GAME OVERVIEW
The Lindenwood football team earned its first win in program history over Emporia State (2-2, 2-2 MIAA) in a 48-41 victory on Saturday in Emporia, Kan.  Nash Sutherlin carried the offense of the ground with 166 yards on 16 carries for a 10.4 average per carry.  Cade Brister threw for 308 yards with five touchdowns after completing 76.9 percent of his passes.
 
The Lions opened the game with a quick seven-play 62-yard drive, but were forced to punt.  Emporia State took advantage and scored 13-straight points to take a two-score lead after the first quarter.  Lindenwood responded with Sutherlin on the ground as he scored from eight yards to bring the Lions within six points.  The Hornets punched in another touchdown halfway through the second quarter, but again the Lions bounced back.
 
Brister found Najee Jackson with a three-yard touchdown pass with 6:26 to play in the half.  The Lions finished the half strong with a 34-yard touchdown connection from Brister to Erik Henneman.  Lindenwood carried momentum and a 21-20 lead into the break.  Sutherlin had 105 of his total yards in the first half.
 
After stopping the Hornets to open the half, Brister threw back-to-back touchdowns to Jarrett Johnson for 24 yards and Mason Bendigo for 25 yards to take a commanding 34-20 lead with 6:57 remaining in the third quarter.  Ricky McCoy intercepted a pass that led to the Bendigo touchdown as his return went for 25 yards to the Emporia State 39-yard line.  Emporia State cut the Lindenwood lead to eight points, but Henneman snagged his second score of the game on a 3-yard touchdown catch near the end of the third quarter.
 
Brister helped put the Lions up 48-27 after scoring on the ground from two yards out.  Emporia State scored the final two touchdowns of the game, but the deficit was too much to overcome.  The Lions controlled the running game on both sides of the ball and outrushed the Hornets 294 to 99 yards.  McCoy led the Lions on defense with 11 total stops while Drew Seers had 10 tackles with three behind the line of scrimmage.  Seers, along with Tanner Sobotka each had one sack on the day.  Brister cracked the program's top-10 list for most total offensive yards and most passing touchdowns in a game.
 
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Cade Brister – 308 passing yards, 81 rushing yards, 5 passing TD, 1 rushing TD
Nash Sutherlin – 166 rushing yards, 1 TD, 10.4 yards per carry
Erik Henneman – 9 receptions, 147 yards, 2 TD
Ricky McCoy – 11 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TFL
Drew Seers – 10 tackles, 3 TFL, 12 TFL yards
 
UP NEXT
Lindenwood will take on Pittsubrg State on Saturday, September 29 at 1 p.m. in St. Charles, Mo.  Former Lion football players Hoyt Gregory (1990-94) and Andrew Helmick (2009-12) will be inducted into the Lindenwood Hall of Fame on Saturday.