The Lions are 0-1, but will host their home opener at Hunter Stadium on Saturday. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Lindenwood Football – Gameday Info
Game No. 2 – #9 Central Arkansas Bears (0-1) at Lindenwood Lions (0-1)
Date/Time – September 7, 2024 – 6 pm
Location – Hunter Stadium — St. Charles, MO
Watch – ESPN+
Listen — 89.1 The Wood
Live Stats – LU Stat Broadcast
ST. CHARLES, MO — The Lindenwood University football team will face its second consecutive ranked opponent to begin the 2024 season, when it welcomes No. 9-ranked Central Arkansas to Hunter Stadium on Saturday night. Kickoff for the game is slated for 6 p.m.
Lindenwood is coming off a 48-3 loss to FBS No. 22 Kansas, last Thursday. The Lions were able to keep close with the Jayhawks through the first quarter. The score was 7-0 Kansas and Lindenwood forced two first quarter turnovers.
But then the Jayhawks scored four touchdowns in the second quarter to blow the game wide open.
Lindenwood’s Tre Bell tries to bring down Kansas’ Daniel Hishaw during last Thursday’s NCAA football game at Children’s Mercy Center in Kansas City, Kan. (Photo courtesy: KU Athletics)
This week, the Lions will take on the Central Arkansas, which is ranked No. 9 in this week’s FCS Top 25 poll. The Bears played Arkansas State, another FBS team, last week and were on the verge of pulling off a mighty upset. But the Red Wolves scored a touchdown with three seconds to go to hand the Bears a 34-31 loss.
Central Arkansas trailed 27-10 early in the fourth quarter of that game, but scored three touchdowns, including one with 55 seconds left to go ahead.
Central Arkansas’ ShunDerrick Powell celebrates scoring a touchdown in last week’s game against Arkansas State. (Photo courtesy: UCA Athletics)
This will be the second meeting between Lindenwood and Central Arkansas. The teams played in 2022, with Lindenwood winning a 52-49 shootout, which saw the teams combine for 14 touchdowns.
Lindenwood quarterback Cade Brister rushed for five touchdowns and threw for two others, before then-freshman kicker Logan Seibert nailed a 36 yard field goal to win the game.
Lindenwood QB Nate Glantz threw for 127 yards in his first start for the Lions last week against Kansas. (Photo courtesy: KU Athletics)
Players to Watch: Lindenwood quarterback Nate Glantz had a decent debut against Kansas’ tough Big 12 defense. The senior completed 18-of-31 passes for 127 yards. He also rushed 10 times for 23 yards.
The Lions’ running back duo of Cortezz Jones and Steve Hall also had a decent first game. The duo combined for 16 carries for 52 rushing yards, and caught nine passes for 51 yards.
Lindenwood tight end Abe Haerr caught four passes for a team-high 58 yards.
On defense, linebackers Ethan Stuhlsatz and Devon Edwards led the team with nine tackles and eight tackles, respectively. Stuhlsatz also forced a fumble that was recovered by safety Eric Gant.
Cornerback Tre Bell had two tackles and his first career interception.
Central Arkansas is a powerful group that likes to run the ball, which makes great sense because the Bears feature one of the top ballcarriers in all of FCS football in senior ShunDerrick Powell. Last week against Arkansas State, he had 182 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Last season, Powell rushed for over 1,000 yards and averaged 7.4 yards per carry, which was tops in the United Athletic Conference.
At quarterback, the Bears rely on senior Will McElvain, who is in his third season as Central Arkansas’ signal caller. In the previous two seasons, McElvain threw for over 2,400 yards both times, which included one of his best games ever — that 2022 game against Lindenwood — when he threw for 341 yards and five touchdowns.
On defense, Central Arkansas is led by senior linebacker and returning UAC Defensive Player of the Year, David Walker.
Last season, he led the UAC with 18 tackles for loss and 8.5 quarterback sacks. And he’s already off to a fiery start this season. Last week, Walker had 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a quarterback hurry in the loss to Arkansas State.
