The Lindenwood football team will open the 2019 season on Saturday in Cheney, Wash. to take on Eastern Washington at 1:06 p.m. PT.  The Lions will play their first Division I opponent since the 2011 season.  The Eagles are ranked third in the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS Coaches Poll, after making in to the championship game in 2018.

Lindenwood opened the 2011 season with a 22-20 win at Division I Northern Colorado on a last-second field goal.  Later that season, the Lions played Division I University of South Dakota, falling 30-0.  The Eagles are coming off of a 47-14 loss to the University of Washington last week.

The Lions return much of their offense from a season ago, including All-American tight end Erik Henneman.  The 6-3 senior was named to the 2019 College Football America Yearbook Division II Preseason Starting Lineup.  Getting the ball to Henneman will be returning starting quarterback, Cade Brister.  Brister started last year as a redshirt freshman, already making his mark in the programs' record book.

Lindenwood brings back five all-conference performers from last year, including leading tackler Darrius Williams.  Williams is joined by Grady Daniels in the defensive backfield, as the two combined for 211 tackles in 2018.  Drew Seers returns at linebacker, after posting a team-high 12.5 tackles for loss last year.

In the last 10 season-openers, Lindenwood is 8-2 including its win over Division I Northern Colorado in 2011.  The Lions are 2-3 against NCAA Division I opponents, with the first win coming in a 34-33 win at Butler in 1998.