The Lindenwood Lions will host what should be a thrilling Ohio Valley Conference showdown against No. 24-ranked SEMO, Saturday afternoon at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Lindenwood Football – Gameday Info
Game No. 4 – Southeast Missouri State (3-1) at Lindenwood (2-1)
Date/Time – Saturday, October 1 – 1 pm
Location – Hunter Stadium — St. Charles, MO
Broadcast – ESPN+
Live Stats – Sideline Stats
Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
After stepping up and playing the preseason favorite to win the Ohio Valley Conference title last week, Lindenwood will be back at again this week, as it hosts another top notch league opponent in No. 24-ranked Southeast Missouri State.
It’s the first ever meeting between the Lions and Redhawks, and it’s being billed as the “Game Ball Brawl”, a rivalry game between the new in-state OVC opponents.
Lindenwood is coming off its first loss of the season, which it suffered last week against No. 19-ranked Tennessee-Martin. The Lions trailed 21-13 at halftime, but then gave up three touchdowns in the third quarter, on their way to a 56-26 loss.
SEMO will come into Saturday with a 3-1 record, following an intense 35-27 win over Central Arkansas. The Redhawks were ranked No. 24 in the country in this week’s Top 25, making them Lindenwood’s second straight nationally ranked opponent.
Players to Watch: Lindenwood will be led by its fifth-year senior quarterback Cade Brister, who’s coming off record-setting performances his last two times out.
Two weeks ago, Brister broke the LU all-time touchdown passing record. He now has 74 touchdown passes in his career. And last week, Brister surpassed the school’s all-time passing yards record. He now has 8.648 passing yards and more than 10,000 total yards in his Lindenwood career.
Senior receiver Payton Rose had his second straight big game as well, as he caught seven passes for 156 yards. Tight end Darrin Fuggitt had his first big game as a Lion. The freshman from Bolivar, Mo., had five catches for 62 yards and scored his first collegiate touchdown.
Sophomore running back Andrew Martin, who scored the big touchdown on the blocked punt that won the season opener at Houston Baptist, took over in the backfield for Robert Giaimo, who got injured, and finished last week with 50 rushing yards and Lindenwood’s other offensive touchdown.
On defense, David Whittemore, Kai Ross, and David Wesley combined for 18 tackles, one tackle for loss, and three pass breakups against Tennessee-Martin.
SEMO is led by quarterback Paxton DeLaurent, a sophomore from Camdenton, Mo., who leads the OVC in passing with 1,115 yards and 10 touchdowns. SEMO’s leading receivers might be the best WR duo in the conference.
Senior Johnny King leads the league in receptions (30) and has three touchdowns, while junior teammate Ryan Flournoy, who is tied with King for the team lead with 321 yards, is second in the OVC in average yards per catch (16.9). Lindenwood’s Rose is the league leader at 21.7 yards per catch.
Next Up: Lindenwood will be back on the road next week, with the first of two straight road games. First, the Lions will play Central Arkansas on October 8, then they’ll be at Eastern Illinois on October 15.
Lindenwood’s next home game will be Saturday, October 22, against Murray State. That game between the Lions and Racers will kickoff at 1 p.m.
Probable Starters
Lindenwood Offense Lindenwood Defense
QB – 4 Cade Brister – Sr. DE – 91 Kobe McClendon – Fr.
RB – 22 Andrew Martin – So. DT – 8 Moses Ale – Jr.
WR – 1 Kobe Smith – Sr. DT – 56 Dylan Petti – Sr.
WR – 17 Payton Rose – Sr. DE – 35 Sterlin Williams – Jr.
WR – 10 Spencer Redd – Jr. LB – 25 Tre Ranson – So.
LT – 77 Blake Rogenhofer – Sr. LB – 44 David Whittemore – Fr.
LG – 78 Gareth Warren – So. LB – 40 Tyrone Griffin – So.
C – 51 Connor Mazzotta – Sr. CB – 3 Darion Bolden – Sr.
RG – 52 Asa Baker – Jr. FS – 21 Kai Ross – Sr.
RT – 74 Ethan Johnson – So. SS – 7 Lloyd Lockett – Sr.
TE – 18 Chase Lanckreit – Jr. CB – 24 Wesley Hines – Jr.
PK – 43 Logan Siebert – So. P – 90 Riley Ripper – So.
SEMO Offense SEMO Defense
QB – 10 Paxton DeLaurent – So. DT – 91 LaWilliam Holmes – Sr.
RB – 6 Geno Hess – Sr. NT – 50 Lunden Manuel – Sr.
WR – 4 Johnny King – Sr. DT – 99 Steven Lewis – Jr.
WR – 16 Damoriea Vick – Jr. LB – 18 Keandre Booker – Sr.
WR – 1 Ryan Flournoy – Jr. LB – 32 Bryce Norman – So.
LT – 76 Terry Cook – Sr. LB – 13 Mali Walton – So.
LG – 70 Shyron Rodgers – Sr. LB – 12 Jordan Cole – Sr.
C – 56 Zack Gieg – Sr. CB – 22 Tyler Nelome – Jr.
RG – 69 Kobe Sixkiller – So. S – 8 Trai Hodges – Sr.
RT – 68 Nate Korte – Sr. S – 7 Lawrence Johnson – Sr.
TE – 88 Will Weldemann – Sr. CB – 5 Ty Leonard – Sr.
PK – 49 D.C. Pippin – Jr. P – 47 Zach Haynes – Jr.
| 2022 Lindenwood Lions Upcoming Football Schedule |
| Sat., October 1 — vs. #24 Southeast Missouri State — 1 pm |
| Sat., October 8 — at Central Arkansas — 4 pm |
| Sat., October 15 — at Eastern Illinois — 2 pm |
| Sat., October 22 — vs. Murray State — 1 pm |
| Sat., October 29 — vs. William Jewell — 1 pm |
| Sat., November 5 — at Tennessee Tech — 1:30 pm |
| Sat., November 12 — vs. McKendree — 1 pm |
| All Lindenwood home games will be played at Harlen C. Hunter Stadium |