Senior wide receiver George Mumphard was Kisner's main target on Saturday, rolling up 184 receiving yards on eight catches, including the game-winning 62-yarder with 3:08 remaining in the game. The Lions have now beaten MidAmerica two years in a row (along with other HAAC heavyweights Benedictine, Graceland and Missouri Valley), and Mumphard has been a certified Pioneer killer - last year in Olathe, the East St. Louis product racked up 150 receiving yards on five catches, including a game-breaking 85-yard score.

It's a good thing Kisner, Mumphard and junior wideout Steven Kennedy (six catches, 79 yards, one TD) brought their "A" game on Saturday, because the Pioneers are tough against the run on any day, and this day saw the Lions at less than full strength at tailback. Senior star De De Dorsey hurt a shoulder early in the game, and his backup, freshman Leonard Durant, has been nursing an ankle injury since the Central Methodist game. Those two were able to scratch out only 84 rushing yards between them, so it was a good time for a clutch performance from the passer and his catchers.

"We knew some things would be open to us because of their defensive scheme," said Ross. "Their pride is stopping the run, and they do that well. Ben was able to get the ball to our playmakers in positions where they could make plays - and he did it without turning the ball over once."

The Lions actually began the game with a series of sustained drives against the Pioneer defense, but were unable to cash in once they reached the red zone - a season-long phenomenon which has plagued an otherwise productive offense. On this day, though, the Pioneers were having a very hard time solving the swarming LU defense, which pitched a shutout in the first half.

That paved the way for the Lions' final drive of the first half, with Kisner directing the two-minute offense like a veteran, which produced a 43-yard field goal by junior Jared Tatom with only three seconds left before intermission.

"To get something on the board before halftime was a big lift," said Ross, who saw his career record rise to 30-12 with the win. "That was two good defenses going at it in the first half, but you just had the feeling there was going to be more scoring in the second half."

The Pioneers opened the second part of the big game with a nice drive, ending it with a 36-yard scoring strike from senior Jimmy Werbin to Mark Moore. The Lions answered that salvo with a drive of their own late in the third quarter, which culminated in a scoring pass from Kisner to Kennedy from 15 yards out. Kisner was hit by MNU standout defensive end John Prauener as he threw, and the 6'3, 238-lb. Kennedy made an astounding leaping catch of the fluttering pass, over three Pioneers, for the TD.

"That was a great catch by Steven," said Ross. "He just went up over everybody and got to it."

It didn't take MidAmerica long to answer, as Werbin brought his team back down the field quickly, ending a 10-play, 72-yard drive with a 14-yard pass to Josh Herron at the 13:48 mark of the fourth quarter. That gave MNU the lead at 14-10, and put the game squarely in the hands of Kisner and his mates vs. the Pioneer defense.

In fact, both teams had more than one chance after Herron's score to do something - but the proud defenses on both sidelines would have none of it until Kisner and Mumphard teamed up to break through as the clock ticked down to the final minutes.

After forcing a Pioneer punt, and taking over the rock at their own 38, the Lions turned on first down to a play they'd been saving the whole game - the hitch-and-go - and it was executed to perfection by a big-play senior wideout and a freshman quarterback playing in only his third college game.

"We'd been throwing a lot of hitches out to George, so it was a great time for it," said Ross. "Still, you have to protect, and you have to throw it and catch it. Ben did a great job getting away from some pressure, and the throw was just a strike. Mumphard knows what to do with the ball when he gets it in that situation - take it to the house."

That's exactly what he did, and when the outstanding LU defense was able to turn away Werbin and Co. one more time in the closing seconds, the first chapter in the Kisner Story was written. The Lions were able to beat the nation's 5th-ranked team with a true freshman at QB, a true freshman playing most of the game at tailback, and another rookie, star-in-the-making Logen Wright, playing many important snaps at middle linebacker - making this a team that may indeed have a rare kind of "potential".

The Lions travel to Kansas City this weekend for a date with Avila University (1:30 kickoff at Rockhurst HS, 99th and State Line), then end the season with Senior Day festivities on Nov. 12, at home against Baker University. Game time for that final game is also 1:30 pm.

20-33-0, 327 yards, 2 TD's