For the second straight year, the Lindenwood football team did not enjoy its longest road trip of the season. The Lions faced Nebraska Kearney in Kearney, Neb. on Saturday afternoon and fell by a 31-13 margin.
 
The Lions got off to a slow start offensively, and the Lopers took advantage by jumping out to a 17-0 lead by early in the second quarter. Lindenwood finally got its first break of the game right before halftime when it forced a fumble in its territory and D'Andre Green recovered it. The offense had its best drive of the half and had first-and-goal on the Lopers' four-yard line. Lindenwood could not get in the endzone though and turned it over on downs right before the break.
 
Nebraska Kearney added to its lead on its first possession of the second half with a long touchdown run to make the score 24-0. Lindenwood would finally get on the board with a touchdown late in the third quarter, and both teams scored once in the fourth.
 
Nebraska Kearney finished the game with 397 yards of offense, including 240 on the ground. The Lions had their best rushing day of the season but still finished under 100 yards with 99. Lindenwood had a total of 310 yards, but averaged less than four yards a play.
 
Lindenwood was led defensively by Roderick Ryles and Connor Harris who both had 11 tackles. Skyler Suggs had 1.5 tackles for loss, including assisting on the team's only sack in the game. Steven Pace and Jeremy Morris both had a pass breakup.
 
Offensively, Graham Lindman finished with 21 completions for 211 yards. He did not have a touchdown or an interception. Greg Coble was the top receiver with five catches for 73 yards. Lavorrie Johnson had 68 rushing yards and a touchdown, and Marvin Byrd had a rushing touchdown.
 
Game Notes: Lindenwood falls to 1-6 on the season and in MIAA play ... Nebraska Kearney improves to 2-5 on the year and in conference action … Nebraska Kearney now leads the all-time series by a 2-1 margin, with the home team winning every game by at least 18 points … Lindenwood did not throw an interception in a game for the first time this season … Connor Harris had his 13th career game with double-figure tackles, and Roderick Ryles had his fifth career game with 10 or more tackles … Jaron Alexander moved into tenth-place in Lindenwood's record book with 1,245 receiving yards … Lindenwood returns home next Saturday to face Missouri Southern at 1:30 p.m. at Hunter Stadium.