Storylines
- The Lindenwood football team begins a two-game road stretch this Saturday with its longest trip of the season to Fort Hays State. The Lions are currently 4-1 on the season and 3-1 in MIAA play, while Fort Hays State is 1-4 overall and in conference action.
- The Lions are coming off their best performance of the season in a 49-28 victory over Nebraska-Kearney. Lindenwood led 49-7 after three quarters and set several offensive record in the game.
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Ben Gomez was named the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 480 yards and six touchdowns. He set the school single-game record for passing yards and threw for the third-most yards in MIAA history. He tied a school and conference mark with his six touchdown passes.
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Andrew Helmick set a Lindenwood record by recording 200 receiving yards in the game. Most impressive, the 200 yards were all collected in the first half of the contest.
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Denodus O'Bryant set another career record with his second quarter touchdown. He now has 330 career points, one more than former kicker Halley Ferrell.
- The final numbers on defense were deceiving as Lindenwood allowed just seven points and 285 total offensive yards through the first three quarters. In the second quarter, when the Lions turned the game into a rout, the defense forced two turnovers and allowed just 46 total yards.
- Fort Hays State is looking to continue its momentum after winning its first game of the season last week at Truman State by a 37-23 margin. The Tigers have played one of the toughest schedules in NCAA Division II, with its four losses all to teams in this week's national poll.
- A key matchup this week is whether Fort Hays State can stop Lindenwood's passing attack. The Lions lead the MIAA in pass offense with 340.0 yards per game, while Fort Hays State is second-to-last in the conference by allowing 294.8 passing yards a game.
- Lindenwood is on the road for the first time since the Sept. 1 game at Lincoln, and it is playing its first game outside the state of Missouri for the first time in 2012. The Lions are 10-14 all-time when playing in the state of Kansas, including winning its last two trips there in 2010.
Lions Offense
- Lindenwood ranks fifth in the MIAA in scoring offense (37.8 ppg) and fifth in total offense (431.4). The Lions are first in pass offense, but just 13th rushing offense.
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Andrew Helmick is poised to make his case as the top wide receiver in Lindenwood history even stronger. He needs just 57 receiving yards to tie Rudy Fleming for most career receiving yards, and needs one receiving touchdown to tie Matt Bramow for most career receiving scores.
- Helmick is currently second in the MIAA in receiving yards per game and receiving touchdowns, and is sixth in receptions per game. Among the top-10 players in receiving yards per game, Helmick is first with 18.4 yards per catch.
- Quarterback
Ben Gomez leads the MIAA in passing yards per game (333.8) and running back
Denodus O'Bryant leads the MIAA in touchdowns (8).
Lions Defense
- Lindenwood's defense is ninth in the MIAA in scoring defense (25.8 ppg) and ninth in total defense (364.8). The Lions are ninth in rushing defense and eighth in pass defense.
- Lindenwood ranks third in the MIAA by allowing opponents to convert on just 36.1 percent of third-down plays.
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James Wofford intercepted his second pass of the season against Nebraska-Kearney. He is second on the team in interceptions this year and has seven turnovers for his career.
- Lindenwood leads the MIAA in sacks with 18. The Lions are led by
Jon McComb with 3.5 sacks.
Malach Radigan and
Cody Reider each have 3.0.
- Lindenwood has forced 13 turnovers this season, with five fumble recoveries and eight interceptions. That mark is fourth in the MIAA and just two behind the leader.
Lions Special Teams
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James Neal is a perfect 25-of-25 on the season on PATs, and two-of-two on field goals. He is the only MIAA kicker who has not missed a kick.
- Lindenwood is the only team in the MIAA with a kickoff return touchdown this season. That came with
Denodus O'Bryant's 100-yard return versus Central Missouri.
Lions Schedule
- Lindenwood could face a ranked opponent for the first time in the MIAA when it travels to Emporia State on Oct. 13. The Hornets are currently No. 25 in the poll.
About Fort Hays State
- The Tigers' offensive leader is quarterback Tarean Austin. Austin has thrown four touchdowns and rushed for four.
- Layton Hickel and Austin Hubert both have a team-high 42 tackles on the season. Aaron Burton and Basil Bandy each have 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.
MIAA Notes
- This week's conference players of the week were:
Ben Gomez, Lindenwood (offense), Layton Hickel, Fort Hays State (defense), and Eli Kuhns, Emporia State (special teams).
- Five MIAA schools are nationally ranked by the AFCA: Pittsburg State (No. 1), Missouri Western (No. 5), Northwest Missouri (No. 8), Washburn (No. 20), and Emporia State (No. 25). Central Missouri is receiving votes.
