Faced with a large, hostile crowd on the road Saturday at Baker University, the Lindenwood University football team responded by doing the same thing they've done all season - hit some big plays, dominate the early going, then cruise to an easy victory.

This time, the undefeated, 8th-ranked Lions lit up Baker for 20 first-quarter points en route to a 28-0 halftime lead, moved out to a 35-7 lead late in the third quarter, then let the reserves wrap it up while the buses warmed up and the post-game pizzas began to arrive.

The Lions moved to 8-0 on the season with contributions from a variety of sources - some familiar, some new ... even some from a star in a new spot.

One familiar source of outstanding play lately has been junior linebacker Jake Sharp, who shined again against Baker with two interceptions and seven tackles. He romped in for a 49-yd. TD on his first interception - one of five by the tenacious LU defense in the game - then set up the Lion offense at the Baker one-yard line with his second pick.

Junior tailback Latrelle Yancey was a relatively new source of big yards for the Lion offense on Saturday, rolling up 151 rushing yards on 29 carries. Yancey was taking some of the tailback reps voided by the absence of standout junior Derron Parquet, still on the shelf with a hamstring problem, and he responded well to his first start of the season.

"Latrelle came in and gave us a big lift," said first-year Lion head coach Patrick Ross. "He ran hard and hit the holes when he had them. Yancey did a great job, and when we brought in Dorsey to take some carries, he was just plain awesome."

The "D" word has become familiar around the HAAC this season, as in spectacular junior De De Dorsey. An All-American free safety last season as a sophomore at Ottawa (KS), the Broken Arrow, Okla., native has expanded his game this season to include just about everything but taping ankles and selling popcorn.

Consider his stat line against Baker: six total tackles, including one in the Wildcat backfield, one pass breakup, a blocked punt that became a safety, 11 carries for 83 yards and three big TD's, and one reception for 18 yards. Dorsey's TD runs came from 33, one and 26 yards, and at times, he looked like a man running at 45 rpm while everyone else was working at 33.

"It seemed like every time we needed a big play, I looked up and De De was making something happen," said Ross. "We're just beginning to open the book on what he can do for us on offense, but he is definitely a playmaker wherever he lines up."

The rock hard Lion defense, currently leading the HAAC in just about every category possible - most notably, total defense and scoring defense - was sound again, forcing six turnovers and making Baker star tailback John Reeves work hard for his ground (123 yards on 34 tough carries).

Sharp and his running mate at linebacker, senior Donald Cayton, were the ringleaders - between them they racked up four interceptions and 15 total tackles - popping up just about everywhere Reeves and Wildcat quarterback Brian Sheppard looked.

Combined with MidAmerica's thumping of Graceland over in Olathe, the Lions' fourth road win of the season clinched the 2004 HAAC championship for Lindenwood. The Lions hold a two-game lead in the HAAC standings with two games to play, and hold wins over the two teams behind them (MNU and Graceland). Not since 1998, when the Lions finished 9-1, second in the Heart, and advanced to the national playoffs, has Lindenwood enjoyed such rarified air this late in the season.

"Obviously, we're proud of our guys and the things we've accomplished this year," said Ross. "But we still have work to do, and these last three games are very important for us. Culver plays great defense, our trip to Minnesota will give us a chance to play in a different climate on a long road trip, and that last game at Benedictine is going to be a tough one just because of their pride and tradition. The most important part of our season is just beginning."

That home stretch will begin next Saturday, with the Lions final home game - regular season, that is - of the year against Culver-Stockton, in a 1:30 kickoff at Hunter Stadium.