Box Score The Lindenwood football team closed out its 2012 home schedule on Saturday afternoon with a 45-30 victory over Missouri Southern. Twenty-two seniors played their final home game at Hunter Stadium and they won for the 21st time at home over the last four seasons.

Two of the top offensive players in school history led the Lions to their victory. Andrew Helmick scored four touchdowns in the game, with each one being over 60 yards. He broke a school record with 218 receiving yards and tied the single-game record of three receiving touchdowns. Denodus O'Bryant scored one receiving touchdown and finished the game with 114 rushing yards and 40 receiving yards.

Despite the numbers put up by Helmick and O'Bryant, it took a while for Lindenwood to take control of the game. Missouri Southern returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and then scored another touchdown on its first offensive possession for a 14-0 lead.

Late in the first quarter, Lindenwood finally got a spark from its special teams. Malach Radigan blocked a Missouri Southern punt and picked it up for a 15-yard punt return touchdown. After a three-and-out, Lindenwood took over on its 37-yard line. On the very first play, quarterback Dillon Miller completed a pass to Helmick that Helmick turned into a 63-yard touchdown reception with just 27 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Lindenwood's offense continued to put points on the board throughout the second quarter and the Lions scored 31 unanswered points at one point. James Neal kicked a field goal to put Lindenwood ahead for good, and Helmick scored two more touchdowns on a 65-yard pass play and a 76-yard punt return.

A big reason for those points was Lindenwood's defense getting the ball back to the offense. Missouri Southern went five straight drives with running just three plays in the first half. It had to punt the ball on four of those drives, and Lindenwood's Pierre Desir intercepted a pass on the other. Missouri Southern did put together a drive late in the half to make the score 31-21 at halftime.

The third quarter was quick with both teams having the ball just two times. Lindenwood scored the only points when it ended a nine-play drive with a 26-yard O'Bryant touchdown reception. Missouri Southern did rally in the fourth quarter with two touchdowns to pull within 38-30. Lindenwood sealed the victory though by answering that last touchdown with a 73-yard pass play to Helmick. Missouri Southern did not pick up a first down on its next possession and Lindenwood was able to run out the clock.

Miller put up impressive numbers in his second game as a starting quarterback. He completed 11-of-20 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns. Helmick finished with 328 all-purpose yards and O'Bryant had 177 all-purpose yards.

Jaz Granderson led Lindenwood's defense with 14 tackles, including one tackle for loss, and he also had two breakups. Connor Harris was also in double figures with 10. Desir finished the game with two interceptions. He now has eight this season which is a new Lindenwood record. Chris Floyd had the team's only sack and he finished with 1.5 tackles for loss.

Game Notes: Lindenwood improves to 6-3 overall and 5-3 in MIAA play … Missouri Southern falls to 5-4 overall and 4-4 in conference play … Lindenwood is now 8-1 on Senior Day under head coach Patrick Ross … over the last four years, this year's senior class has helped Lindenwood go 36-9 … this year's senior class includes 15 players that have been with the program for at least four years … Denodus O'Bryant had his second straight 100-yard rushing game and he now has 342 rushing yards the last two weeks … Helmick had his second 200-yard receiving game of the season, the first two in Lindenwood history … Lindenwood had just 60 punt return yards on the season prior to this game, but recorded 106 in this contest … Lindenwood travels to Pittsburg State next week for a road contest against the defending NCAA Division II national champions.