KIRKSVILLE, Mo . – For the sixth time in seven years, the UIndy football team (8-1, 7-0) captured the Great Lakes Valley Conference championship, earning a 31-7 win at Truman State University (6-4, 5-1) Saturday afternoon. The Greyhounds used three defensive interceptions and an efficient passing game to win the battle of GLVC unbeatens.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bulldogs jumped ahead with an early touchdown drive on the game's opening possession, but UIndy followed with a number of defensive stops while racking up three second-quarter TDs to pull ahead, 24-7, by halftime.
 
Sophomore Daveon Bell provided the highlight of the opening half. The Indianapolis native took a screen pass 71 yards all the way to the end zone to cap the first half scoring. It marked the second straight season that Bell notched a lengthy and pivotal touchdown versus Truman; last season, Bell's 86-yard punt return also erased an early UIndy deficit in the Hounds' 34-19 win against the Bulldogs.
 
UIndy kept Truman off the board the rest of the afternoon, as three different Greyhounds earned their first career interception during the day.
 
Sophomore safety Connor Steeb had perhaps the biggest pick, as his INT prevented a potential Truman touchdown late in the second quarter. After the Bulldogs used a fake field goal to extend a promising drive, Steeb picked off TSU quarterback Jaden Barr in the end zone to end the threat right before the half.
 
With the UIndy defense continuing to stifle the 'Dogs, the Hounds added one final TD in the second Half. Sophomore Al McKeller took a direct snap and punched it in from six yards out, good for his GLVC-leading 10th rushing TD of the season. He finished the game with 70 hard-earned yards.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Greyhound defense limited their hosts to just 93 rushing yards. The Bulldogs came into the day as the GLVC's second-leading rushing team at 231 yards per game.
- Linebackers Joe Lambright and Alex Parsons each recorded a second-half interception. Lambright and fellow-LB Cole Sigmund led all players with 12 total tackles apiece.
- QB Jake Purichia had one of his best games of the season, going 17-for-22 passing for 289 yards, a touchdown and zero interceptions. He also added a rushing TD on a one-yard plunge in the second quarter that gave the Hounds their first lead.
- On his first game back from injury, senior wideout Malik Higgins racked up six catches for 119 yards.
- Redshirt-freshman Paul Buisman connected on a 27-yard field goal to open the Hounds' scoring.
- Freshman Toriano Clinton added an 18-yard rushing TD in the second quarter.
 
MORE NOTES
UIndy has won the GLVC crown in all both one season (2016) since the league began sponsoring football in 2012 … The result marked the second conference championship won by the Hounds on the weekend, as the UIndy women's cross country team also captured the GLVC title today.
 
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds wrap up the regular season next week at home, hosting non-conference Hillsdale College for Senior Day on Saturday Nov. 10.