Quarterback Alex Faddoul (10) and receiver Glen Gibbons celebrate a touchdown during Lindenwood’s 43-16 win over Missouri S&T last week. (Photo: Steven Delia)
Lindenwood Football – Gameday Info
Game No. 11 – McKendree (4-6, 3-3) Lindenwood (8-2, 6-0)
Date/Time – Saturday, November 13 – 1 pm
Location – Harlen C. Hunter Stadium – St. Charles, MO
Broadcast — GLVC Sports Network
Live Stats – Sidearm Stats
by Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
Having already clinched the Great Lakes Valley Conference championship, the Lindenwood University football team finds itself ranked No. 5 in the most recent Super Regional 3 poll.
That means the Lions have an excellent shot at making the NCAA Division II playoffs this season. Only the top seven teams make it, but even winning your conference doesn’t guarantee an automatic spot.
Lindenwood comes into the final weekend of the regular season with an 8-2 overall record and an 8-0 regional record. So the Lions look like a sure bet to make the playoffs if they can close out the regular season with a home win over McKendree.
A win would almost certainly guarantee Lindenwood would remain at least fifth in the regional rankings, but the Lions would like to move up at least one spot if they could.
The top four teams get to host their first playoff game. The No. 1 seed gets a bye, but then gets to host its game in the second round, while seeds 2-4 get to host their first-round game.
If Lindenwood could win and look super impressive while doing it, that could be enough to sway the voting committee into moving the Lions up into one of those top four slots and give Lindenwood a home game in next week’s playoffs.
But first, Lindenwood has to handle business against McKendree, a team that won three of four of its games at midseason, but has lost two of its last three, including a 44-13 loss to Truman State last week.
McKendree (4-6) definitely won’t make the playoffs, but closing out its year with a win over league champ Lindenwood, which hasn’t lost a conference game yet in its two seasons as members of the GLVC, would be the perfect way for the Bearcats to go into the offseason.
Players to Watch: Lindenwood will be led by quarterback-turned-receiver-turned-back-into-a-quarterback Alex Faddoul, who started his first game under center in almost three seasons, last week against Missouri S&T.
But Faddoul didn’t miss a beat, as he passed for 315 yards, threw for a score, and ran for two others, on his way to being named GLVC Offensive Player of the Week, this week.
One thing that helped Faddoul is all the talent Lindenwood has on its offense. The Lions have a terrific one-two punch at running back with freshman Robert Giaimo and senior Nash Sutherlin, who have combined for 1,043 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.
Lindenwood also has a superb receiving corps, led by the senior trio of Payton Rose (35 receptions, 576 yards, seven touchdowns), senior tight end Clint Sigg (37-440-3), and senior slot man Glen Gibbons (31-524-2).
On defense, the Lions are always led by senior do-everything linebacker Drew Seers, who was selected GLVC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this week. He leads the team with 106 tackles and has four interceptions, including a 49-yard pick-six that put the game away last week.
Senior safety Grady Daniels is second on the team with 71 tackles, and teammate Kai Ross leads the club with six interceptions this season.
McKendree is led by its quarterback Turner Pullen. The redshirt sophomore from Shelbyville, Ill., is tied for second in the GLVC with 2,250 passing yards and third with 20 touchdowns.
Pullen’s top receivers this season have been sophomore Jacob Bachman, who leads the GLVC in total receptions with 70 catches for 748 yards and two touchdowns, and junior Steven Towns, who has 38 catches for 607 yards and eight touchdowns.
Up Next: Sunday will be a big day for the Lions. That’s the day the NCAA Division II Football Playoff Selection Show will air. It will be streamed live on NCAA.com at 4 p.m.
Lindenwood head coach Jed Stugart has stated he feels confident his team will get in, but the Lions are very curious about where the selection committee will put them, who they will face, and whether or not they’ll get a home game this year.
Probable Starters
Lindenwood Offense Lindenwood Defense
QB – 10 Alex Faddoul – Sr. DE – 41 Alex Bolden – Sr.
RB – 20 Robert Giaimo – Fr. DT – 99 Tayvian Weary – Jr.
WR – 17 Payton Rose – Sr. DT – 45 David Knox – Sr.
WR – 18 Spencer Redd – So. DE – 95 Derek Edwards – So.
WR – 19 Glen Gibbons – Sr. LB – 9 C.J. McClure – Sr.
LT – 77 Blake Rogenhofer – Jr. LB – 5 Drew Seers – Sr.
LG – 78 Gareth Warren – Fr. LB – 1 Tre’ Hendon – Sr.
C – 51 Connor Mazzotta – Jr. CB – 15 Keith Beverly – Sr.
RG – 72 Logan Wright – Jr. S – 21 Kai Ross – So.
RT – 74 Ethan Johnson – Fr. S – 14 Grady Daniels – Sr.
TE – 16 Clint Sigg – Sr. CB – 6 Jordan Perry – Sr.
PK – 98 Logan Seibert – Fr. P – 91 Jared Stangler – Sr.
McKendree Offense McKendree Defense
QB – 15 Turner Pullen – So. DE – 45 Samuel Amponsah – Fr.
RB – 28 Nerkel LeFlore – Fr. DT – 97 Isaiah Ward – Sr.
WR – 10 Jacob Bachman – So. DT – 8 Sidney Houston – So.
WR – 19 Steven Towns – Jr. DE – 56 Jamari Johnson – Jr.
WR – 81 Tyler Siever – So. WLB – 6 Michael Tucker – Sr.
LT – 75 Dea’Veon Harden – Jr. MLB – 33 KeShon Spraggins – So.
LG – 65 Andrew Johnson – Fr. SLB – 27 Luca Gualdoni – So.
C – 57 Jake Stevenson – Sr. CB – 21 Drew Crooks – So.
RG – 61 Nolan Puent – Fr. SS – 5 Davon Myles – Jr.
RT – 60 Kenny Thomason – Jr. FS – 2 Tony Pisoni – Jr.
TE – 87 Jace Kennedy – Sr. CB – 1 Kenneth Scarborough III – So.
PK – 11 Ryan Kastl – So. P – 37 Andrew Anckle – Sr.