The Lindenwood football team took on the defending national champion and number one team in the country, Northwest Missouri, on Saturday in Maryville, Mo. The Lions had a great defensive effort but still fell to the Bearcats by a 19-7 score.
 
Play of the Game
Northwest Missouri had a 14-0 lead with under a minute remaining in the second quarter. The Bearcats punted the ball and downed it at the one-yard line. On the next play, Northwest Missouri earned a safety when the Lindenwood runner was stopped in the endzone. The Bearcats then used good field position after the safety to kick a field goal on the final play of the half. That score made it 19-0, and neither team scored for the final 30 minutes.
 
Lindenwood's Defense
- Northwest Missouri came into the game averaging over 30 points a game. The Lions allowed just two touchdowns and 19 total points.
- The Bearcats were held to 123 rushing yards, 263 passing yards, and 386 total yards, all below their season averages.
- Northwest Missouri had to punt the ball seven times, and also turned it over on downs once.
 
First Quarter (Northwest Missouri led 7-0)
- The Lions got in an early hole after Northwest Missouri got its first possession near midfield. It needed eight plays to go 55 yards and to go up 7-0.
- The teams traded punts the rest of the quarter, as neither team had over 70 yards in the quarter.
 
Second Quarter (Northwest Missouri led 19-0)
- On its first drive of the quarter, the Bearcats had the longest drive of the game by going 90 yards for a touchdown. They completed two third-and-short on the 13 play drive.
- Lindenwood picked up three first downs on its next drive and got to the Bearcats 35-yard line, but the drive stalled on a turnover on downs.
- Northwest Missouri downed a punt at the one on its next possession, leading to the safety and field goal in the final minute.
 
Third Quarter (Northwest Missouri led 19-0)
- Lindenwood won the field position battle in the third quarter, with Northwest Missouri starting inside the 20 all three times.
- Every drive of the quarter ended in punts as neither offense could score any points.
 
Fourth Quarter (Northwest Missouri won 19-0)
- Northwest Missouri opened the quarter in the Lindenwood red zone, but the defense held and the Bearcats missed a field goal attempt.
- Lindenwood had its best drive late in the quarter with a 12-play, 59-yard drive. The Lions had first-and-10 at the Northwest Missouri 21, but it got just two yards before a turnover on downs.
 
Key Statistics
- Northwest Missouri finished with 386 yards, while the Lions had 169. The Lions were held to just six on the ground, including 58 lost yards.
- Neither team had a turnover in the contest, the second straight year for that.
- Najee Jackson finished with 163 passing yards, and Deantrell Prince had a team-high seven receptions for 80 yards.
- CJ Bivens led the defense with 15 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, and 1.0 sack.
- Darrius Williams and Antonio Davis each had a pass breakup.
 
Game Notes:
- Lindenwood falls to 2-6 on the season, while Northwest Missouri improves to 8-0.
- Northwest Missouri leads the all-time series by a 4-0 margin.
- The 19 points were the lowest amount that the Lions allowed in the series history with Northwest Missouri. The previous low was 47 points.