchdowns from one yard away to give Jewell a 7-0 lead. 

The Blue Tigers then capitalized on a missed field goal from Brandon Womack and a fumble by Darmarcus Robinson to score 10 unanswered points to lead 10-7. 

Womack redeemed himself with just over nine minutes remaining in the half when he drained a 42-yard field goal to tie the game 10-10.

Strzelecki's second touchdown of the game occurred five minutes later and Jewell found themselves up 17-10. 

The Blue Tigers then gained more momentum when Cotton Willard picked up Brad Strauss to set Lincoln up at the Cardinal 39.  After a Jewell penalty, Lincoln completed only their second pass of the half, a 14-yard touchdown to tie the game 17-17.

The Cardinals held the Blue Tigers to only 23 total yards in the first half and only 14 yards passing on two completions.

On Lincoln's first play of the second half running back Reko Lysius fumbled the ball and Collin Heller pounced on it to give Jewell possession at the Lincoln 10-yard line. 

Three plays later Strzelecki found the end zone for his third score of the game to put the Cardinals up for good 24-17.

Jewell wasted no time in getting the ball back as Orlando Ward came up with an interception on Lincoln's next possession and the Cardinals were once again in Lincoln territory. 

Jewell would then have to settle for a Womack 24-yard field goal which put Jewell up 27-17.

For the third straight possession of the third quarter Lincoln turned the ball over again this time Zach Robinson came up with a fumble and the Cards were back in business at the Lincoln 11-yard line.

Strauss then hit senior Anthony Mullins for an 11-yard strike that put Jewell up 34-17.

On Jewell's next possession Strauss hooked up with Mullins again and Mullins broke free for a 41-yard score that put Jewell up 41-7.  The 24 points the Cardinals scored in the third quarter is a season high in points in a quarter. 

Jewell scored their final touchdown of the game on Lincoln's second drive of the fourth quarter.  This time the defense got in on the act when Andrew Pence picked off a pass and ran it back 51-yards to give the Cardinals their 48-17 winning margin.

Strzelecki led Jewell in rushing with 122 yards on 22 attempts and three scores.  Strauss was 21-29 for 200 yards and two touchdowns while Mullins finished with 8 catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns. 

Defensively, Jewell held the Blue Tigers to only 79 total yards in the game and forced four turnovers.  Heller and Isaac Dozier led the defense with four tackles each.