Lindenwood’s Taylen Blaylock gets tackled by a SEMO defender on a kickoff return during Saturday’s football game at Houck Field in Cape Girardeau. (Photo: Cedric Williams)

NCAA Football – Sept. 9, 2023	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Lindenwood (1-1)	0	0	0	7	7
#14 Southeast Missouri (1-1)	17	21	0	7	45

Cedric Williams
Senior Editor

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO — On the opening kickoff to Saturday’s “Game Ball Brawl” between Lindenwood and Southeast Missouri at SEMO’s Houck Field, Lindenwood’s Darius Ragland delivered a bonecrunching hit to SEMO’s Dalyn McDonald that brought the crowd to its feet and knocked McDonald out for the rest of the game.

The Lindenwood sideline erupted with excitement, as Ragland began the game just as everyone in black and gold hoped they would.

Unfortunately, that was one of the few positive plays on the night for the Lions, as No. 14-ranked SEMO dominated the rest of the action, including building a 38-0 halftime lead, on its way to a 45-7 win. The Redhawks claimed the MRV Banks Game Ball Brawl trophy for the second-straight season, after defeating the Lions 49-28 last season at Lindenwood.

SEMO got big days from several players, including quarterback Paxton DeLaurent, who threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns, running back Geno Hess, who rushed for 115 yards and two scores, and receivers Ryan Flournoy and Damoriea Vick, who both had 10 catches. Flournoy finished with 99 yards and a touchdown and Vick had 101 receiving yards and a pair of scores.

Lindenwood QB Cole Dugger had a rough night, completing just 17-of-39 passes for 122 yards and also threw three interceptions, one of which was returned for a SEMO touchdown. Dugger did produce Lindenwood’s lone score — on an 18 yard run in the fourth quarter.

Running back Robert Giaimo had a better night. He rushed for 67 yards on 15 carries — an average of 4.5 yards per carry. Unfortunately, it wasn’t nearly enough against a SEMO team that looked every bit like one of the Top 15 FCS teams in the country.

Defensively, cornerback Wesley Hines led the Lions with eight tackles and one tackle for loss.

Both teams now have a record of 1-1 on the season. The matchup was the first Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Association game of the season for both clubs. League action will continue throughout the season.

Lindenwood will be back on the road for the second of three straight road games next week, when it will travel to Macomb, Ill., to play Western Illinois. That game is slated for a 6 p.m. kickoff at Western Illinois’ Hanson Field.

Scoring Summary

Qtr	Time	Scoring Play	LU	SEMO
1st	09:52	SEMO – Flournoy,Ryan 2 yd pass from DeLaurent,Paxton (Pippin,DC kick) 13 plays, 85 yards, TOP 05:05	0	7
1st	04:14	SEMO – Pippin,DC 37 yd field goal 8 plays, 21 yards, TOP 03:34	0	10
1st	00:10	SEMO – Hess,Geno 2 yd run (Pippin,DC kick), 8 plays, 67 yards, TOP 02:48	0	17
2nd	12:32	SEMO – Vick,Damoriea 28 yd pass from DeLaurent,Paxton (Pippin,DC kick) 6 plays, 55 yards, TOP 02:23	0	24
2nd	08:00	SEMO – Hess,Geno 2 yd run (Pippin,DC kick), 9 plays, 77 yards, TOP 03:25	0	31
2nd	00:30	SEMO – Pickens III,Henry 72 yd interception return (Pippin,DC kick)	0	38
4th	13:38	LU – Dugger,Cole 18 yd run (Seibert,Logan kick), 13 plays, 77 yards, TOP 05:09	7	38
4th	08:32	SEMO – Vick,Damoriea 7 yd pass from DeLaurent,Paxton (Pippin,DC kick) 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:06	7	45

2023 Lindenwood Lions Upcoming Football Schedule

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

Sat., September 23 — at #25 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