By Issa David

Behind a strong defense, the Lindenwood Lions beat the Southwest Baptist Bearcats 35 – 14 on Sept. 8 at Hunter Stadium.

The first couple of minutes started out well for the Lions. The defense forced a quick three and out and the offense scored a touchdown.

After that, the Bearcats came alive, on defense anyway. The SBU defense did not let the Lions score more than a touchdown a quarter and held them to 358 offensive yards. The Bearcats also forced four fumbles, two of which were recovered, along with an interception.

“It can’t happen,” said head coach Patrick Ross. “Turnovers are not good, that is a big dictator of who is going to win the game. That’s two games in a row now where we’ve had three turnovers.”

SBU’s offense did not play as well as its defense. The Lion defense, led by junior cornerback Pierre Desir’s two interceptions, did not let the Bearcats score for three out of four quarters.

The Bearcats scored all their touchdowns in the second quarter. One of them was a 93 yard punt return. The other came with 24 seconds left that pulled them within a touchdown at halftime. It was 21-14 at half.

SBU had chances in the second half, but every time it needed a big play the Lion defense was there. The biggest stop came in the third quarter. With LU up 28-14, SBU had the ball on the Lindenwood 9 yard line with a fourth and one.

Senior defensive tackle Malach Radigan stopped rusher Robert McWright.

LU got the ball, marched down the field and scored.

“We took the opportunity and made a play,” Desir said.

Senior running back Denodus O’Bryant had 20 carries for 86 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two fumbles on back-to-back drives, both of which were recovered by SBU.  Junior quarterback Ben Gomez was 16 of 24 passing with 233 yards and two touchdowns along with an interception. Senior wide receiver Matt Angell had five catches for 127 yards and a touchdown. And senior wide out Andrew Helmick caught three passes for 62 yards and a touchdown.

The Lions are 2-0 and will face the Central Missouri Mules on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Hunter. UCM is 1-1 and it beat the number three ranked team in the nation – Northwest Missouri – last week. Last year the Mules beat LU 47-28.

Behind a strong defense, the Lindenwood Lions beat the Southwest Baptist Bearcats 35 – 14 on Sept. 8 at Hunter Stadium.

The first couple of minutes started out well for the Lions. The defense forced a quick three and out and the offense scored a touchdown.

After that, the Bearcats came alive, on defense anyway. The SBU defense did not let the Lions score more than a touchdown a quarter and held them to 358 offensive yards. The Bearcats also forced four fumbles, two of which were recovered, along with an interception.

“It can’t happen,” said head coach Patrick Ross. “Turnovers are not good, that is a big dictator of who is going to win the game. That’s two games in a row now where we’ve had three turnovers.”

SBU’s offense did not play as well as its defense. The Lion defense, led by junior cornerback Pierre Desir’s two interceptions, did not let the Bearcats score for three out of four quarters.

The Bearcats scored all their touchdowns in the second quarter. One of them was a 93 yard punt return. The other came with 24 seconds left that pulled them within a touchdown at halftime. It was 21-14 at half.

SBU had chances in the second half, but every time it needed a big play the Lion defense was there. The biggest stop came in the third quarter. With LU up 28-14, SBU had the ball on the Lindenwood 9 yard line with a fourth and one.

Senior defensive tackle Malach Radigan stopped rusher Robert McWright.

LU got the ball, marched down the field and scored.

“We took the opportunity and made a play,” Desir said.

Senior running back Denodus O’Bryant had 20 carries for 86 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two fumbles on back-to-back drives, both of which were recovered by SBU.  Junior quarterback Ben Gomez was 16 of 24 passing with 233 yards and two touchdowns along with an interception. Senior wide receiver Matt Angell had five catches for 127 yards and a touchdown. And senior wide out Andrew Helmick caught three passes for 62 yards and a touchdown.

The Lions are 2-0 and will face the Central Missouri Mules on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Hunter. UCM is 1-1 and it beat the number three ranked team in the nation – Northwest Missouri – last week. Last year the Mules beat LU 47-28.