The Lindenwood football team had one of the best rushing days in program history on Saturday afternoon, and it defeated Missouri Southern by a 42-28 score at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Mo.
 
The Lions rushed for 314 yards, their best rushing day since the 2010 season, and it was the seventh-most yards in program history. The Lions averaged 5.3 yards a carry, their second-best mark this season.
 
For the second straight week, Lindenwood took control of the contest in the second quarter. Missouri Southern led 7-0 after scoring late in the first quarter, but a turnover midway through the second quarter turned the momentum. Connor Harris' interception gave the Lions the ball near midfield, and it took the team just four plays to score. Alex Faddoul found Deantrell Prince for a 13-yard touchdown pass play.
 
The defense quickly forced a three-and-out, and a good punt return by Wesley Thomas gave the Lions the ball in Missouri Southern territory. It didn't take Lindenwood long again to score, needing just five plays before Faddoul found Cooper Janusevskis for a seven-yard touchdown pass.
 
After another Missouri Southern punt, Faddoul threw one more touchdown pass in the quarter. With 30 seconds remaining before halftime, he completed a long pass to DeSean Warren, and Warren outran the defense for a 61-yard touchdown.
 
Missouri Southern got within one possession on its second drive of the second half with a touchdown that made the score 21-14. Lindenwood answered though with a 75-yard touchdown drive, capped by a Shakeem Wharton 28-yard run.
 
Lindenwood's defense continued to hold down Missouri Southern early in the fourth quarter. It forced a fumble, and Bakari Triggs returned it 39 yards for a touchdown that put the Lions up 35-14. Missouri Southern did score twice late in the fourth quarter, but Lindenwood recovered two onside kicks, and Aaron Daniels sealed the win with a four-yard touchdown run.
 
The Lions finished with 496 yards of total offense, 32 more than Missouri Southern. Lindenwood forced three turnovers in the game, and it gave up the ball just once. Missouri Southern had more passing yards, but Lindenwood had more yards per attempt and per completion.
 
Daniels finished with a career-high 180 rushing yards, tying for the 15th-highest in school history. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry. Faddoul rushed for 78 yards, and Wharton and Calen Campbell each had 34 yards.
 
In his first collegiate start, Faddoul was 10-of-17 passing for 182 yards. He had the three touchdowns and did not throw an interception. Warren caught three passes for 107 yards and the one touchdown.
 
Defensively, Connor Harris had a team-high 13 tackles and one tackle for loss to go along with his game-changing interception. Roderick Ryles also had an interception, and Nick Granberry had a sack and forced the fumble that Triggs returned for a touchdown.
 
Game Notes: Lindenwood improves to 3-7 on the season and in the MIAA … Missouri Southern falls to 2-8 on the year and in conference action … Lindenwood leads the all-time series with Missouri Southern by a 3-1 margin, including a 2-1 record at Hunter Stadium … Connor Harris' NCAA record for career tackles now stands at 621 … Bakari Triggs has three defensive touchdowns this season, and the Lions have scored five defensive touchdowns as a team … Missouri Southern was averaging 43.5 points over its last two games before being held to 28 by Lindenwood, including 14 in the first three quarters … Deantrell Prince has eight receiving touchdowns this year, tying for the eighth-most in a season in school history … Aaron Daniels is averaging nearly 92 rushing yards a game over the last five contests … Connor Harris improved to 11-of-11 on the season in PAT attempts after making all six against Missouri Southern … Lindenwood celebrated 19 seniors before its final home game of the year, with nine on offense, nine on defense, and one special teams player … Lindenwood ends its season next Saturday with a 1:30 p.m. road game against Central Missouri.