complete game notes in .pdf format
Storyline
Lindenwood returns to Harlen C. Hunter Stadium for Homecoming this Saturday as the Lions take on Culver-Stockton at 1:30 p.m. Those two factors lately usually result in a Lion victory. Under head coach Patrick Ross, Lindenwood is 34-4 on its home field, including a 5-1 mark at Homecoming.
The Lions defense will look to shutdown another unranked opponent. Lindenwood is allowing just 15.0 points a game this season, its best mark since 2004, and it ranks ninth in the NAIA. The unit has not allowed over 14 points against an unranked foe.
The offense meanwhile continues to rack up the offensive yards, especially in the passing game. Lindenwood averages over 50 points a game and is throwing for nearly 400 yards a contest, a mark that is higher than 69 NAIA squads average for total offense.
Those two units, along with special teams that continue to improve each week, combined for a 48-14 victory last weekend over a Baker squad that was a preseason top 25 team.
The opponent this week is a Culver-Stockton squad that is still searching for its first win of the season. The Wildcats fell last weekend in a non-conference battle with Peru State by a 24-14 margin.
A Lindenwood Win Would...
- improve the program to 115-112-2 all-time.
- improve the Lions to 63-18 under head coach Patrick Ross.
- be the 23rd straight victory for Lindenwood at Hunter Stadium.
- improve Lindenwood to 9-6 all-time in the series against the Wildcats.
- be the fifth straight victory for the Lions over Culver-Stockton.
- improve the Lions to 17-4 all-time at Homecoming.
A Lindenwood Loss Would...
- drop the program to 114-113-2 all-time.
- drop the Lions to 62-19 under Patrick Ross.
- snap Culver-Stockton's 30-game losing streak.
Scoring Offense
Lindenwood ranks fifth in all of college football with a 50.5 scoring average. In the NAIA, Saint Xavier and McPherson are slightly ahead of Lindenwood's average. The only NCAA programs scoring over 50 are Oregon and Oklahoma State.
Lion "D"
Lindenwood has allowed just one touchdown in the first half this season against unranked opponents. In those four games, the Lions are allowing just 9.3 points a game. Of the five touchdowns given up, one was a defensive score and two were in the final three minutes of games that were already decided.
Taking Care of the Ball
In two games since the loss to MidAmerica Nazarene, Lindenwood has a +6 turnover margin and has not turned it over once.
Red Zone Production
One area the Lions need to improve on in the final month of the regular season is red zone production. On the season, Lindenwood is 31-of-42 (73.8%), including 63.6 percent the last three games.
Last season, Lindenwood failed to score just seven times in the red zone and had a percentage just below 90.
In the Polls
Lindenwood is ranked sixth in this week's NAIA national ranking. The Lions have been in the top 10 for 30 straight polls released by the NAIA.
Player of the Week No. 5
Philip Staback was named the HAAC Player of the Week on Monday for the fifth time out of six games. In this week's national rankings, he is first in pass offense and pass efficiency, and third in total offense.
Over the last two games, Staback has completed 77.6 percent of his passes for 735 yards, 11 touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Scoring Leaders
Last year's HAAC scoring leader, Denodus O'Bryant, is quietly tied for that spot once again after scoring four touchdowns the last two games. One of the players he is tied with is Matt Bramow, who also has four touchdowns in the last two contests.
Both O'Bryant and Bramow have eight touchdowns on the season, one more than teammate Nate Orlando.
Punt Return Unit
Lindenwood leads the HAAC and is 10th in the NAIA with 14.7 punt return yards. The Lions have also blocked four punts, and four other times tackled the punter before he had a chance to get the kick off.
Jamere Holland has returned seven kicks for 92 yards and a touchdown. Chris Howard has two of the blocked kicks.
Up Next
Lindenwood has its bye next week. The Lions will return to the field on Oct. 30 at Benedictine.
About The Wildcats
Culver-Stockton brings a young team to St. Charles with 11 freshmen and 10 sophomores listed on the two-deep. That youth has been unable to break through with a win yet as the squad is 0-6 on the season and 0-5 in conference play.
Dan Wernick is the team's quarterback. He has thrown for 473 yards and one touchdown, and also has a rushing score. Justin Hubbard and Blake Jackson have combined for 458 yards and Hubbard has two rushing scores. Stephon Watson has 13 receptions for 117 yards, and Kris Vincent has 137 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Brent Holtrop leads the defense with 52 tackles and two fumble recoveries. Adam Gunterman has a team-high 7.5 tackles for loss and Greg Kindle leads with two interceptions.
Last Week
In non-conference action, Culver-Stockton fell to Peru State by a 24-14 score. The score was tied at 14 in the fourth quarter before Peru State scored the final 10 points.
Culver-Stockton had a +3 turnover margin after forcing two fumbles and two interceptions. Brent Holtrop had 11 tackles and Ryan Javan had 10 stops.
Dan Wernick threw for 77 yards and rushed for 38. Stephon Watson had a team-high 34 receiving yards.
Head Coach Cameron Keller
Cameron Keller is in his first season at Culver-Stockton. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach at Hastings and Falcon High School. At those two schools, his teams had a record of 65-14.
