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Lions look for momentum from 41-10 win over Evangel to stick on the road at CMU
Lindenwood vs. Central Methodist
Oct. 14, 2006 - Cavannah Stadium
Fayette, MO

At the halfway point in the Heart of America Athletic Conference season, Lindenwood head coach Patrick Ross knows at least one thing about his young Lion team: they have been very good at home. On the road ... not so much.

"We have to find a way to get that same intensity on the road that we've shown at home in familiar surroundings," said the Lions' third-year head coach, whose team is now 3-2 in the HAAC and 3-4 overall. "I think that's fairly typical of a young team, but at some point, when you finally feel that experience of playing well and winning on someone else's field, it isn't a big mystery for your young guys anymore."

Last week's 41-10 shellacking of a good Evangel team was fairly representative of how things have gone for the Lions at LU Stadium this fall. Big plays from all phases of the game, working out to big leads, then letting the reserves run out the clock - that formula has led to big home wins over Culver-Stockton, Graceland and Evangel, with the only home loss coming at the hands of a national playoff-bound Georgetown (Ky.) team, 27-17.

On the road, however, the Lions have lost heartbreakers to Northwest Oklahoma State (14-13) in the Wheat Bowl, and at William Jewell two weeks ago (17-14). The loss at Benedictine wasn't close, and the Lions didn't play well, but with just a little more road savvy and experience, Ross thinks his team might have been able to pull out the two close ones late.

"Twelve of our 22 starters this week are in their first year as a starter in our program," said Ross. "That means over half of our starting lineup has never won a road game at LU in a starting role. We need to change that this week."

Central Methodist head coach Merle Masonholder's team is known for playing tough defense, and the Eagles have been doing just that in 2006. Led by down lineman Broderich Durley and a quick group of linebackers, CMU ranks fourth in the HAAC in scoring defense, giving up only 19 points per game on the season. They also rank third in the Heart in total defense (246 yards per game), so there is no question this will be a tough match up for the young Lion offense.

Junior tailback Hakeem Abdullah, who didn't play in the first half of the Evangel rout because of some nagging injuries, continues to lead the Lions in rushing, and the Heart in yards per carry at 6.9 per tote. The Lions, according to Ross, need to continue to find ways to get their skill players the ball in space.

"We have some players who are gifted with the football," said Ross of his offensive skill group. "Hakeem will make you miss, and guys like McCray Harris, Leonard Durant and Ricky Moore have shown glimpses of game-breaking ability. We just have to find more ways to get them out in the open consistently."

Over on the defensive side of the ball, the Lions have been getting stellar play from senior defensive tackle David Gladney all season. Last week, junior linebacker Derek Coxson stepped into some real minutes and responded with two interceptions, returning the second for a school record-tying 100-yd. touchdown.

Junior tailback Justin Gerald is the Eagles' leading rusher on the season with 375 yards, so the Lions' two leading tacklers, senior safety Marcus Klund (52 tackles) and sophomore linebacker Logen Wright (48 tackles), will have their eyes on him this Saturday.

"We've been getting more big plays on defense lately, the takeaways and defensive scores that make such a huge difference," said Ross. "That's more what we're accustomed to from our defense."

Game time is set for 2:00 pm at Davis Field in Fayette, Mo.


Lion junior FB Chris Simmons (left) has been playing well for the Lion offense, and he is one of the best blocking backs in the Heart; senior WR Steven Kennedy (right) grabbed the 22nd TD reception of his Lion career against Evangel.

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