A fourth-quarter comeback by the Lindenwood football team came up just short as the Lions lost to Washburn by a 34-29 score on Saturday night in Topeka, Kan.
 
The Lions had a good start to the game as they went on an 11-play, 78-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead. Mason Bendigo had a big third-and-10 conversion to Calen Campbell, and one play later Bendigo found Sparks for a 10-yard touchdown reception.
 
Washburn responded though by scoring 34 straight points to take a commanding 21-point lead. Three of those five touchdowns came off turnovers, including two within 40 seconds of each other in the first minute of the second quarter. The Ichabods were also quick with their strikes, with all five touchdowns taking just a combined 13 plays.
 
Momentum finally got back on Lindenwood's side late in the first half, led by Allen Thigpen who took over quarterback duties.  He led Lindenwood on an 18-play drive, which ended on a nine-yard touchdown pass to Deantrell Prince.
 
Prince's touchdown made the score 34-13 at halftime, and it stayed that way throughout the third quarter. The two teams traded punts until Wesley Thomas intercepted a pass late in the quarter. The Lions offense took advantage early in the fourth when it scored on a fourth-and-seven play with a Thigpen 20-yard rush.
 
Thomas got his hands on a second interception two plays later, and Lindenwood kicked a field goal to get within 34-23. After a Washburn punt, Thighpen then led Lindenwood on a 94-yard drive. This one was completed on another Sparks touchdown, this one from eight yards out.
 
Lindenwood's defense forced two more punts in the game, and the Lions offense had two chances in the final 2:04 to win the game. Both drives ended an interceptions though, including one on a Hail Mary pass on the final play of the game for the second straight week.
 
Lindenwood finished with 423 yards of offense, 19 more than Washburn. The Lions had 261 yards passing and 162 rushing, while Washburn had 247 passing yards and 157 rushing yards. Lindenwood's defense limited the Ichabods to four-of-16 on third and fourth downs, but Washburn forced five turnovers, three more than Lindenwood.
 
For the first time in program history, the Lions had two receivers with double-figure receptions. Prince led the team with 14 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown, and Sparks caught 10 passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Thigpen was 20-of-24 passing for 151 yards and two touchdowns, and he was also the leading rusher with 74 yards.
 
Antron Watts led the defense with 12 tackles. Fellow linebackers Connor Harris and Clint Koons had 10 and nine tackles, respectively, and all three of those players had one tackle for loss.
 
Game Notes: Lindenwood falls to 1-2 on the season and in MIAA play … Washburn improves to 2-1 on the year and in conference play … Washburn now leads the all-time series by a 3-2 margin … all five games have been decided by single-digits, and four of the five have been by six points or less … the 33 completion by Lindenwood quarterbacks were the third-most in school history for a game … the 14 receptions by Deantrell Prince were also the third-most in Lindenwood history for a contest … Connor Harris had the 31st career game with double-figure tackles, and has now recorded 10 or more tackles in 19 straight contests … Harris is now 18 tackles away from the NCAA All-Division career tackles record … Antron Watts had his second straight double-figure tackle game, and led the team in tackles for the second straight week … the Lions will return home next Saturday for a 6 p.m. Family Day contest against Pittsburg State.