The Lindenwood football (0-2) team lost its home opener to No. 16 Midwestern State (2-0) on Saturday at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Mo. The Lions scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, but a blocked extra point was the difference maker.
GAME OVERVIEW
The Mustangs opened the game with two scores in the first five minutes, taking a 14-0 lead. The Lions responded with a seven-play 93-yard drive, ending with an 11-yard touchdown catch by
Erik Henneman. Lindenwood went into the locker room down 14-7 at the half, and come out swinging in the third quarter.
After the first three plays to open the second half,
Najee Jackson hit
Payton Rose for a 51-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 14-14. Jackson has now thrown a touchdown pass in each of his three years in a Lindenwood uniform. The Mustangs scored twice to close out the third quarter, again taking a two-score lead.
The Lions were forced to punt to start the fourth quarter, but
Reid Williams recovered a fumble on the return to give the Lions possession. On the first play of the drive,
Cade Brister found Rose for his second touchdown of the game to cut the deficit to 28-21. The Lindenwood defense stood strong, and Brister led the Lions on a 10-play 73-yard drive on the ensuing possession. Brister found Jackson on a two-yard touchdown pass, but the extra point was blocked to keep the Lions down by one point.
Lindenwood had a chance on its final drive, but Midwestern State forced a fumble with 31 seconds to go in the game to secure the 28-27 win over the Lions. Rose registered his second-straight game with two touchdown receptions. Henneman led all receivers in yardage with 104 on nine receptions. The Lions had 346 passing yards and 188 rushing yards, while the Mustangs had 181 passing yards and 155 yards on the ground.
GAME LEADERS
Cade Brister (27-for-42, 295 pass yards, 3 TD, 91 rush yards)
Payton Rose (3 rec, 95 yards, 2 TD, 25 rush yards)
Najee Jackson (8 rec, 79 rec yards, 1 rec TD, 1-for-1 passing, 51 pass yards, 1 pass TD)
UP NEXT
The Lions will look to bounce back next week as they host William Jewell on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Mo. for Family Day.
