Box Score Lindenwood University football coach Patrick Ross won his 100th career game on Thursday night in Topeka, Kan., as the Lions opened the season with a 44-38 victory over Washburn.
 
The Lions fell in a 17-0 hole in the first 10 minutes of the game, in large part by losing the field position battle. The first 20 offensive plays, and 33 of the first 37, were snapped on Lindenwood's side of the field.  Washburn opened the scoring with a blocked punt that it returned 26 yards for a touchdown, and it then added another touchdown and a field goal.
 
Lindenwood started its comeback right after that, sparked by a 33-yard pass play from Dillon Miller to Jaron Alexander that got the ball into Ichabod territory. The Lions picked up the final 27 yards in that drive on the ground, including a five-yard touchdown run by Marvin Byrd.
 
Washburn went up 24-7 with a touchdown in the final seconds of the first quarter, but the second quarter was all Lindenwood. The Lions got good field position early in the quarter after Connor Harris intercepted a pass and returned it to the Washburn 34-yard line. Lindenwood went all 34 yards on the ground, including a third-down 18-yard run by Miller and a five-yard touchdown run by Tre' Roby.
 
The Lions later took over on the Washburn 20-yard line after a botched Ichabod punt, and Stephen Kaiser finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Lindenwood ended the half with a 10-play, 40-yard two-minute drill. That drive concluded with a 40-yard Brandon White field goal that made the score 24-24 at halftime.
 
In the third quarter, Washburn outgained Lindenwood 145-42, but the Lions outscored the Ichabods 13-7 thanks to two big plays. The first was a 97-yard kickoff return touchdown by Lavorrie Johnson that tied the game at 31-31. The second was the second interception by Harris which he returned 48 yards. Lindenwood's offense took it the final 22 yards, completing the drive on a one-yard run by Byrd. The Lions missed the extra point though.
 
The missed extra point led to Washburn retaking the lead with a touchdown with 14:09 remaining in the game. Lindenwood answered with its biggest drive of the game, going 13 plays and 79 yards for a touchdown. The Lions completed one third-down play and one fourth-down play on the drive, and scored on a 12-yard touchdown reception by Jordan Gater.
 
Both teams went three-and-out on their next possession, and Washburn had one more chance. The Ichabods drove to the Lindenwood 45-yard line before the Lions' defense held. After a rush for no yards on first down, Washburn threw three straight incomplete passes for a turnover on downs. Lindenwood got the ball back with 1:56 left and was able to run the clock out.
 
Washburn had a 451-319 edge in total offense yards, but the Ichabods turned the ball over three times and had two turnover on downs. Lindenwood turned those five possessions into 21 points. The Lions finished with 89 yards rushing and 230 passing, and they had just one turnover.
 
Harris was the defensive player of the game in his first game back after last year's season-ending shoulder injury. Besides his two interceptions, he also had a team-high 10 tackles. Dante Lewis and Brian Hawthorne each had six tackles. Devon Durham had a forced fumble and a sack, Xavier Warren had a fumble recovery, and DeShawn Lawson and Chaz Fulton both assisted on a sack.
 
Offensively, Miller finished 24-of-42 passing for 230 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 11 yards. Jaron Alexander had team-highs with six receptions and 64 receiving yards. Johnson was the leading rusher with 42 yards.
 
Game Notes: Lindenwood improves to 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the MIAA … Washburn falls to 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the MIAA … Lindenwood defeated Washburn for the first time in three meetings and extended Washburn's losing streak to four games … the Lions won their sixth straight season opener and they are now 13-12 all-time in season openers … Marvin Byrd had 23 rushing yards in the game and passed 1,000 career rushing yards, becoming the ninth running back in school history to accomplish that feat … Connor Harris recorded his ninth double-figure tackle game of his career … Patrick Ross now has a 100-39 overall record as a head coach, including an 86-32 mark at Lindenwood … the Lions will have their home opener next Thursday night with a 6 p.m. game against Pittsburg State.