complete game notes in .pdf format

Storyline
Two of the top football programs that are currently making the transition to the NCAA Division II level will meet at Hunter Stadium on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. when Lindenwood University hosts Azusa Pacific University.

The Lions were accepted into the NCAA candidacy stage a year earlier than the Cougars, and they have already left the NAIA. In its transition season, Lindenwood is 5-2 including road wins over NCAA Division I Northern Colorado and NCAA Division II Texas A&M-Kingsville. The latest win was a 61-16 Homecoming victory last weekend over Kansas Wesleyan.

Azusa Pacific is in its final season at the NAIA level and is making a run at the national championship. The Cougars are No. 8 in the national poll.

The matchup will be a showdown of two high scoring offenses. The Lions are averaging 37 points a game, including averaging 64 points against NAIA programs. They are led by wide receiver Andrew Helmick who has caught six touchdown passes over the last two games. Azusa Pacific is averaging 50.4 points led by a rush offense that is compiling 340 yards a contest.

The strength of both Lindenwood's and Azusa Pacific's defenses are their rush defenses. Both teams are allowing around 100 rushing yards a game and less than three rush yards per carry.

A Lindenwood Win Would...
- improve the program to 124-115-2 all-time.
- improve the Lions to 72-21 under head coach Patrick Ross.
- be the 25th straight regular-season win for the program at Hunter Stadium.
- be the first win over a top-10 NAIA team since defeating No. 8 Missouri Valley by a 45-27 score in 2010.
- improve the team to 5-3 over top-10 NAIA programs since the start of the 2009 season.

A Lindenwood Loss Would...
- drop the program to 123-116-2 all-time.
- drop the Lions to 71-22 under head coach Patrick Ross.
- be the team's third straight loss over a top-10 NAIA program.
- be the first regular season home loss since 2006.

WR Records Lists
A pair of Lindenwood wide receivers are climbing the team's career record lists. Junior Andrew Helmick passed the 1,000 career receiving yards mark last week and is ninth all-time with 1088 yards. He is also fifth in receiving touchdowns with 14 and tenth with 68 receptions. Mike Bunton is tied for eighth with 72 receptions, and is tenth with 800 receiving yards.

More Helmick Numbers
Andrew Helmick became the first Lion with three touchdown receptions in back-to-back games last week. In those two contests, he has 201 receiving yards and six touchdowns on just nine receptions.

Helmick has eight receiving touchdowns on the season, four shy of the school record and tied for sixth in the school's single-season record list. Helmick is on pace to finish in the top-five for a season for receptions per game and receiving yards per game.

O'Bryant Returns
Two-time NAIA All-American Denodus O'Bryant returned last week and made an immediate impact with an 84-yard kickoff return touchdown. Lindenwood's career touchdown leader now has 44 for his career. He has 24 rushing touchdowns, 12 receiving touchdowns, and eight special teams scores.

Multiple Threats
Twelve different Lions have scored touchdowns this season. Andrew Helmick leads the team with eight, two more than running back Therman McGowan.

Forcing Turnovers
Lindenwood tied a season-high with three forced turnovers last week, match its total from the week before. In its five victories this year, the Lions are averaging two turnovers a game. In the losses, they forced just one turnover in two games.

Rush Defense
Lindenwood's rush defense will be put to the test this week against Azusa Pacific's rush offense that is averaging 340 yards.

On the season, the Lions are allowing 101.1 yards a game and 2.7 yards per rush. In the team's wins, Lindenwood is allowing 82.0 rushing yards a game, compared to 149.0 yards in the losses.

Pressure From Def. Ends
The Lions' top four defensive ends have provided a lot of pressure on opposing offensive this year. The quartet of Joe Day, Sean Gracy, Jon McComb, and Thomas Stubbs has combined for 23 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.

Day leads the team with eight tackles for loss, one more than McComb. Both players have had at least one stop for a loss in every game they have appeared in this year. McComb is also tied for second on the team with four sacks.

Special Teams Tackles
Nick Grubbs led Lindenwood in tackles last week despite playing mostly on special teams. He recorded a tackle on six of Kansas Wesleyan's 10 kickoff returns.

Grubbs now has a team-high 10 special teams tackles, one more than Jon McComb and Dillon Hawkins.

Players of the Week
The team players of the week for the Kansas Wesleyan game were Jake Henesien on offense, Joe Day on defense, and Anderson Oliva on special teams.

Darren Bardot won the team's Living the D.R.E.A.M. award. That acronym stands for dedication, responsibility, enthusiasm, attitude, and motivation. The award goes to the player who exemplifies those qualities on the practice and game field, around campus, inside the dorm, and in the classroom.

Special Teams TDs
Lindenwood has scored five special teams touchdowns this season, marking the third straight season that it has scored at least five special teams touchdowns.

Mike Bunton leads the team with three, all of them coming on punt returns. He is averaging 17.3 yards per punt return and 22.5 yards on kickoff returns.

Therman McGowan also has a punt return touchdown, and Denodus O'Bryant has a kickoff return score.

Field Position Battle
Lindenwood dominated the field position battle last week, including having an average starting field position on the Kansas Wesleyan side of the field.

For the season, Lindenwood's average starting field position is its 41-yard line. Opponents are starting their drives on average at the 32-yard line.

In four of the team's seven games, all victories, Lindenwood has won the field position battle by seven yards or more.

Transition Programs
In 2011, there are 11 football programs that are transitioning to NCAA Division II that are either provisional or second-year candidacy programs. Out of those 11, Lindenwood is tied with Notre Dame College for the best record at 5-2.

Among second-year candidacy schools, Lindenwood is the only one with a winning record. The other five schools have a combined record of 6-28.

Schedule Breakdown
Lindenwood is 1-1 this season against NCAA Division I teams, 2-1 versus NCAA Division II squads, and 2-0 versus NAIA programs.

About the Cougars
Azusa Pacific is 6-1 on the season, with three lopsided victories over NCAA III programs, two over NAIA teams, and one over a NCAA II program. The lone loss was a two-point setback against NCAA Division I San Diego.

The Cougars lead the NAIA with 507.3 total yards and 50.4 points a game, and they are second with 340 rushing yards a game. Defensively, the team is 15th nationally by allowing 17.1 points a game.

Quarterback John van den Raadt leads the offense. He is averaging 146.6 passing and 99.9 rushing yards, and has a combined 23 touchdowns. Johnell Murphy is averaging 98.6 rushing yards and Matt Davis averages 68.7 receiving yards. Sean Barber leads the team with 59 tackles, and he has 4.5 tackles for loss.

Last Week
In its first road game, Azusa Pacific rushed for 442 yards in a 48-19 victory over Dixie State. The defense allowed just 245 total yards and recorded nine sacks.

Josh van den Raadt threw for two touchdowns, rushed for two touchdowns, and had 145 yards rushing. Johnell Murphy finished with 142 rushing yards. Sean Barber led the defense with 10 tackles, and Jimmy young had seven tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble.

Head Coach Victor Santa Cruz
Victor Santa Cruz is in his 10th season overall at Azusa Pacific, including his fifth as head coach. He has led the team to one NAIA postseason appearance.

Up Next
Lindenwood will take on former HAAC rival Culver-Stockton on Oct. 29 at Hunter Stadium at 1:30 p.m.

NCAA II Transition
Lindenwood is in its second year of NCAA Division II candidacy in 2011-12. The school has dropped its NAIA membership and is an independent.

In 2012-13, Lindenwood hopes to enter a provisional year in the NCAA. The Lions will join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association that season.

In 2013-14, assuming all expectations have been met, the NCAA will vote to make Lindenwood a full member.