complete game notes in .pdf format
Storyline
Lindenwood will return to action this week when it travels to Benedictine for a Saturday afternoon contest. The Lions are well rested after having a bye last week following its Homecoming victory over Culver-Stockton.
The matchup to watch this week will be the top pass offense in the country testing itself against one of the top pass defenses in the NAIA. Lindenwood enters the game averaging 387.4 passing yards a game, and has passed for at least 320 yards in every game but one. Benedictine, meanwhile, is allowing just 136.8 passing yards a game. The Ravens have not given up more than 150 passing yards in their last five contests.
The Lindenwood defense will also receive a big test against Benedictine's strong rushing attack. The Lions have struggled a bit against the run the last four games and will have to slow down a Raven running game that is averaging over 190 yards a game.
This week's contest will match up two of the top coaches in the NAIA. Lindenwood's Patrick Ross has the third-best winning percentage among active coaches, while Benedictine's Larry Wilcox is third among active coaches in overall wins. Ross has had the advantage in this rivalry over his first six years at Lindenwood, winning five of the six contests versus the Ravens.
A Lindenwood Win Would...
- improve the program to 116-112-2 all-time.
- improve the Lions to 64-18 under head coach Patrick Ross.
- be the fourth straight victory over Benedictine and the sixth over the last seven years.
- be the 26th HAAC victory in its last 27 conference contests.
- be the Lions second straight victory in Atchison.
A Lindenwood Loss Would...
- drop the program to 115-113-2 all-time.
- drop the Lions to 63-19 under Patrick Ross.
- be Benedictine's first victory over the Lions since 2006.
- improve Benedictine to 11-6 all-time against the Lions, including a 5-3 mark in games in Atchison.
Career Record Leaders
Two major Lindenwood career records have already been broken this season. Denodus O'Bryant became the all-time touchdown leader and Matt Bramow broke the touchdown reception record.
O'Bryant has 35 touchdowns in his career, with 21 coming on the ground, eight through the air, five in kickoff returns, and one on a fumble return.
Bramow has caught 22 touchdown receptions in his career, including 12 last year and nine already this season.
Bramow needs just six more receptions to tie that Lindenwood career record.
Historic Offense
Lindenwood is scoring 56.1 points a game and is averaging 582.7 yards of total offense. Both numbers are the highest among every level of college football in 2010. If the Lions keep this pace, it will break the NAIA record for points and be the second-most yards in NAIA history.
Lindenwood has scored 45 or more points in every game but one this year, and has at least 531 yards of offense in every game but one.
Staback Leads Lions' Offense
The offensive numbers start with the production of Philip Staback. Staback enters this week first in the NAIA in passing yards per game and pass efficiency. He is also third in total offense per game.
Over the last three games, Staback has been nearly flawless, throwing 14 touchdowns and no interceptions. He is averaging 337.3 passing yards and has completed 77.9 percent of his passes.
High Scoring Rate
The Lindenwood offense has had 85 drives this season, excluding ones that end at halftime or the end of a game. The Lions have scored touchdowns on 61.2 percent of those drives.
Defensive Improvement
The Lindenwood defense is allowing just 15.6 points a game this season, which would rank second on the school's all-time list. Last year at this point in the schedule, the Lions were allowing 2.5 points more a game.
Field Position
The defense and special teams have helped the offense with good field position lately. Over the last three games, nearly 43 percent of the Lions' possessions have started on the opponents' side of the field. The offense has capitalized by scoring nearly 80 percent of the time with the short field.
Thomas With The INT
Hakim Thomas picked off his team-high third interception of the season against Culver-Stockton. He is now one off the HAAC lead in that category.
Turnover Margin
The Lions have a +7 turnover margin over the last three contest. On the season, it is 12th in the NAIA with a +6 mark.
Up Next
Lindenwood has its final regular season home game on Nov. 6 versus Graceland.
About The Ravens
Benedictine opened the season with three straight wins and was ranked as high as No. 16 in the NAIA. The team has won just twice though in its last five games.
Wide receiver Chris Langley is the top offensive threat. He is averaging nearly 80 receiving yards a game and has 11 touchdowns. Jesse Thomas is the leading rusher with nearly 70 yards a game and he and DJ Matysek have combined for nine rushing touchdowns. Nick Kammerer has started the last three games and has thrown four touchdown passes.
Ashton Stephens leads the defense with 63 tackles. Jordan Ancar has a team-high 8.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. Anthony Brown and Dustin Ralls each have two interceptions, and Clint Hanf and Ancar have two fumble recoveries.
Last Week
Benedictine raced out to a 31-10 halftime lead on its way to a 45-17 victory over Culver-Stockton.
Jesse Thomas rushed for 143 yards and a score, while Chris Langley had 124 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Three different quarterbacks threw touchdown passes in the game.
The defense allowed just 88 passing yards and had three interceptions. Ashton Stephens had nine tackles and Filip Johnson recorded seven stops.
Head Coach Larry Wilcox
Larry Wilcox is in his 32nd season as head coach of the Ravens. The four-time HAAC Coach of the Year has won five HAAC titles and qualified for the playoffs 11 times.
