Lindenwood Game Notes

Nebraska Kearney Preview

MIAA Weekly Notes

Storylines
- The Lindenwood football team has its longest road trip of the season this week. The Lions will travel to Kearney, Neb. for a 1 p.m. game on Saturday against Nebraska Kearney.
 
- Both teams are currently tied in the MIAA standings with a 1-5 record. Lindenwood's victory came in week one of the season against Washburn, while Nebraska Kearney picked up its win last week against Northeastern State.
 
- Last week, the Lions lost their Homecoming contest to the No. 1 team in NCAA Division II, Northwest Missouri. The Bearcats jumped out to a 37-6 halftime lead and won the contest by a 51-20 margin. Nebraska Kearney rushed for 382 yards on its way to a 34-7 win over Northeastern State in week six of the season.
 
- The all-time series between Lindenwood and Nebraska Kearney is tied with both teams winning once on their home fields. Both results have been lopsided with the Lions winning 49-28 in 2012, and the Lopers winning 56-6 last season.
 
- Lindenwood's schedule gets easier as it moves into the second half of its season. The combined record of its first six opponents were 23-13 (63.9%), while the combined record of its remaining opponents is 12-18 (40%).
 
- The game will be a showdown between two different types of offenses. Lindenwood has passed the ball on 66.2 percent of its plays this season, and has gained 81.3 percent of its total offensive yards through the air. The Lopers have run the ball on 55.2 percent of its plays, and it has gained 64.4 percent of its yards on the ground.
 
- Lindenwood is seventh in the MIAA by allowing 184.2 rushing yards a game, and it is fourth by allowing just six rushing touchdowns. Nebraska Kearney is sixth in the MIAA by allowing 206.5 passing yards a game, and it has allowed just six passing touchdowns.
 
- Lindenwood is playing a game in the state of Nebraska for just the third time in program history, and it is still looking for its first win in the state. The Lions are 3-6 all-time against schools from the state of Nebraska.
 
Lions Offense
- Lindenwood enters this week ranked ninth in the MIAA in scoring offense (18.2) and ninth in total offense (306.7).
 
- Graham Lindman has back-to-back games with over 300 passing yards. He is the first Lindenwood quarterback with two straight 300-yard passing games since Philip Staback in 2010.
 
- Wide receivers Alex Robinson and Jaron Alexander continue climbing the Lindenwood career leaders lists. Robinson is currently sixth in receptions with 121, and fifth in receiving yards with 1,657. Alexander is eighth in receptions with 92, and he needs 31 more yards to move into the top-ten list.
 
- Nine different Lions have scored touchdowns this season, led by Marvin Byrd with three scores. Byrd is also first among active players with 18 career touchdowns.
 
- Lindenwood threw 57 passes last weekend, the third most in program history. Graham Lindman threw all 57, the second most passes by an individual at Lindenwood.
 
Lions Defense
- Lindenwood enters play this week ranked eleventh in the MIAA in scoring defense (35.0) and ninth in total defense (395.0).
 
- Connor Harris ranks second in the MIAA this week with 78 total tackles, and is first with 45 solo stops. He is fourth in NCAA Division II in solo tackles and ninth in total tackles.
 
- Jeremy Morris ranks fifth in the MIAA with six passes defended. He has five pass breakups and one interception this season. He has at least one pass defended in all but one game in 2014.
 
- Roderick Ryles has put up big tackle numbers the last three weeks, averaging nearly 11 tackles a game in that span.
 
- Lindenwood recorded 7.0 tackles for loss against Northwest Missouri, the second-most the Bearcats have allowed this season. Eight different players contributed at least an assisted tackle for loss.
 
- Chaz Fulton leads the team with 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
 
Lions Special Teams
- Lavorrie Johnson had his second game last week with over 100 all-purpose yards as he recorded 146, including 121 on kickoff returns. The 121 kickoff return yards were the ninth most in school history for a single game.
 
Misc. Notes
- Lindenwood will return home on Oct. 25 to take on Missouri Southern. Kickoff for that contest is 1:30 p.m.
 
About Nebraska Kearney
- Nebraska Kearney opened the year with five straight losses, before a 27-point victory last week.
 
- Nebraska Kearney ranks third in the MIAA in fourth-down conversions, and seventh on third-down attempts.
 
- Quarterback Bronson Marsh is averaging 113.2 yards passing and 84.0 yards rushing. He has had a hand in 11 of the team's 13 touchdowns.
 
- Tyke Kozeal leads the conference with 80 tackles. He also has 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception, one pass breakup, and two forced fumbles.