Probable Starters
Central Arkansas Offense Central Arkansas Defense
QB – 2 Will McElvain – Sr. DE – 8 David Walker – Sr.
RB – 27 ShunDerrick Powell – Sr. DT – 98 Bradley Clark – Jr.
RB – 4 Darius Hale – Sr. DT – 41 Javeon Jones – Sr.
WR – 6 Malachi Henry – Fr. DE – 30 Buck Cobbs – So.
WR – 3 Kam Robinson – Jr. LB – 15 Daylon Land – Sr.
LT – 79 Justin Lairy – Sr. LB – 44 Jace Benesch – Jr.
LG – 75 Will Diggins – Jr. NICK – 7 TaMuarion Wilson – Sr.
C – 73 Dylan Spencer – Jr. CB – 0 L.J. Hewitt – Jr.
RG – 58 Jamal Mull – Sr. S – 3 Dillon Williams – So.
RT – 74 Zachary Cochnauer – So. S – 18 Dude Person – Sr.
TE – 89 Jordan Owens – Jr. CB – 6 T.D. Williams – Sr.
PK – 22 Jake Gaster – Sr. P – 46 Trace Beard – So.
Lindenwood Offense Lindenwood Defense
QB – 18 Nate Glantz – Jr. DE – 4 Kobe McClendon – Jr.
RB – 0 Cortezz Jones – Sr. DT – 91 Austin Rustemeyer – So.
WR – 1 Jeff Caldwell – Jr. DT – 92 Jonah Rubadue – Sr.
WR – 8 Drew Krobath – Fr. DE – 44 Tajay Passmore – Jr.
WR – 10 Reece Thomas – So. LB – 20 Ethan Stuhlsatz – Jr.
LT – 78 Gareth Warren – Sr. LB – 23 Devon Edwards – Jr.
LG – 77 Adel Mountassir – So. LB – 15 Sanjay Strickland – Jr.
C – 74 Ethan Johnson – Sr. CB – 7 Jayden Patrick – Jr.
RG – 63 Cameron Cooper – Sr. FS – 39 Eric Gant – Jr.
RT – 56 Gavin Hulet – Jr. SS – 2 Jordan Knapke – Sr.
TE – 86 Darrin Fugitt – Jr. CB – 3 Tre Bell – So.
PK – 43 Logan Siebert – Sr. P – 95 Patrick Turner – So.
Up Next: The Lions will be back on the road next week, with a trip to Springfield to take on Missouri State. Kickoff for that game will be at 6 p.m.
2024 LINDENWOOD LIONS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 7, 2024 (Saturday) | 6:00 p.m. | Home | #9 Central Arkansas | St. Charles, Mo. / Hunter Stadium |
| September 14, 2024 (Saturday) | 6:00 pm | Away | Missouri State | Springfield, Mo. |
| September 21, 2024 (Saturday) | 1:00 p.m. | Home | St. Thomas | St. Charles, Mo. / Hunter Stadium |
| September 28, 2024 (Saturday) | 2:00 pm | Away | Eastern Illinois | Charleston, Ill. |
| October 5, 2024 (Saturday) | 1:00 p.m. | Home | Tennessee State | St. Charles, Mo. / Hunter Stadium |
| October 12, 2024 (Saturday) | 1:00 p.m. | Home | Charleston Southern | St. Charles, Mo. / Hunter Stadium |
| October 19, 2024 (Saturday) | 3:00 pm | Away | Gardner-Webb | Boiling Springs, N.C. |
| October 26, 2024 (Saturday) | 2:00 p.m. | Home | Western Illinois | St. Charles, Mo. / Hunter Stadium |
| November 2, 2024 (Saturday) | 1:30 pm | Away | Tennessee Tech | Cookeville, Tenn. |
| November 9, 2024 (Saturday) | 1:00 p.m. | Home | Southeast Missouri State | St. Charles, Mo. / Hunter Stadium |
| November 23, 2024 (Saturday) | 2:00 pm | Away | Tennessee-Martin | Martin, Tenn. |