The fourth of four Lindenwood University September home games will kickoff Saturday afternoon at in St. Charles, as the Lions jump back into MIAA conference play, with a matchup against the University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers — a tough luck club that has yet to win its first game in 2012.
UNK (0-4), which is also in its first year as members of the MIAA, went 10-2 last year and led the nation in turnovers forced.
But this season, the Lopers have forced just three turnovers in four games and have been outscored 157-76 in those games, which were played against teams that had a combined 12-2 record going into this weekend.
Lindenwood (3-1), which is coming off its most exciting win of the season, a 28-24 come-from-behind victory over Glenville State last Friday night.
The Lions are one of nine MIAA teams with records of 3-1 or better, and will look to keep themselves within a game of league leaders Pittsburg State, Emporia State, and Northwest Missouri St. in the conference championhship race.
Today’s matchup marks the first-ever meeting between LU and UNK, and should present an intriguing clash of styles.
Lindenwood employs a version of the 4- or 5-wide spread, and likes to air it out and throw the ball around a bit.
While UNK is a more traditional ground-and-pound team, that makes its living behind a massive offensive line that averages nearly 300 pounds a man.
Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.
GAMEDAY PREVIEW — LINDENWOOD FOOTBALL 2012
NEBRASKA-KEARNEY LOPERS (0-4) at LINDENWOOD LIONS (3-1)
HARLEN C. HUNTER STADIUM — SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 — 1:30 p.m.
PROJECTED STARTERS
NEBRASKA-KEARNEY LOPERS
Offense ………………………………………….. Defense
QB – 11 Tyler D’Amore, Sr. ……………… DE – 93 Matt Bowman, Soph.
RB – 6 Tommy Flanagan, Fr. ……………. NG – 49 Sandi Stanback, Jr.
LT – 64 Cole Manhart, Sr. ………………… DT – 94 Justin Thiel, Sr.
LG – 63 Nate Bryan, Fr. …………………… DE – 99 Dex Schwieger, Sr.
C – 54 Cody Wheeler, Jr ………………….. LB – 23 Rashad King, Sr.
RG – 51 Olukayoda Akinmoladun, Sr. … LB – 18 Kellen Werner, Jr.
RT – 70 Pete Trausch, Jr. ………………….. LB – 36 Jack Douglas, Jr.
TE – 88 Brett Klein, Fr. ……………………. CB – 21 Kenny Hill, Jr.
WR – 22 Dillon Goltl, Jr…………………… FS – 20 Sam Kuck, Sr.
WR – 14 O’Neill Chambers, Jr. …………. SS – 19 Pete Kropp, Sr.
WR – 15 Matt Berry, Soph. ……………… CB- 2 Ryan Lendrum, Jr.
LINDENWOOD LIONS
Offense …………………………………………. Defense
QB – 11 Ben Gomez, Jr. ………………….. DE – 40 Joe Day, Sr.
RB – 5 Denodus O’Bryant, Sr. …………. DT – 93 Chaz Fulton, Soph.
WR – 7 Sam Sealer, Fr. …………………… NG – 50 Malach Radigan, Sr.
WR – 18 Matt Angell, Sr. ………………… DE – 9 Sean Gracy, Sr.
WR – 1 Alex Robinson, Soph. ………….. LB – 22 Dillon Hawkins, Soph.
WR – 15 Andrew Helmick, Sr. …………. LB – 16 Connor Harris, Fr.
LT – 76 Jacob Heneisen, Soph. ………… LB – 24 A.J. Chappelle, Fr.
LG – 67 J.T. Young, Fr. ………………….. CB – 6 Justin Broome, Sr.
C – 66 Matt Atley, Sr. ……………………… S – 20 Cody Fogle, Sr.
RG – 77 Kadre Pinder, Sr. ……………….. S – 8 Jaz Granderson, Sr.
RT – 53 Matt Andreolli, Sr. ……………… CB- 3 Pierre Desir, Jr.
2012 LINDENWOOD LIONS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Sept. 1 at Lincoln* Jefferson City, MO 2 pm
Sept. 8 vs. Southwest Baptist* Hunter Stadium 6 pm
Sept. 15 vs. Central Missouri* Hunter Stadium 6 pm
Sept. 21 vs. Glenville State Hunter Stadium 7 pm
Sept. 29 vs. Nebraska-Kearney* Hunter Stadium 1:30 pm
Oct. 6 at Fort Hays State* Hays, KS 7 pm
Oct. 13 at Emporia State* Emporia, KS 2 pm
Oct. 20 vs. Washburn* Hunter Stadium 1:30 pm
Oct. 27 vs. Missouri Southern* Hunter Stadium 2:37 pm
Nov. 3 at Pittsburg State* Pittsburg, KS 2 pm
Nov. 10 at Truman State* Kirksville, MO 1 pm
* – denotes MIAA conference game