Linebacker Connor Harris made MIAA and NCAA Division II history on Saturday at Hunter Stadium during the football team's final game of the 2015 season. The Lions could not come away with a victory, however, as they fell to Northeastern State by a 17-14 score.
 
Midway through the third quarter, Harris recorded a solo tackle on a second-and-nine run play that went for just two yards. The tackle was the 492nd career tackle for Harris, the most by a defender in the history of the MIAA. Harris, who is just a junior this season, added three more tackles in the game to finish the year with 495 career tackles. He also set a NCAA Division II record for tackles in a season with 184 during the 2015 campaign.
 
Later in the third quarter, Harris also gave Lindenwood its first and only lead of the game. After a big punt return by Tre' Roby, Harris entered as the quarterback and rushed two straight times for 31 and 23 yards. The final run was good for a touchdown and gave the Lions a 14-10 lead.
 
Lindenwood's defense forced a turnover on downs and a punt the next two times Northeastern State touched the ball, but the Lions offense went three-and-out after both of those drives. The RiverHawks got the ball back at their 25-yard line with 8:52 left in the game, and went on a nine-play, 75-yard drive to take a 17-14 lead. On that drive, it converted a third-and-seven play, and also got 22 yards on a second-and-16 play. The touchdown score came on a 22-yard pass play.
 
The Lions ran 11 plays on their final drive in an attempt to tie or win the ballgame. After getting the ball into the redzone, Lindenwood was forced to go for the tie with a 35-yard field goal, but the kick sailed left, giving Northeastern State the victory.
 
In the first half of the game, both teams scored a first-quarter touchdown. The RiverHawks struck first on a 92-yard drive sparked by a 59-yard pass play. Lindenwood quickly answered, scoring on a 27-yard touchdown reception in the endzone by Roby. Neither team could get much going in the second quarter, until the Riverhawks kicked a 34-yard field goal with one second left before halftime.
 
Harris finished his record-breaking game with 15 tackles, including 10 solo stops. He had 3.0 tackles for loss, and a sack. Offensively, he rushed for 51 yards and averaged 7.3 yards per carry.
 
Bakari Triggs finished with 10 tackles and blocked a kick. Justin Tylor had 4.5 tackles for loss, including a sack. Cortland Dunlap intercepted a pass and DJ Hicks recovered a fumble on special teams.
 
Lavorrie Johnson had a team-high 73 rushing yards, which helped Lindenwood have 186 rushing yards for the afternoon. Mason Bendigo threw for 112 yards, and he had one touchdown and no interceptions. Tre' Roby led the receiving corp with four catches for 50 yards.
 
Game Notes: Lindenwood ends its season with a 3-8 overall record and a 3-8 MIAA mark … Northeastern State also finished with a 3-8 overall record and a 3-8 MIAA mark … seventeen seniors were in uniform for the final time at Hunter Stadium in Jaron Alexander, Jalin Brown, A.J. Chappelle, Greg Coble, PJ DeBey, Cortland Dunlap, Chaz Fulton, Jeremiah Haynes, Lavorrie Johnson, Matt Klingler, Dante Lewis, Wyatt Mohrmann, Steven Pace, Roderick Ryles, Rob Standard, Skyler Suggs, and D'Wayne Ward … Alexander finished his career with 147 receptions, second-most in school history … Matt Klingler averaged 44.8 yards per punt on the season, which set a new Lindenwood record, and he has a shot to lead NCAA Division II in punting average … Connor Harris surpassed Pittsburg State's Nate Dreiling as the conference's all-time tackles leader, a record held by Dreiling for two seasons.