The Lindenwood football team found its big play offense on Saturday afternoon at Hunter Stadium as the team earned a 28-10 Homecoming victory over Nebraska-Kearney.
 
The Lions scored a touchdown in each quarter, and finished the game with 423 yards of total offense. Almost half of those yards came on three long pass plays of 76, 70, and 48 yards, which proved to be the main difference in the game. Defensively, the Lions had their best effort in MIAA play by allowing just 10 points.
 
Both teams turned the ball over on their first possessions, and Lindenwood took advantage of the Nebraska-Kearney turnover. The Lions got into the redzone after a 48-yard pass completion to Greg Coble, and they scored later in the drive on a one-yard run by Connor Harris.
 
In the second quarter, Nebraska-Kearney tied the game at seven after a good punt return gave it the ball near midfield. The Lopers completed two third-down plays and scored on a 24-yard pass play. The Lions quickly answered on their next drive, going 67 yards for a touchdown. Mason Bendigo completed two pass plays of 25 yards or more, including a 28-yard touchdown strike to Coble. That was the final scoring of the first half as the Lions went into the break with a 14-7 lead.
 
Nebraska-Kearney had a 14-play drive to start the second half, but couldn't get any long plays throughout the drive. A sack by Harris and Justin Taylor eventually backed the team up and forced the Lopers to settle for a field goal. After trading punts, Lindenwood had the game-changing play of the contest. On third-and-four from its 24-yard line, Bendigo complete a pass to Tre' Roby near midfield, and Roby outran his defender for a 76-yard touchdown that put Lindenwood up 21-10.
 
That was enough lead for Lindenwood's defense, which only allowed 38 yards during the Lopers' final four possessions. The offense gave the Homecoming crowd one more big play when Bendigo and Coble hooked up one more time, this time for a 70-yard touchdown reception.
 
Nebraska-Kearney finished the game with 272 yards of offense, and the Lions held it to just 86 passing yards. Lindenwood forced two turnovers and had five sacks, while Nebraska-Kearney had just one forced turnover and no sacks.
 
Bendigo had his best day as a Lion, throwing for 335 yards and three touchdowns. Coble had five receptions for 172 yards, and Roby finished with four catches for 120 yards. Calen Campbell returned to the lineup for the Lions and had a team-high 39 rushing yards.
 
Defensively, Harris had 18 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, and he recovered a fumble. Dante Lewis also had a fumble recovery. Jonathan Harris had 2.0 tackles for loss and Taylor tied for the team-high with 1.5 sacks. Roderick Ryles, Taylor, and Deon Rieux all had forced fumbles.
 
Game Notes: Lindenwood improves to 2-5 on the season and in the MIAA … Nebraska-Kearney falls to 0-7 overall and in MIAA play … the all-time series between the two teams is now tied at two, with the home team winning all four contests … the Lions snap a three-game losing streak on Homecoming, and they are 19-7 all-time in Homecoming games … the 10 points allowed by Lindenwood was its fewest since allowing 10 in 2013 against Missouri S&T, and it was the fewest it has allowed at Homecoming since a 49-3 win over Graceland in 2008 … Connor Harris recorded his 12th straight double-figure tackle game, and the 24th of his career … Connor Harris moved into tenth place on the MIAA's all-time tackles list with 436 career tackles … Jaron Alexander moved into second-place in Lindenwood's career receptions list with 137 … the 172 receiving yards by Greg Coble tied for the tenth-most in Lindenwood history for a single-game … both Coble and Tre' Roby set career-highs in receiving yards … Wesley Thomas recorded his 100th career tackle in the game … Lindenwood hits the road next week for the MIAA Television Network Game of the Week at Missouri Southern … the 2009 Lindenwood football team was honored at the game after being inducted into the Lindenwood Sports Hall of Fame last evening.