The Lindenwood football team earned a 33-18 win over Murray State (0-8, 0-3 OVC) on Saturday from Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Mo. It was the first official win in the OVC for the Lions, and the third-straight victory for Lindenwood.
GAME OVERVIEW
The Lions fell behind early, as Murray State took a 12-0 lead after the first 15 minutes of play. Lindenwood settled in, and started the second quarter with a phenomenal effort by Cade Brister. In what looked to by a sack, Brister was able to fight off a tackler to find Kobe Smith on a 39-yard touchdown strike to bring the Lions within five points. The Racers added a field goal on the next drive to build its lead back up to double digits.
From that point on, the Lindenwood defense played great while the offense began to find their groove. At the 1:33 mark of the second quarter, Brister found Payton Rose for a 27-yard touchdown completion to put make it a one-point deficit. On the touchdown, Rose set the new school record for receiving yards in a career. Lindenwood was able to put together a great defensive possession, allowing Logan Seibert to knock through a 45-yard field goal to put the Lions in front 17-15 at the half.
Murray State opened the second half with a field goal on its first possession, but the defense of Lindenwood pitched a shutout for the remainder of the game. With the Lions down 18-17, Darion Bolden intercepted a pass at the one-yard line and took it to the house for a 99-yard interception return and took all air out of the Murray State sideline.
Brister found Smith for a second time to start the fourth frame, giving the Lions a 30-18 advantage. The Lions forced a three-and-out the next Racer drive, which Jayden Patrick made a key stop and the line of scrimmage and broke up a pass to force a punt. Lindenwood put together a long 14-play, 7:23 drive which was capped off with a 29-yard field goal by Seibert to make it a 33-18 ballgame. Murray State tried to make a comeback, but Bolden registered his second pick of the game to close out the 15-point win over the Racers.
Bolden’s interception return was the third-longest in school history, while he tallied the first interceptions for the defense this year. Mann McGruder was all over the field, as he compiled a total of 14 tackles to lead all defensive players. Patrick had seven tackles on Saturday, with two pass breakups and 0.5 tackles for loss. Sterlin Williams secured a sack, making it 5.5 sacks on the year for the junior defensive lineman. With his one score on the day, Rose has tied DeDe Dorsey for 180 points scored while wearing the Lindenwood uniform. Rose made the 30th touchdown catch of his career, after making a great effort to get into the end zone.
QUOTABLE
“This was another team win of guys picking each other up,” said head coach Jed Stugart. “Although we don’t like giving up explosive plays, our defense is finding out ways to step up and make plays when we need them. Debo (Darion Bolden) made the play of the day with his 99-yard pick-six. Offensively, even with the slow start, we moved the ball well, scored in the red zone, and ran key minutes off the clock to secure the win. Our special teams unit had a huge day as well, so it was an all-around team effort again today.”
GAME LEADERS
Darion Bolden (4 tackles, 2 INT, 2 PBU, 99-yard INT TD)
Payton Rose (3 catches, 111 yards, 1 TD)
Cade Brister (16-for-26, 242 pass yards, 3 TD, 61 rush yards)
Mann McGruder (14 tackles, 5 solo, 1 PBU)
Kobe Smith (5 catches, 65 yards, 2 TD, 31 YAC)
UP NEXT
Lindenwood will host former conference foe in William Jewell on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. inside Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Mo.
