Lindenwood Game Notes

Missouri Western Game Notes

MIAA Weekly Notes

Storylines
 - The Lindenwood football team has one of the biggest home games in program history this Thursday evening when it hosts Missouri Western at 7 p.m. The game is the NCAA Division II National Game of the Week and will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.
 
- Lindenwood is 1-2 in the MIAA and is tied for sixth in the conference standings. Missouri Western is 2-1 and tied for fourth in the MIAA.
 
- Lindenwood is coming off a 20-7 loss to Fort Hays State last week. The Lions and Tigers were tied at seven early in the third quarter, but Fort Hays State scored the final 13 points of the game. Missouri Western earned a 30-0 win over Northeastern State last Saturday. The defense allowed just 252 yards of total offense and intercepted four passes, including one returned for a 100-yard touchdown.
 
- Lindenwood's offense will need to come alive against one of the top defenses in the MIAA. The Griffons are allowing just 11.7 points a game, while the Lions have scored just 14 points total over the last two weeks.
 
- Lindenwood and Missouri Western will be meeting for the first time. The Griffons are the first of three first-time opponents for the Lions this year. The other two are Northwest Missouri and Northeastern State.
 
- Lindenwood is playing its third Thursday night game of the season, and the fifth Thursday contest in the history of the program. The Lions are 3-1 in their other Thursday encounters.
 
- The Lions are playing their second game in program history on national television, including their first from Hunter Stadium. The previous appearance was the 2009 NAIA National Championship game that was also shown on CBS Sports Network. Lindenwood fell in that contest by a 25-22 score.
 
- Lindenwood and Missouri Western have been regulars in the postseason under their two current head coaches. Under head coach Patrick Ross, the Lions advanced to the NAIA Playoffs five times before their move to the NCAA Division II level. Lindenwood also earned a bid to the Mineral Water Bowl in its first season of NCAA play. Under head coach Jerry Partridge, Missouri Western has made four NCAA Division II playoff appearances, and six Mineral Water Bowl showings.
 
Lions Offense
- Lindenwood enters this week ranked eighth in the MIAA in scoring offense (19.3) and tenth in total offense (273.7).
 
- Wide receiver Alex Robinson returned to the lineup last week. Last year's team leader in receiving touchdowns quickly returned to form with a three-yard touchdown reception.
 
- Quarterback Dillon Miller surpassed the 4,000 career passing yards mark against Fort Hays State. He enters play this week with 4,096 career passing yards. Only three other Lindenwood quarterbacks have thrown for over 4,000 career yards.
 
- Wide receiver Jaron Alexander also hit a milestone against Fort Hays State. Alexander went over the 1,000 career receiving yards mark. He currently has caught 75 balls for 1,041 yards as a Lion.
 
- Lindenwood is tied for fourth in the MIAA with five rushing touchdowns this season. Five of its seven offensive touchdowns have come on the ground.
 
Lions Defense
- Lindenwood enters play this week ranked ninth in the MIAA in scoring defense (32.0) and 10th in total defense (404.0)
 
- Lindenwood's defense held Fort Hays State to just 285 yards of total offense. It was the second fewest total offensive yards that it has allowed in a MIAA game.
 
- Linebacker Connor Harris recorded his tenth career double-figure tackle game against Fort Hays State. He leads the team and is seventh in the conference with 26 tackles. Harris leads the MIAA with 24 solo tackles.

- Jeremy Morris has recorded a pass breakup in every game this season and has a team-high four in that category. He is second in the MIAA in pass breakups.
 
- Chaz Fulton set a career-best with two tackles for loss last weekend. He leads the team in 2014 with 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
 
- Over the last two games, the Lions are holding opponents under 30 percent on third-downs.
 
Lions Special Teams
- All-MIAA punter Edward Burns has punted 25 times this season. Only six of those punts have been returnable, and Burns is averaging just under 40 yards per punt.
 
Misc. Notes
- Lindenwood will be in action again on Oct. 4 with a road contest at Emporia State.
 
- The Lions are 6-1 all-time in MIAA games when forcing more turnovers than they give up. Lindenwood is 4-10 when it has more or the same amount of turnovers as its opposition. This season, the Lions were +2 in their win, and -5 in their two losses.
 
About Missouri Western
- Missouri Western is 2-1 on the year with home wins over Central Missouri (10-9) and Northeastern State (30-0), and a road loss to Central Oklahoma (26-17).
 
- Raphael Spencer is second in the MIAA with 116.3 rushing yards a game. He has three rushing touchdowns on the year.
 
- Stephen Jeregens is second in the conference with 33 tackles. Michael Jordan is tied for the conference lead with three interceptions.