Lindenwood QB Cade Brister lines up under center for the first play of the game, in the Lions’ home opener against Keiser University, Saturday night at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles. (Photo: Cedric Williams)
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keiser | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Lindenwood | 7 | 21 | 0 | 9 | 37 |
Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
ST. CHARLES, MO — It was a thrilling night of big plays, fireworks, and smothering defense, Saturday night at Hunter Stadium, as the Lindenwood University football team won its first home game as an NCAA Division I team, 37-3, against visiting Keiser University.
In front of a packed house of more than 4,000 fans, Lindenwood controlled the action from the start — thanks in large part to three second quarter touchdowns, that allowed the Lions to go into halftime with a 28-3 lead.
From there, Lindenwood coasted through the rest of the night on its way to a Family Night victory over a Keiser team that came into the game ranked No. 14 in the national NAIA football polls.
“It was a great night,” Lindenwood head coach Jed Stugart said. “We started a little slow and we’ve definitely got some things we need to work on, but this was what we were hoping for.”
Lindenwood, which began its 2022 season last week on the road, was playing its first game in front of its home crowd as members of NCAA Division I-FCS and the Ohio Valley Conference, looked like it absolutely belonged as it dominated Keiser from the outset.
The Lions drove the ball deep into Keiser’s territory on its second possession, and put the first points of the game on the board, when senior quarterback Cade Brister found fellow senior wideout Payton Rose over the middle, for a 33-yard touchdown that made the score 7-0.
“We started a little slow, and we weren’t quite in sync, like we want to be in the beginning,” Stugart said. “But that play by Payton really got us going. It kind of energized the whole team, and we really started rolling after that.”
Actually, it was Keiser who got rolling on the plays right after Rose’s touchdown. Return man Wendal Philard returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards to Lindenwood 46, to give Keiser its best starting field position of the night.
The Seahawks then drove the ball into the Lindenwood red zone, before having to settle for a field goal that made the score 7-3.
Early in the second quarter is when Lindenwood really got going. And it was due in large part, to another couple of big plays by Rose.
First, he caught an 18-yard dig route across the middle to help the Lions get the ball into Keiser territory. Then, on a key third down, he caught a 39-yard fade right to put the ball at Keiser’s 11 yard line.
Rose finished with seven catches for a game-high 180 yards and a touchdown, but it was new Lion Kobe Smith, who made his presence felt on the next play, as he caught a touchdown pass from Brister to put Lindenwood up 14-3.
Keiser moved the ball deep into Lindenwood’s territory on its next possession, but quarterback Shea Spencer was sacked and lost a fumble that was recovered by Lindenwood’s Dylan Petti that ended any chance of the Seahawks potentially trimming their deficit.
Brister, who finished the night 377 yards and three touchdowns, brought the entire crowd to its feet two plays later, when he found Smith on a go-route, up the sideline, for a 78-yard touchdown that made it 21-3.
“You know, we’ve got a great receiving corps here,” Stugart said. “With Payton and Kobe, and Spencer (Redd, and Jayley (Bethany). We’ve got a pretty dangerous group. And we’re a big play offense. So it’s important to have guys that can make plays like that at any time. It’s definitely a great weapon.”
Smith, who finished the night with five catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns, was especially excited about the 78-yarder. He came out of the huddle just before the play, with a smile on his face and a look in his eyes like something special was about to happen.
“I probably need to stop doing that,” Smith said. “Teams are gonna start keying on that and realize that we’re going for a big play if I don’t stop that. But I couldn’t help it. I knew we had a great matchup, and I knew I could get open. So I was excited when the play call came through.”
The Lions weren’t done though. Rose, Smith, and Redd all made first-down catches on Lindenwood’s next possession to move the ball deep into Keiser territory.
Sophomore running back Andrew Martin, who was making his first start, capped off the drive with a two-yard touchdown that gave the Lions that 28-3 halftime lead.
Lindenwood added a touchdown run by junior Justin Williams, the first of his career as a Lion, and a field goal by kicker Logan Seibert to close out the scoring. Many of the 4000 fans stuck around to see the post-game fireworks show, which put a final capper on what was a terrific night for everybody wearing black and gold.
“I thought it was a great night,” Stugart said. “We really appreciate all the students and all the families coming out to support us tonight. This is what we want it to be around here — a great family atmosphere, with what we think is a good team, playing exciting football.”
Lindenwood is now 2-0 on the season, after winning a pair of non-conference games. But the Lions will be taking a major step up in competition next week, when it takes on Ohio Valley Conference preseason favorite and FCS No. 15-ranked Tennessee-Martin, in its OVC opener.
“This is was fun and we’re all excited, but it’ll be time to put on our big boy pants next week,” Brister said. “That’s a really good team and a really tough place to play on the road. We’ve got to put this one behind us pretty quick, so we can get ready for that game next week.”
Next week’s game is scheduled to kickoff at 6 p.m., and will be streamed live on ESPN Plus.
| Qtr | Time | Scoring Play | Keiser | LU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 08:38 | LU – Payton Rose 33 yd pass from Cade Brister (Logan Seibert kick) 6 plays, 52 yards, TOP 02:07 | 0 | 7 |
| 1st | 02:19 | Keiser – Chance Gagnon 32 yd field goal 11 plays, 30 yards, TOP 06:09 | 3 | 7 |
| 2nd | 12:08 | LU – Kobe Smith 11 yd pass from Cade Brister (Logan Seibert kick) 5 plays, 67 yards, TOP 01:45 | 3 | 14 |
| 2nd | 06:59 | LU – Kobe Smith 78 yd pass from Cade Brister (Logan Seibert kick) 2 plays, 89 yards, TOP 01:01 | 3 | 21 |
| 2nd | 02:08 | LU – Andrew Martin 2 yd run (Logan Seibert kick), 6 plays, 51 yards, TOP 02:50 | 3 | 28 |
| 4th | 12:34 | LU – Logan Seibert 32 yd field goal 7 plays, 45 yards, TOP 03:00 | 3 | 31 |
| 4th | 09:37 | LU – Justin Williams 16 yd run (PAT no good), 5 plays, 32 yards, TOP 01:44 | 3 | 37 |
| 2022 Lindenwood Lions Upcoming Football Schedule |
| Sat., September 24 — at #15 Tennessee-Martin — 6 pm |
| Sat., October 1 — vs. 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 |