The Lindenwood football team finalized its 2012 schedule this week. The Lions will play their lone non-conference game against Glenville State. The contest will be a special Friday night game at Hunter Stadium.

Glenville State is a NCAA Division II program out of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Pioneers went 5-6 last season, including a 5-3 mark in conference play. Glenville State is expected to return three first-team all-conference players, including running back Joe Mesadieu who rushed for nearly 1,100 yards last season. Also back are offensive lineman Mark Jackson and defensive lineman James Washington.

Lindenwood opens the 2012 season on Sept. 1 with its inaugural MIAA game at Lincoln (Mo.). The Lions then begin a four-game home stand with contests against Southwest Baptist, Central Missouri, Glenville State, and Nebraska-Kearney. The team next has back-to-back road trips to Kansas to face Fort Hays State and Emporia State.

Rounding out the six-game home schedule are contests against Washburn and Missouri Southern. The Oct. 20 Washburn game is Homecoming for the Lions, and the Oct. 27 Missouri Southern contest is the MIAA TV Game of the Week. Lindenwood ends its first season of MIAA play with road trips to defending national champion Pittsburg State and Truman State.

Lindenwood is coming off an 8-3 season last year during its transition to the MIAA and the NCAA Division II level. The Lions will hold their upcoming Spring Game on Saturday, April 21 at 7 p.m. at Hunter Stadium.

complete 2012 football schedule