Complete game notes in .pdf format
Storyline
Lindenwood heads into its Homecoming contest with a perfect record, the fourth time in school history it has done that. It will now look to accomplish what it did in 2004 and 2007 by remaining perfect after its Homecoming Game.
The opponent this week is a Baker team that is much tougher than the typical Homecoming foe. The Wildcats entered the year ranked 12th in the NAIA but couldn't survive a tough early season schedule. Instead of folding after two losses though, Baker has shutout two straight opponents and an upset win over the Lions would put the Wildcats back in playoff contention.
Lindenwood will look to break Baker's shutout string with an offense that is second in the NAIA with 57.6 points a game and first in the nation with a 534.0 yard average. The defense is also ranked first in the conference by allowing just 17.4 points a game, including holding three of its five opponents to two touchdowns or less.
The Lions improved both of their offensive and defensive numbers last week during a 59-7 win over Avila, a game in which Lindenwood scored the final 45 points. Baker also earned a blowout victory last Saturday with a 45-0 win over Culver-Stockton, including 28-0 in the fourth quarter.
A Lindenwood Win Would...
⇒?improve the program to 102-110 all-time.
⇒?improve the Lions to 50-16 under head coach Patrick Ross.
⇒?improve Lindenwood to 16-4 all-time during Homecoming.
⇒?increase Lindenwood's conference winning streak to 15 games.
⇒?be the 15 straight home victory for the Lions.
A Lindenwood Loss Would...
⇒?drop the program to 101-111 all-time.
⇒?drop the Lions to 49-17 under head coach Patrick Ross.
⇒?be just the second loss to Baker in the last seven meetings.
⇒?be the first Homecoming loss since the 2006 season and the fifth all-time loss.
Lions Rush Defense
Lindenwood's defense continues to average under 100 rushing yards a game for the season. Another impressive number is that the Lions have only allowed one rushing touchdown on the season.
Those statistics could be tested this week against Baker's Richie Bryant, who averages 103.3 rushing yards a game and leads the HAAC with eight rushing touchdowns.
Scoring Defense
Lindenwood has allowed 87 points in five games, an average of 17.4 points a game. That is the best five-game mark for the Lions defense since 2004 when it averaged 14.2 points a game through the first five games.
If the Lions continue to allow 17.4 points a game, it would be the third-best total in school history for a season.
Turnover Margin
Lindenwood is tied for first in the NAIA with a +2.00 turnover margin per game. The Lions have forced 16 turnovers this year and have turned it over just six times. Over the last three weeks, Lindenwood has forced 12 turnovers and lost the ball twice.
Staback's QB Play
Philip Staback is playing his quarterback role perfectly -- not turning the ball over and getting it in the hands of playmakers. Over the last two games, he has completed 77.8% of his passes and has six touchdowns and no interceptions. He has thrown three touchdowns in each of the last four games.
Big Play Offense
Lindenwood's offense continues to show the ability to score anywhere on the field. The Lions have 26 rushing or passing plays this season, over five a game, of 25 yards of more. Over half of those, 14, been 50 yards or longer.
Run Offense
Lindenwood was missing its top running back last week but still recorded its third game of 2009 with over 200 yards rushing. Over half came from backup quarterback David Ortega, but running backs Richard Murrell and Zach Booker combined for 79 yards and averaged 6.6 yards per carry.
Consistent Scoring
Lindenwood has scored in every quarter this season, and has a touchdown in 19 of the 20 quarters. For the season, the Lions have scored between 68 to 80 points in all four quarters.
Defensively, the Lions have shutout the opposition in nine quarters.
Kicking Game
Saturday's game will feature the top two kickers in the HAAC. Lindenwood's Halley Ferrell is 37-of-37 in PATs and four-of-five in field goals. Baker's Derek Doerfler is 12-of-12 in PATs and has made two field goals over 50 yards.
Up Next
Lindenwood will travel to Culver-Stockton on Oct. 17 for a 1 p.m. game in Canton, Mo.
About The Wildcats
Baker had a tough schedule to start 2009 and it resulted in losses to nationally-ranked Missouri Valley and MidAmerica Nazarene. The Wildcats have bounced back though with consecutive shutouts.
Baker is led by a defense that is allowing just 240.5 yards and 19.8 points a game. Offensively, the team is putting up nearly 30 points a contest.
Richie Bryant is one of the top backs in the HAAC, averaging over 100 yards a game and has scored nine touchdowns. Mack Brown is averaging nearly 200 yards passing. He has spread the ball around, with eight receivers averaging at least one catch a game.
Matt Brock leads the team in tackles with 41 and Colton Miller has three interceptions on the year. The Wildcats have one of the best special teams around, led by kicker Derek Doerfler.
Last Week
Baker's defense allowed just 72 yards and recorded its second straight shutout in a 45-0 win over Culver-Stockton.
Culver-Stockton managed just 50 yards rushing and 22 passing against Baker. Levi Calhoun had 2.5 of the team's six sacks and Matt Brock had 13 tackles, one of four players with double-figure stops.
Offensively, Baker scored 17 points over the first three quarters before four touchdowns in the final quarter, three of which were runs by Richie Bryant.
Head Coach Mike Grossner
Mike Grossner is in his sixth season at Baker where he has won 27 games and led the Wildcats to last year's NAIA playoffs. Prior jobs included being an assistant coach at Western State and head coach at Glendale Community College, where he won a national championship in 2000.
