The Lindenwood Lions will host Austin Peay in a non-conference football game, Saturday afternoon at Hunter Stadium. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
Lindenwood Football – Gameday Info
Game No. 5 – Austin Peay (2-2) at Lindenwood (2-2)
Date/Time – September 30, 2023 – 1 pm
Location – Hunter Stadium — St. Charles, MO
Broadcast – ESPN+
Live Stats – Lindenwood Live Stats
Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
ST. CHARLES, MO — After nearly a month on the road, the Lindenwood University football team will be back at home Saturday afternoon, when it hosts its final non-conference game of the season against Austin Peay.
The Lions will come in with a 2-2 record, after suffering a 48-17 defeat at Illinois State last week. Lindenwood fell behind early, worked hard to make it a tight game at halftime (20-14), then gave up four touchdowns in the second half to fall to the Redbirds.
Austin Peay also has a 2-2 record, but is coming off a thrilling, comeback victory. The Governors were on the road at Stephen F. Austin and trailed 20-7 late into the third quarter.
But that’s when APU got going and scored 15 straight points, including a safety with just under five minutes to play that proved to be the game-winning score.
The Governors have now won two straight and will be looking to make it three, when they get to Hunter Stadium on Saturday.
Players to Watch: Lindenwood has featured a productive Big 3 in its first four games.
QB Cole Dugger has thrown for 847 yards and 10 touchdowns. RB Robert Giaimo has rushed for 337 yards and scored five touchdowns (three rushing, two receiving). And WR Jeff Caldwell has 17 catches for 379 yards and a team-leading six touchdowns.
The sophomore from Louisville is coming off his second straight big game. Two weeks ago, Caldwell had 185 yards and four touchdowns, and last week, the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder had 138 yards and another score.
Caldwell is second in the Big South-OVC in receiving yards and leads the league in touchdown catches and yards per catch (22.3). Dugger is tied for the league lead in touchdown passes.
Austin Peay has its own Big 3 in QB Mike DiLiello, RB Jevon Jackson, and WR Trey Goodman. DiLiello has thrown for 996 yards and leads the United Athletic Conference with nine touchdown passes. Jackson had 197 yards and a touchdown last week. And Goodman caught a 78-yard bomb for a score last week.
Defensively, the Governors are led by DB Cedarius Doss, who caught a 20-yard pick six that turned last week’s game around.
Up Next: Lindenwood will be at home again next week. They’ll also be returning to Big South-OVC league play with a matchup against Tennessee Tech, next Saturday. Kickoff for that game on October 7 is slated for 1 p.m.
Probable Starters
Lindenwood Offense Lindenwood Defense
QB – 2 Cole Dugger – Jr. DE – 4 Kobe McClendon – So.
RB – 21 Robert Giaimo – So. DT – 56 Darion Mullins – Jr.
WR – 10 Spencer Redd – Sr. DT – 99 Makai Finau – Fr.
WR – 19 Jeff Caldwell – Sr. DE – 46 Frank Caldwell – Jr.
WR – 81 Ronnie Thomas – Jr. LB – 20 Ethan Stuhlsatz – So.
LT – 78 Gareth Warren – Jr. LB – 52 Brenden Dye – So.
LG – 68 Joe Becker – So. LB – 15 Sanjay Strickland – So.
C – 60 George Miki-Han – So. CB – 7 Jayden Patrick – So.
RG – 71 Jacob Swihart – Jr. FS – 3 Darion Bolden – Sr.
RT – 74 Ethan Johnson – So. SS – 11 Mann McGruder – Sr.
TE – 18 Chase Lanckreit – Jr. CB – 24 Wesley Hines – Sr.
PK – 43 Logan Siebert – So. P – 95 Patrick Turner – Fr.
Austin Peay Offense Austin Peay Defense
QB – 12 Mike DiLiello – Sr. DT – 9 Travis Bates – Fr.
RB – 22 Jevon Jackson – So. NG – 46 J’Vian McCray – Jr.
WR – 4 Tre Shackleford – So. DT – 3 Jau’Von Young – Sr.
WR – 1 Trey Goodman – Jr. LB – 10 Hosea Knifeley, Jr. – Sr.
WR – 3 Kenny Odom – Fr. LB – 8 Tyler Long – Sr.
LT – 56 Isaiah Wright – Sr. LB – 4 Sam Howard – Jr.
LG – 68 Brady Odom – Sr. LB – 6 Kory Chapman – Sr.
C – 55 Jalen Armstrong – Sr. CB – 13 Jevon McIver, Jr. – So.
RG – 52 Chandler Kirton – So. S – 27 Xavier Smith – Jr.
RT – 50 Brennan Smith – So. S – 2 Michael Ruttlen, Jr. – Sr.
TE – 23 Jordan Goco – Sr. CB – 1 Cedarius Doss – Sr.
PK – 91 Maddux Trujillo – Jr. P – 35 Riley Stephens – Jr.
| 2023 Lindenwood Lions Football Schedule |
| Sat., September 30 — vs. Austin Peay — 1 pm |
| Sat., October 7 — vs. Tennessee Tech* — 6 pm |
| Sat., October 14 — at Charleston Southern* — 3 pm |
| Sat., October 28 — at Tennessee State* — 2 pm |
| Sat., November 4 — vs. Eastern Illinois* — 2 pm |
| Sat., November 11 — vs. Bryant* — 1 pm |
| * – denotes Big South-Ohio Valley Conference game |
| All Lindenwood home games will be played at Harlen C. Hunter Stadium |