LB Devon Edwards, the Big South-OVC Defensive Player of the Week, and the Lindenwood Lions defense will head to Illinois State on Saturday. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Lindenwood Football – Gameday Info
Game No. 4 – Lindenwood (2-1) at Illinois State (2-1)
Date/Time – September 23, 2023 – 12 pm
Location – Hancock Stadium — Normal, IL
Broadcast – ESPN+
Live Stats – ISU Live Stats
Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
NORMAL, IL — The Lindenwood Lions will play the third of three straight road games on Saturday, when they travel up north to play at Illinois State.
The Lions are coming off a thrilling comeback victory last week, when the team rallied from a 31-14 halftime deficit to defeat Western Illinois, 43-40. Lindenwood is now 2-1 on the season.
Illinois State is also 2-1, but the Redbirds aren’t feeling nearly as stoked about it as they were heading into last week. The Redbirds had won their first two games and earned themselves a spot in the AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25 national poll (at No. 25). But the ‘Birds suffered a shocking 14-13 defeat to rival Eastern Illinois, and now find themselves no longer in the Top 25.
Players to Watch: Lindenwood had three big offensive standouts in the win over Western. QB Cole Dugger threw for 270 yards and five touchdowns. RB Robert Giaimo rushed for 120 yards and scored two touchdowns. And WR Jeff Caldwell caught five passes for 185 yards and four touchdowns.
Caldwell’s performance earned him Big South-OVC Association Offensive Player of the Week.
Defensively, the Lions were led by LB Devon Edwards. He was named Defensive Player of the Week, after registering 14 tackles (11 solo), two tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. Edwards’ 14 tackles were also the most by any Big South-OVC player in a single game this season.
Illinois State is a balanced offensive club, which averages 192.3 rushing yards and 233.0 passing yards per game.
RB Mason Blakemore has been dynamite for the Redbirds this season. He’s got 297 yards on 34 carries and five touchdowns so far this season. He put up 170 yards and three touchdowns in Illinois State’s 34-18 win over Western Illinois in Week 2 and was the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week.
Defensively, LB Tye Niekamp leads the team with 25 total tackles and DE Amir Abdullah leads the entire MVFC with 5.5 quarterback sacks.
Up Next: Lindenwood will finally be back home, after nearly a month away, and host its final non-conference game of the season, next Saturday. The Lions will take on Austin Peay at Hunter Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
Illinois State will host FCS No. 1-ranked South Dakota State next Saturday.
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 – 40 Tyrone Griffin – Jr.
C – 58 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.
Illinois State Offense Illinois State Defense
QB – 5 Zack Annexstad – Sr. DT – 97 Jake Anderson – Fr.
RB – 3 Mason Blakemore – Jr. NG – 51 Jalen Monnrow – Fr.
WR – 2 Daniel Sobkowicz – So. DE – 91 Josh Dinga – Sr.
WR – 1 I’Shawn Stewart – Jr. LB – 50 Jalan Gaines – Sr.
WR – 13 Eddie Kasper – Fr. LB – 22 Amir Abdullah – Jr.
LT – 57 Hunter Zambrano – Jr. LB – 46 Tye Niekamp – Fr.
LG – 76 Kobe Rios – Sr. LB – 1 Lavoise-Deontae McCoy – Fr.
C – 66 Peter Bussone – Jr. CB – 6 Nigel White – Jr.
RG – 75 Ryan Gudaitis – So. S – 3 Keondre Jackson – Jr.
RT – 67 Jake Pope – So. S – 16 Dillon Gearhart – Jr.
TE – 89 Cam Grandy – Sr. CB – 21 Jeff Bowens – Jr.
PK – 96 Josh Jasek – So. P – 31 Ian Wagner – So.
| 2023 Lindenwood Lions Football Schedule |
| Sat., September 23 — at Illinois State — 12 pm |
| 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 |