The Lindenwood football team (4-3) pulled off yet another thrilling victory with a 35-31 win over Saginaw Valley State (4-3) on Saturday afternoon at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Mo.
 
GAME OVERVIEW
The Lindenwood defense was strong in the first half, which led to the spark the offense needed.  Ricky McCoy picked off a Saginaw Valley pass, setting up Cade Brister for a 16-yard touchdown pass to Payton Rose for the first score at 8:52 of the first quarter.  Brister found Rose halfway through the second quarter on a 40-yard dime, giving the Lions a 14-0 lead.
 
Christian Rabay and McCoy helped keep Saginaw Valley from finding success, as each player registered an interception in the second quarter.  The Cardinals were able to strike before the end of the half, as the Lions held a 14-7 lead at the break.
 
Saginaw Valley made quality adjustments at the half, driving 75 yards down the field in 6:49 to tie the game at 14-14 to open the third quarter.  The Lions responded with a long drive of their own, marching 93 yards before Alex Scharf recovered a fumble in the end zone to put the Lions back on top.  The momentum began to shift as the Cardinals tallied 10-unanswered points to open the fourth quarter, taking a 24-21 lead with 12:01 to go in the game.
 
Lindenwood continued to find success on the offensive end, as Brister tallied a six-yard touchdown run to again give the Lions a slim lead.  After trading possessions, Saginaw Valley registered an eight-yard touchdown pass with 55 second left in the game to test the Lions determination for the second-straight week.
 
With the ball at their own 25-yard line, Brister connected with Najee Jackson on the first play for 29 yards to the Saginaw Valley 46-yard line.  On the next play, Nash Sutherlin picked up 10 yards on a pass from Brister, setting up the Lions with a first down at the Saginaw Valley 36-yard line.  After three-straight incomplete passes and just 16 seconds left on the clock, Brister found Jackson for a 36-yard touchdown strike to give the Lions a 35-31 lead.  Lindenwood held on for the four-point victory, earning its third-straight victory for the first time since 2012.
 
Payton Rose eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the first time this season, and now has three games this year with two touchdown receptions.  Drew Seers was all over the field on the defensive side of the ball, registering 20 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss.  Ricky McCoy picked off two passes in the game, bringing his career total to nine.  In the last three games, Brister has thrown for 1,041 yards and 11 touchdowns.  Erik Henneman, Rose, and Jackson have combined for 700 yards and nine touchdowns in those three games.
 
GAME LEADERS
Payton Rose (6 rec, 133 yards, 2 TD)
Najee Jackson (5 rec, 92 yards, 1 TD)
Drew Seers (20 tackles, 7 solo, 2.0 TFL)
 
UP NEXT
The Lions head to Quincy, Ill. next week for a 1:00 p.m. game against GLVC opponent Quincy University on Saturday.