Storylines
- The Lindenwood football team faces its first NCAA Division II nationally-ranked team this weekend with a 2:00 p.m. game on Saturday against No. 21 Emporia State. The Lions are 5-1 on the season and 4-1 in MIAA play. The Hornets are a perfect 6-0 on the season with all six games being a conference contest.
- The Lions defeated Fort Hays State by a 20-17 margin last week.
Marvin Byrd scored on a one-yard run with 7:14 - emaining to give Lindenwood the lead. The defense then sealed the victory when
Pierre Desir intercepted a pass in the endzone with 1:17 left in the fourth quarter.
- Lindenwood lost
Ben Gomez, its starting quarterback, in the game's first series.
Taylor Jasin stepped in without missing a beat and threw for 285 yards and one touchdown.
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Andrew Helmick continued his record-breaking year by breaking or tying two career marks. He is now the school's all-time leader with 2,078 receiving yards and is tied with 24 receiving touchdowns.
- Special teams played a big role in last week's victory when
Justin Broome recovered a fourth-quarter fumble on a punt return. Three plays later, the Lions scored their game-winning touchdown.
- Lindenwood's schedule is much harder the rest of the season. The combined record of its first six opponents is 8-28. he combined record of its remaining opponents is 24-5.
- Emporia State remained perfect on the year with a 19-15 win over Southwest Baptist last Saturday. The Hornets have also played the easiest part of their schedule, with all six of their opponents being the bottom six teams in the MIAA standings.
- Saturday's game will be a showdown between the top two passing teams in the MIAA. Lindenwood is first in the conference with 334.8 passing yards a game, while Emporia State is second with 313.5 passing yards a game.
- This game will be the second of three straight Homecoming games for Lindenwood. The Lions were selected as the Homecoming opponent for Fort Hays State and Emporia, and they will have their Homecoming Game on Oct. 20 against Washburn.
Lions Offense
- Lindenwood ranks fifth in the MIAA in scoring offense (34.8 ppg) and fifth in total offense (434.8). The Lions are first in pass offense, but just 13th rushing offense.
- Running back
Denodus O'Bryant needs just six all-purpose yards this week to reach the 5,000 mark for his career. As a Lion, he has 2,479 rushing yards, 1,208 receiving yards, and 1,307 kickoff return yards.
- Fifth-year senior
Taylor Jasin threw more passes last weekend (39) than the rest of his career. He completed 61.5 percent of his passes for 285 yards, and had his first touchdown pass.
- Wide receiver
Andrew Helmick enters play this week fourth in the MIAA in receiving yards per game (102.2) and six in receptions per game (5.5). He is on pace to shatter his own school single-season receiving yards mark of 81.9 yards.
Lions Defense
- Lindenwood's defense is ninth in the MIAA in scoring defense (24.3 ppg) and eighth in total defense (366.2). The Lions are 11th in rushing defense and sixth in pass defense.
- With five games remaining,
Pierre Desir has already tied Lindenwood's single-season interception mark of six. He leads the MIAA in total interceptions.
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Connor Harris led the Lions in tackles for the fifth time in six games last weekend. The true freshman set a season-best with 14 tackles against Fort Hays State. He has recorded at least eight tackles in every game.
- Lindenwood's defense has allowed just 59 points in the second half of games, including 28 in the fourth quarter of blowout wins.
- The Lions are tied for the MIAA lead with 18 forced turnovers. Other turnover leaders besides
Pierre Desir are
Malach Radigan with two forced fumbles, and
Joe Day with two fumble recoveries.
Lions Special Teams
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James Neal is a perfect 27-of-27 on the season on PATs, and four-of-four on field goals. He is the only MIAA kicker who has not missed a kick.
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Devin Davis leads Lindenwood with six special teams tackles, all on kickoff coverage.
Lions Schedule
- Lindenwood faces another nationally-ranked team on Oct. 20 when Washburn comes to St. Charles for a 1:30 p.m. Homecoming contest.
About Emporia State
- Tyler Eckenrode leads the MIAA in passing yards per game and total offense. He has 14 touchdown passes, including eight to Shjuan Richardson.
- Ben Carlson is the Hornets' leader with 50 tackles and two interceptions. Jeff Richards and Aaron Matthews have a team-high 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 or more sacks.
MIAA Notes
- This week's conference players of the week were: Trevor Adams, Northwest Missouri (offense), Ben Carlson, Emporia State (defense), and Jordan Simmons, Northwest Missouri (special teams).
- Five MIAA schools are nationally ranked by the AFCA: Pittsburg State (No. 1), Missouri Western (No. 4), Northwest Missouri (No. 7), Washburn (No. 19), and Emporia State (No. 21).
