Lindenwood RB Robert Giaimo celebrates after scoring the first touchdown of the season in the Lions’ big victory, Thursday night at Hunter Stadium. (Photo: Cedric Williams)

NCAA Football – Aug. 31, 2023	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
Wis.-Stevens Point (0-1)	0	0	2	7	9
Lindenwood (1-0)	21	35	7	14	77

Cedric Williams
Senior Editor

ST. CHARLES, MO — The Lindenwood University football team made a spectacular 2023 debut, Thursday night, when it dominated visiting Wisconsin-Steven Point for 77-9 season-opening victory at Hunter Stadium.

The Lions scored touchdowns on 10 of its offensive 12 possessions, including each of its first seven, and also blocked a punt and returned it for another score on its way to an 11-touchdown performance that ranks as one of the best first game of the season efforts in Lindenwood football history.

“We challenged our guys to come out and play at the standard that we expect them to play at and I believe they did what we asked them to do, head coach Jed Stugart said, in a statement released by the athletics department. “We saw a lot of great things, and we see things that we need to improve on. Now the next challenge is to play at that standard against the quality schedule that we have this year.”

New starting quarterback Cole Dugger completed nine-of-14 passes for 263 yards and four touchdowns — all in the first half — while the Lindenwood running back group combined to total 349 yards and five touchdowns.

Overall, Lindenwood outgained Wisconsin-Stevens Point 696 yards to 151. The Lions also had 30 first downs while the Pointers totaled just nine.

Other Lindenwood players who stood out were running backs Justin Williams (100 yards rushing, 1 TD), Von Gordon (77 yards rushing, 2 TDs), and Robert Giaimo (75 total yards, 1 TD rushing, 1 TD receiving). Wide receiver Jeff Caldwell also had a big night. He caught a touchdown pass, blocked two punts, and recovered one of them for a score.

Defensively, the Lions were led by linebacker Brenden Dye. He had a team-high six tackles and a quarterback sack.

Now that its gotten the season started, Lindenwood will face a mighty big task next week. The Lions will travel to Cape Girardeau for their Big South-Ohio Valley Conference league association opener against new rival and defending OVC champ Southeast Missouri State.

SEMO was ranked No. 11 in the preseason NCAA FCS Top 25 poll and will begin its season on Saturday, September 2, with a matchup against NCAA FBS No. 16 Kansas State.

The Lindenwood-SEMO game is scheduled for September 9, and will be played at SEMO’s Houck Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY

Qtr	Time	Scoring Play	UWSP	LU
1st	11:05	LU – Robert Giaimo 19 yd run (Logan Seibert kick), 6 plays, 63 yards, TOP 02:24	0	7
1st	03:26	LU – Robert Giaimo 20 yd pass from Cole Dugger (Logan Seibert kick) 5 plays, 73 yards, TOP 02:11	0	14
1st	01:14	LU – Jeff Caldwell 3 yd blocked punt return (Logan Seibert kick)	0	21
2nd	14:47	LU – Jared Rhodes 9 yd run (Logan Seibert kick), 1 plays, 9 yards, TOP 00:05	0	28
2nd	10:27	LU – Spencer Redd 60 yd pass from Cole Dugger (Logan Seibert kick) 4 plays, 73 yards, TOP 01:48	0	35
2nd	08:44	LU – Chase Lanckriet 72 yd pass from Cole Dugger (Logan Seibert kick) 1 plays, 72 yards, TOP 00:11	0	42
2nd	03:42	LU – Jeff Caldwell 6 yd pass from Cole Dugger (Logan Seibert kick) 8 plays, 63 yards, TOP 03:30	0	49
2nd	01:26	LU – Von Gordon 28 yd run (Logan Seibert kick), 5 plays, 68 yards, TOP 01:11	0	56
3rd	13:09	UWSP – 0 yd safety	2	56
3rd	01:11	LU – Justin Williams 24 yd run (Logan Seibert kick), 7 plays, 67 yards, TOP 03:42	2	63
4th	13:26	LU – Von Gordon 20 yd run (Logan Seibert kick), 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:22	2	70
4th	03:33	LU – Justin Williams 8 yd pass from Cooper Justice (Logan Seibert kick) 11 plays, 64 yards, TOP 07:39	2	77
4th	00:06	UWSP – Rocky Wagoner 7 yd pass from Stephen Schreiter (Aleks Sauer-Milli kick) 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 03:21	9	77

2023 Lindenwood Lions Football Schedule

Sat., September 9 — at Southeast Missouri State* — 6 pm

Sat., September 16 — at Western Illinois — 6 pm

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