Indianapolis – The Lindenwood football team (9-2, 7-0 GLVC) will head to Allendale, Mich. on Saturday to take on fourth-ranked Grand Valley State (9-1, 6-1 GLIAC) in the first round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The Lions enter the postseason as the No. 5 seed in Super Region Three, while the Lakers hold the No. 4 seed in the region.
The Lions claimed its second GLVC Championship this year, after going a perfect 7-0 in league play. Lindenwood is now 14-0 since joining the Conference in 2019 and will make its second trip to the NCAA Football Playoffs since joining the NCAA. Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Lions ranked fifth in the country in interceptions before adding one to that total on Saturday. Lindenwood also ranks in the top-25 in NCAA D-II in completion percentage, at 67 percent, and interceptions thrown with just five.
Drew Seers is leading the team with 118 tackles and 8.0 tackles for loss. The Parkway West product has picked off five passes on the season, taking one back to the house. Kai Ross is leading the way for the Lions in takeaways, as the junior defensive back has six interceptions and two fumble recoveries on the year.
Offensively, the Lions have contributions from a bevy of players, most notably at quarterback. Cade Brister carried the quarterback duties through the first seven games, as he totaled 10 passing touchdown with seven rushing scores. Cole Dugger had a short stint playing the role, as he scored a total of nine touchdowns in just two starts. Alex Faddoul stepped up as the newest quarterback, as he is back where his career began. While playing both wide receiver and quarterback this season, Faddoul has accumulated 1,234 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Lions.
Payton Rose is leading all receivers in yards (625) and touchdown catches (9). Glen Gibbons (613), Clint Sigg (465), and Spencer Redd (304) are posting strong numbers in the receiving game, as all three have registered multiple touchdowns this year. Robert Giaimo has come on strong in the rushing game, as the freshman running back scored 11 times and tallied 737 yards during the regular season.
As a dangerous player in the return game, Redd has a punt return for a touchdown, and a kick return for a touchdown. Redd is averaging nearly 30 yards per kickoff return, with just over 12 yards per punt return. Another key contributor to the special teams is Logan Seibert, who knocked in eight field goal during the regular season. Seibert was just 1-for-2 heading into week eight, but since has made 7-of-11, including a 50-yard field goal.
Lindenwood had just one NCAA D-II loss on the season, which came to Angelo State. The Rams ended the regular season with a record of 9-2, and were ranked No. 2 in Super Region Four going into the weekend. The Lions had two big road wins over Findlay (8-3) and then-No. 18 Truman State (8-3). Lindenwood won its final nine game of the season, including four wins at home.