On Sunday night, the Lindenwood football team (8-3, 7-0 GLVC) heard its named called as one of the 28 schools set to compete in the 2019 NCAA Division II Football Playoff. The Lions were selected as the seventh team in Super Region Three, earning the final spot among the competing teams from the GLVC, GLIAC, GAC, and MIAA. The Lions will take on No. 5 Ouachita Baptist on Saturday in Arkadelphia, Ark., as the Tigers earned the second seed in the region.
"This is a great moment for our coaches and players," said head coach
Jed Stugart. "They never stopped believing and have showed grit all year. To see the faces of our guys when 'Lindenwood' hit that screen, especially those guys that we've been with now form the start just two seasons ago, was priceless."
"This program has been on an incredible journey over the past three years," said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics
Brad Wachler. "Coach Stugart and his staff have built from the ground up a culture of excellence and determination, which is now paying dividends on the field. I am looking forward to continuing our journey next week against a very talented football program."
Lindenwood started the season 1-3, but rattled off seven-straight victories to end the season with an 8-3 record. The Lions went undefeated in conference play, earning the GLVC title in their first season in the league. Lindenwood claimed its first conference crown, since the Lions won the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) in 2009 as members of the NAIA. The Lions will compete in the postseason for the first time since 2012, as Lindenwood took on Winona State in the Mineral Water Bowl.
Erik Henneman led the Lions to their first win over a top-25 team in 2019, snagging three touchdowns to help upset No. 24 Truman State on October 12. The biggest victory of the season came in a 34-27 win over No. 8 UIndy on November 2, taking down the six-time GLVC Champions.
Cade Brister had a field day on the offensive side of the ball, throwing for a school record 541 yards and tallied four total touchdowns.
Brister is leading the high-powered Lindenwood offense, as the sophomore quarterback ranks in the top-10 in NCAA Division II in seven different categories. The O'Fallon, Mo. native has tallied 3,301 yards through the air with 36 passing touchdowns, while adding 445 rushing yards and six scores on the ground.
Nash Sutherlin went off for 231 rushing yards in the regular season finale, bringing his season total to 740 yards.
Payton Rose broke the single season receiving touchdowns record this past weekend, compiling 15 on the year while racking up 1,075 yards.
Drew Seers has led the defensive group in many different ways, compiling a team-high 154 tackles which is just 30 away from Connor Harris and his 184 tackles in 2015. Seers has matched his own career-high of 12.5 tackles for loss, while adding one fumble recovery.
Jordan Perry is having a well-balanced season, making 47 tackles, with 1.5 tackles for loss, and one interception from the cornerback position. Perry had two of the biggest plays of the season against Missouri S&T, as he blocked a field goal attempt to send the game to overtime, and batted down the final pass of the game to give the Lions at least a share of the GLVC Championship.
The Lions will open up the playoffs against No. 5 Ouachita Baptist on Saturday in Arkadelphia, Ark. The Tigers finished the regular season with a perfect 11-0 record and won the 2019 GAC Championship. In its most recent game, Ouachita Baptist defeated its rival, Henderson State, 24-21 to remain unbeaten. The Tigers are led offensively by Brockton Brown, who has accumulated 22 rushing touchdowns to rank second in the nation.
Check back at LindenwoodLions.com for more information.
