The Lindenwood football team (1-0, 0-0 OVC) kicks off a three-game road swing in a matchup with Stony Brook (0-1, 0-0 CAA) on Thursday night in Stony Brook, N.Y. Kickoff from LaVelle Stadium is set for 6:00 p.m. CT.
 
Lindenwood is coming off a 20-17 win over Ohio Valley Conference foe Charleston Southern in the season opener. The 20 points are the fewest in a victory in the Division I era and the lowest in a winning effort since 2015 when the Black and Gold also scored 20 in a season-opening win over Washburn in 2015.
 
Pops Battle got the nod at quarterback for the first time in his career. The East St. Louis product was efficient, going 14-of-21 for 142 yards. Battle is the first Lindenwood quarterback to earn a victory in his first career start since Alex Faddoul in 2016. Overall, Battle compiled 202 total yards and had a rushing touchdown that put the Black and Gold up two scores in the third quarter.
 
Both Battle and Jared Rhodes had 60 or more yards on the ground, leading a balanced rushing attack. The Lions finished with 170 rushing yards in the victory and were 4-2 in games in which they had 150 or more rushing yards.
 
The defense was stout all night long, compiling four sacks, with two coming from Eastern Illinois transfer King Smith. The Lions only had four sacks in a game once last season and ranked seventh in the conference with 22 a year ago. Isaac Edwards made the play of the night late in the first half with an 85-yard pick six to give the Lions a 10-3 lead at the break. The Kirkwood, Mo. native finished the game with four tackles and that pick.
 
Will Graham accounted for the other scores converting kicks from 32 and 28 yards, respectively. The senior kicker only had one such game last season with two or more field goals, which came against Gardner-Webb.
 
Lindenwood will be looking for its second-consecutive win over the Seawolves after earning a 30-27 win last season at Steward Field at Hunter Stadium.

NUMBERS TO KNOW:
216: Lindenwood ran wild against Stony Brook last season, compiling 216 yards on the ground while averaging 5.4 yards per toat. Last season, Lindenwood had three games with over 200 rushing yards and won all three.

2024: Isaac Edwards' pick six on Thursday was the first for Lindenwood since 2024 when Frank Caldwell did it against Tennessee Tech. For Edwards, it was his first career interception. The Lions only had three total picks a season ago.

2: The Lions will be looking to start a season 2-0 for the first time since the programs inaugural Division I year in 2022. That season, Lindenwood defeated Houston Baptist and Keiser to begin the year with a pair of victories.

9: The Lindenwood offense was efficient and effective on third down opportunities against the Buccaneers, going 9-of-17. The biggest one was a connection between Battle and Jalen Smith late in the fourth quarter to seal the win.