Chris Monroe (photo by Dustin Wyatt)
Chris Monroe (photo by Dustin Wyatt)

Running game, defense push Texas Lutheran past Sul Ross State, 24-3

SEGUIN, Texas -- Texas Lutheran rolled up 384 rushing yards and held Sul Ross State out of the endzone in a 24-3 home win for the Bulldogs Saturday at Bulldog Stadium.
 
The Bulldogs improved to 2-0 overall and to 2-0 in the American Southwest Conference.
 
Sul Ross State dropped to 0-2 and to 0-2 in the ASC.
 
TLU won for the seventh straight time against the Lobos.
 
TLU senior running back Chris Monroe rushed for a near-career high of 176, missing his personal best rushing mark by five yards. Monroe carried the ball 21 times and averaged 8.4 yards per carry.
 
As a team, the Bulldogs rushed 62 times for 384 yards, an average of 6.2 yards per carry.
 
The Bulldogs fell behind 3-0 before Juan Ocampo's 34-yard field goal tied the game at the 10:04 mark of the second quarter.
 
DaKory Willis gave TLU its first lead on a 14-yard TD run with 2:05 to play in the first half. TLU took a 10-3 lead into the half.
 
Bulldog quarterback Wade Freeman III, playing in his first game of 2021, gave TLU a 17-3 lead in the third quarter with a 14-yard scamper.
 
Willis capped the Bulldogs' scoring with a 3-yard run early in the fourth.
 
TLU's defense held the Lobos to 115 rushing yards and 90 passing yards. The Lobos were 10-of-25 through the air.
 
TLU held the ball for 33:33.
 
Dakwa Davis led TLU with 11 total tackles, a half sack and 4.5 tackles for loss.
 
James Bell and Nile Pollard each added eight tackles.
 
The Bulldogs hit the road for next weekend's game against Hardin-Simmons. Kickoff is now set for noon Saturday at HSU's Shelton Stadium.
 
Notes: The game was TLU's first home contest since Nov. 16, 2019, when TLU defeated McMurry 57-14. Due to COVID-19 restrictions at TLU, no fans were allowed in Bulldog Stadium for the game against Sul Ross.