Storylines
- The Lindenwood football team looks to play spoiler this Saturday in its final game of the 2016 season. The Lions will travel to No. 24 Central Missouri to face a Mules team that is looking to make the NCAA Division II National Tournament.
 
- The Lions come into Saturday's game on a two-game winning streak, which has improved the team's record to 3-7 for the year. Last weekend, Lindenwood won its home finale with a 42-28 victory over Missouri Southern.
 
- Central Missouri enters the contest on a five-game winning streak, and it is now 8-2 overall on the season. Last Saturday, the Mules defeated Northeastern State by a 59-21 margin.
 
- Central Missouri leads the all-time series with Lindenwood by a 5-0 margin. That mark includes a 4-0 record in MIAA contest, and a 2-0 mark in games played in Warrensburg, Mo. The previous contests have been high scoring, with the teams combining for over 60 points in four of the five meetings. The closest game was a 35-28 Central Missouri win in 2012.
 
- In 2015, the Mules defeated the Lions by a 31-0 margin in St. Charles. Central Missouri led 14-0 at halftime and then put the game away with 17 third-quarter points. Lindenwood had just 243 yards of offense in the game, compared to 469 for the Mules.
 
- Lindenwood will be playing its third nationally-ranked team of the 2016 season. The Lions lost the other two matchups, but No. 12 Emporia State needed a touchdown with 15 seconds remaining to put Lindenwood away. The Lions are looking for their first win over a ranked team since a 44-33 road victory over No. 18 Pittsburg State in 2012.
 
- Saturday's game will be the final contest for arguably the top player in school history in linebacker Connor Harris. Harris is a two-time All-American and last year's MIAA co-Defensive Player of the Year. He enters his final game with 621 tackles, the most of any player that has played NCAA football. Harris has also been a contributor for the Lions on both offense and special teams.
 
Lions Offense
- Lindenwood ranks ninth in the MIAA in scoring offense (28.0), and it is 11th in the MIAA in total offense (366.1).
 
- Alex Faddoul earned his first start at quarterback at Missouri Southern and directed the offense to 35 points. The Lions have scored 70 points in seven quarters since he became the primary quarterback. In that span, he has thrown five touchdown passes and no interceptions, and rushed for a score.
 
- Deantrell Prince leads the team with eight touchdowns this year, all on receiving scores. The eight receiving touchdowns is the most by a Lion since the 2012 season, and is tied for eighth on the school's single-season list.
 
- Aaron Daniels rushed for 180 yards against Missouri Southern, the most by a Lions running back since 2012. Lindenwood rushed for 314 yards total in the game, the seventh-most for a game in program history.
 
- The Lions have been taking care of the ball, turning it over just four times in the last six games. Lindenwood's quarterbacks have thrown just one interception in their last 144 pass attempts.
 
Lions Defense
- Lindenwood's defense ranks seventh in the MIAA in scoring defense (34.3), and 11th in total defense (481.3).
 
- Bakari Triggs is second in the nation with 2.1 passes defended a game, and tenth in interceptions with 0.6 a contest. He leads the MIAA in both of those categories. Triggs He has 14 pass breakups on the season, tenth-most in MIAA history.
 
- Bakari Triggs scored his third defensive touchdown of the season against Missouri Southern with a 39-yard fumble recovery. Lindenwood has five defensive touchdowns this season, tied for first in the MIAA and seventh nationally. It is the most defensive touchdowns for the Lions in a season since 2009.
 
- Connor Harris currently ranks third in the nation with 12.6 tackles a game. He is sixth in solo tackles with 6.5 a game.
 
- Jonathan Harris is second in the MIAA with 0.60 sacks a game. He also ranks eighth with 1.1 tackles for loss a contest.
 
- The Lions have forced 21 turnovers this season. Thirteen of those turnovers have been in the team's three victories.
 
Lions Special Teams
- Kendell Sparks needs 38 kickoff return yards to break the school record for most kickoff return yards in a season. He currently has 440 yards. His average of 29.3 yards a return ranks third in the MIAA.
 
- Allen Thigpen is 23rd in NCAA Division II with a 41.0 punting average. He has punted 50 times on the season. He has nine punts inside the 20 yard line, and just three touchbacks.
 
- Connor Harris took over placekicking duties the last two games. He is a perfect 11-of-11 on PATs in that span.
 
Team Notes
- Lindenwood is 70-4 in the Patrick Ross era when scoring over 30 points, and 76-18 when holding opponents under that mark. The Lions are averaging 42.0 points this season in their victories, but just 22.0 points in their losses.