Storylines- The Lindenwood football team has its final game of 2014 season this week when it travels to Northeastern State. The Lions and RiverHawks will kickoff at 1 p.m.
- Lindenwood is 1-9 on the season after falling to Central Oklahoma last week. The Lions kicked a field goal at the end of the second quarter to be down just 14-13 at halftime, but the Bronchos scored 31 unanswered points in the second half.
- Northeastern State is still looking to give first-year head coach Rob Robinson his first win, as the RiverHawks are 0-10 on the year. Last week, Northeastern State fell 42-7 at Washburn.
- Lindenwood and Northeastern State will be playing for the first time. The RiverHawks are the third team that the Lions have played for the first time in 2014, joining Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri.
- This Saturday, Lions linebacker
Connor Harris will conclude a season that saw him tackle his way into the NCAA Division II record book. He is currently fourth in the nation with 138 tackles, and is first in the MIAA by 12 tackles. He needs just two tackles this Saturday to break into the top-25 NCAA Division II tackles list for a season (since the NCAA began recording defensive stats in 2000), and will be just outside the top-ten if he continues his season average of nearly 14 tackles a game.
- Lindenwood is currently ranked second in the MIAA with 263.9 passing yards a game. The Lions are averaging 294.7 passing yards over the last six games since
Graham Lindman was named the starting quarterback. Northeastern State enters the contest ranked fifth in the MIAA by allowing just 187.3 passing yards a game.
- The Lions defense will be going against a Northeastern State offense that is scoring just 10 points a game, and averaging 274.7 yards a contest. Lindenwood is allowing 200.5 yards a game through the air and 214.5 yards on the ground.
- Lindenwood and Northeastern State have played in two out of the last three Mineral Water Bowls. The RiverHawks appeared in the 2011 game, while the Lions represented the MIAA in the 2012 bowl game.
Lions Offense- Lindenwood enters this week ranked tenth in the MIAA in scoring offense (18.0) and eighth in total offense (324.6).
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Jaron Alexander is currently fourth in the MIAA with 5.3 receptions a game. His 53 receptions is seventh in Lindenwood history for a season, 14 shy of the all-time record. Alexander needs eight receptions to break the single-season school record for receptions per game.
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Graham Lindman is averaging 225.0 passing yards a game this season. He would rank second in the MIAA in that category if he met the minimum number of games played (75%).
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Greg Coble recorded his first 100-yard receiving game last weekend with 101 against Central Oklahoma. He now ranks tenth in the MIAA in receiving yards per game, two spots behind teammate
Jaron Alexander.
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Lavorrie Johnson currently leads the team with 30 points, six more than
Marvin Byrd. That duo has five rushing touchdowns, three receiving scores, and one kickoff return touchdown.
Lions Defense- Lindenwood enters play this week ranked eleventh in the MIAA in scoring defense (36.5) and in total defense (415.0).
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Connor Harris has three games this year with 20 or more tackles. He is the only NCAA Division II player with three games of 20 or more tackles in 2014, and just one of three players among all levels of NCAA football.
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Connor Harris was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week for his performance last week, his second weekly award this year.
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Steven Pace had an interception and a sack last week against the Bronchos. He is the first Lion to record an interception and a sack in the same game since Logen Wright accomplished the feat in the 2009 NAIA playoff game against Langston.
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Skyler Suggs ranks sixth in the MIAA in tackles for loss (9.5), and he is ninth in sacks (4.0).
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Jeremy Morris is eighth in the MIAA in passes defended (9) and is ninth in pass breakups (7).
Lions Special Teams-
Brandon White kicked a 41-yard field goal against Central Oklahoma, the longest of his career. He also made two field goals in a game for the first time.
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Edward Burns ranks fifth in the MIAA with 40.1 yards a punt.
Misc. Notes- Lindenwood will open its 2015 season on Sept. 3 at home against Washburn.
About Northeastern State- Northeastern State is looking for its first win since ending the 2013 season wtih a 45-38 victory over Central Oklahoma.
- Garrett Powell is the team's top offensive threat. He has caught 57 passes for 728 yards and five touchdowns. Terrance Dixon has three rushing touchdowns and Kevin Pantastico has seven touchdown passes.
- Steffon Herd leads the team with 75 tackles. Another top defensive player is Kenneth Davis who has 67 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss. Tony Newman and Peter Udoumoh both had one interception and one fumble recovery.
