Lindenwood Game Notes

Emporia State Game Notes

MIAA Notes

Storylines
- The Lindenwood football team celebrates its Homecoming this week with a 1:30 p.m. game against nationally-ranked Emporia State.

- The Lions enter this week's game with a 3-3 overall record and a 2-3 MIAA mark. The Lions are trying to snap a two-game losing streak.

- Emporia State is 6-0 overall and 6-0 in conference action. Going back to last season, the Hornets have won eight straight games. They are currently ranked 20th at the NCAA Division II level.

- Lindenwood is 1-2 all-time against nationally-ranked NCAA Division II programs. Last season, the Lions defeated No. 18 Pittsburg State, but lost to No. 21 Emporia State and No. 18 Washburn.

- Lindenwood is 17-5 all-time on its Homecoming. The Lions are 7-2 on Homecoming during the Patrick Ross era, with one of those losses occurring last year in a 19-16 setback against Washburn.

- Turnovers have been the biggest problem in Lindenwood's recent losing streak. The Lions have turned the ball over 11 times and forced just one turnover in the last two games. Emporia State comes into the game with just four turnovers on the year and a +12 turnover margin.

- Lindenwood is 20th in NCAA Division II with 305.5 passing yards a game. The Hornets are tenth in the conference by allowing 253.8 passing yards a contest.

- Emporia State has one of the top offenses in the nation. The Hornets are first in passing efficiency, second in total offense, fifth in passing offense, and sixth in scoring offense. The Lions are third in the MIAA by allowing 221.7 passing yards a game.

- Emporia State is 1-0 all-time against Lindenwood. The Hornets won a defensive battle in Emporia last year by a 13-0 score. The Lions trailed just 6-0 heading into the final quarter before the Hornets sealed the win with a touchdown early in the fourth.

- The Lions and Hornets were the MIAA's two bowl representatives last season. Lindenwood played in the Mineral Water Bowl, while Emporia State competed in the Kanza Bowl.

Lions Offense
- Lindenwood ranks 11th in the MIAA in scoring offense (22.8) and 10th in total offense (397.3).

- Dillon Miller ranks third in the conference with 277.8 passing yards a game. He is one of four MIAA quarterbacks to have a 300-yard passing game in at least half of his games this season.

- Jaron Alexander is seventh in the MIAA with 86.8 receiving yards a game. He is averaging 106.8 yards the last four weeks.

- Marvin Byrd leads the team with five touchdowns this season. He has a rushing touchdown in every game but one.

- Tre' Roby had a breakout game last week. He touched the ball 18 times and had career-highs with 66 rushing and 90 receiving yards.

Lions Defense
- Lindenwood ranks eighth in the MIAA in scoring defense (32.2) and seventh in total defense (428.8).

- The Lions ranks fourth in the conference with nine interceptions this season. Pierre Desir has three, and Wesley Thomas, Brian Hawthorne, and D'Andre Green all have two.

- Clint Koons is averaging nearly 10 tackles the last four weeks. He has led the team in tackles twice in that span, and has two double-figure tackle games.

- Pierre Desir has 24 career interceptions, which ranks third in MIAA history. He is one shy of moving into a tie for second. Desir is the all-time leader in MIAA history with 50 career passes defended. At just Lindenwood, he ranks second with 12 career interceptions, two behind the program's record.

- Thomas Stubbs is second in the MIAA with 3.5 sacks. He also leads the team with 5.0 tackles for loss.

Lions Special Teams
- Lindenwood is ninth in NCAA Division II and first in the MIAA with a 39.6 net punting average. Edward Burns is averaging 43.2 yards per punt.

- James Neal is three-for-three on field goal attempts this season, and nine-of-10 on PATs. He is third on the team with 18 points.

Lions Schedule
- Lindenwood hits the road for two straight road games starting with a Oct. 26 contest at Washburn.

About Emporia State
- Emporia State is averaging 48.5 points a game while allowing just 21.2 points.

- Quarterback Brent Wilson is averaging 339.7 passing yard a game. He has 27 passing touchdowns, three rushing scores, and just one interception.

- DeShawn Dinwiddie, Jordan Sanders, and Tariq Allen have combined for 122 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, and 3.0 sacks.

MIAA Notes
- Five MIAA teams, Northwest Missouri (2), Missouri Western (4), Pittsburg State (7), Washburn (13), and Emporia State (20) are ranked in the latest AFCA national poll.

- The MIAA Players of the Week were: Pittsburg State's John Brown (offense), Pittsburg State's Nate Dreiling (defense), and Fort Hays State's Cameron Owens (special teams).