With the 2019 season on the horizon, the Lindenwood football team will kickoff the season with GLVC Kickoff on Friday, July 26.  The Lions will be represented by offensive coordinator Dusty Hovorka, and student-athletes Cade Brister and Uchenna Egwuonwu.
 
The annual celebration will be held at The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts on the campus of McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois for the sixth consecutive year.  This season's event, which will serve both the league's media members and passionate fans through several social media outlets, will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  All eight conference teams will be represented by a coach and two players at the event.
 
Hovorka is entering his third season with the Lions as the offensive coordinator.  Hovorka helped the offensive production increase this past season, scoring 28.8 points per game.  The Lindenwood offense ranked in the top-25 in the nation with an 85.7 percent success rate in the red zone.  Hovorka played an important role in the success of All-American tight end Erik Henneman.
 
After his first season as the starting quarterback, Brister ranks near the top of multiple school records.  Brister was responsible for 27 touchdowns, ranking right behind two of the greatest quarterbacks in program history (Philip Staback and Ben Kisner).  The O'Fallon, Mo. native was a team captain as a freshman in 2018, and earned honorable-mention all-MIAA recognition last season.
 
Egwuonwu looks to have a breakout senior campaign after earning third-team all-MIAA honors.  The Union, N.J. native tallied the second most sacks on the team with 3.5, and ranked third on the squad with 8.0 tackles for loss.  Egwuonwu tallied 41 tackles through 11 games, and looks to lead a veteran group on the defensive side of the ball.
 
The Lions will return eight starters on each side of the ball.  Nash Sutherlin joins Brister and Henneman as the returning all-MIAA performer from a season ago on offense.  Along with Egwuonwu on the defensive side of the ball, Lindenwood will bring back four other all-MIAA players, including Darrius Williams, Grady Daniels, and Drew Seers who registered the most tackles on the team in 2018.
 
Lindenwood is entering the GLVC after spending the last seven years in the MIAA.  Of its 11 opponents this coming season, Lindenwood has played six teams at least once since the program started its first varsity season in 1990.  The Lions will play seven conference games and four non-conference opponents, while traveling to four different states throughout the road schedule.  Lindenwood will open the season in Cheney, Wash. to take on 2018 NCAA Division I FCS runner-up Eastern Washington University on Saturday, September 7.