Box Score postgame show - audio

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The Lindenwood football team won its 2012 home opener on Saturday night at Hunter Stadium with a 35-14 victory over Southwest Baptist. The Lions defense allowed just one touchdown and forced four turnovers to lead Lindenwood to its first MIAA win on its home field.

The Lions jumped out to a 21-0 victory early in the second quarter. Denodus O'Bryant opened up the scoring in the first quarter with a four-yard touchdown rush on the team's first series of the game. The touchdown was the 29th career rushing touchdown for O'Bryant, which set a new school record.

Matt Angell scored Lindenwood's second touchdown with a 28-yard reception from Ben Gomez in the second quarter. Just over a minute later, Pierre Desir intercepted a pass and returned it 51 yards to make the score 21-0.

Southwest Baptist got back into the game by halftime, sparked by a 93-yard punt return touchdown.  Then, right before half, a Lindenwood turnover gave Southwest Baptist a short field and the Bearcats scored with just 24 seconds left in the half.

O'Bryant put Lindenwood back up by 14 with his second rushing touchdown of the game with 9:23 left in the third quarter. Southwest Baptist appeared ready to answer right away, but Desir intercepted his second pass of the game in the endzone to end that Bearcat drive.

After trading punts, the Bearcats put together another good drive early in the fourth quarter. The drive ended when, on a fourth-and-one play from the Lindenwood nine-yard line, Malach Radigan burst through the line and stopped Southwest Baptist for a one-yard loss. On the ensuing possession, Gomez led Lindenwood on an eight-play, 90-yard drive. Lindenwood sealed its victory when Andrew Helmick scored a touchdown on a 19-yard reception.

Lindenwood's defense allowed just 297 yards of total offense, including 86 rushing yards. The team had five sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and held Southwest Baptist to just four-of-17 on third-down conversions. Connor Harris led the team for the second straight week with nine tackles. He also had one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Radigan finished with seven tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. Sean Gracy, Joe Day, Chris Floyd, Cody Reider, and Jon McComb also had a hand in on a sack. Reider also recovered a fumble.

Offensively, Lindenwood finished with 358 total yards, with 125 rushing yards and 233 passing yards. Angell led the Lions with five catches for 127 yard, and Helmick was second on the team with 62 receiving yards. O'Bryant led Lindenwood with 86 rushing yards. Gomez completed 16-of-24 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns.

Game Notes: Lindenwood improves to 2-0 on the season and 2-0 in MIAA play … Southwest Baptist falls to 0-2 on the season and 0-2 in MIAA play … the Lions are one of six teams undefeated in conference play after two weeks … Denodus O'Bryant now has 50 career touchdowns, with 30 on the ground, 12 receiving, and eight on special teams … Andrew Helmick has now had a touchdown reception in eight straight games … Matt Angell set a career-high with five receptions and 127 receiving yards … Pierre Desir two interceptions ties Lindenwood's single-game record … Malach Radigan set career-bests with seven tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss … Lindenwood is home again next week when it faces Central Missouri at 6 p.m. at Hunter Stadium.