Robert ‘Pops’ Battle graded himself a “C-plus.”
The Lindenwood quarterback, who orchestrated three scoring drives and completed 14-of-21 passes, thought he could have done more during the Lions’ 20-17 season-opening victory over Charleston Southern last Thursday.
“I felt like I missed a lot of things out there,” said Battle, who made his first collegiate start. “I hadn’t really played in two years, so I was just shaking off the rust, trusting the older guys and catching the speed of the game. I feel like I got it now. It’s on from here on out.”
Battle will try to display his ‘A’ game when Lindenwood travels to New York to play Stony Brook University at 6 p.m. (CT) Thursday. It is a rematch of a 30-27 Lions’ victory last season in which the Seawolves rallied from a 24-point, second half deficit.
“We had a pretty controlled lead and they came roaring back in the fourth quarter. We were able to hang on and win, but those memories are still fresh,” Lindenwood coach Jed Stugart said. “These are great opportunities. You have to get on a plane, go into a hostile place and play with great effort and quiet confidence.”
Battle’s confidence rose throughout the win over Charleston Southern and was abetted by a gameplan that focused on the running game, with Steve Hall carrying the ball eight times in the first two possessions.
“We knew (Charleston Southern) was going to be a really hard team to run on consistently, but we wanted to stay patient with it, and we were able to, which took a little pressure off Pops early,” Stugart said.
Battle was also helped by a band of receivers who made tough, contested catches against defenders draped all over them. Difficult snags in traffic by Aiden Grote, Drew Krobath and Elijah Roy produced early first downs, with Roy’s catch holding up after replay review.
The Lindenwood defense also helped Battle ease into his first start, holding the Buccaneers to a Matt Rolander 50-yard field goal through the first three quarters of action. In support of the quarterback they voted as captain, the Lions elevated their concentration level in every phase.
“Loving each other and playing for each other are intangibles you need outside the X’s and O’s,” Stugart said. “It’s not a given that your quarterback is a captain, usually that goes to older guys, so naming Pops a captain showed the team’s respect for him. Leadership is all about credibility, and he’s earned that.”
The Lindenwood defense did not surrender a touchdown until the fourth quarter, as outstanding coverage in the secondary and a steady pass rush limited the opportunities for big plays. A pair of sacks by King Smith and one apiece by David Amaliri and Holt High alum Mason Burke kept the Buccaneers behind the sticks.
Two takeaways, including the momentum-changing, 85-yard interception return by Isaac Edwards, put the Lions on a path to victory.
“If that play doesn’t happen right before halftime, the second half could be a lot different,” Stugart said. “We needed someone to step up and make a play and Isaac did that.”
The Lindenwood defense will have to step up and make plays Thursday night against a Stony Brook offense that has plenty of momentum. The Seawolves rallied from an 18-point, second half deficit to tie their game against Delaware State last Thursday before falling 41-34.
Stony Brook quarterback Quinn Boyd, who was also making his first start, threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns.
“We recognize the efficiency of this quarterback, their running backs can be explosive, and (the passing game) is pretty dispersed among three receivers,” Stugart said. “We emphasized to our guys that we both have a game under our belt, the atmosphere will be electric and we’ll have to match that (energy).”
The Lions will be considered underdogs in their next three games – against Stony Brook (Thu) and at FBS opponents Missouri State (Sep. 12) and Eastern Michigan (Sep. 26). Stugart paid attention to several major upsets that occurred last week, especially a win by NAIA program Louisiana Christian over Division 1 Northwestern State.
Several social media accounts proclaimed Louisiana Christian as the first NAIA program in college football history to defeat a scholarship Division 1 team, but Stugart, who coached at NAIA Sioux Falls, would like to jog their memories.
“To set the record straight, the University of Sioux Falls was the NAIA team that beat Division 1 North Dakota in 2009. (Alabama head coach) Kalen DeBoer was on that staff. I have coaches (at Lindenwood) that coached in that game,” Stugart said.
He said he wanted to correct the posts when he saw them that night, but he refrained.
“But now that you’ve asked me about it, I can set the record straight. Sioux Falls was part of history, and I owe it to my boys to get that credit out there,” he said.
Now, Lindenwood wants to make its own impressive statement during a challenging three-game stretch away from home, which begins Thursday on Long Island against Stony Brook.
“If you want to be nationally known, if you want to be in those conversations, these are the games,” Stugart said.
For photo gallery from the game vs. Charleston Southern, visit: https://benvessa.smugmug.com/Football/Football-2026/Charleston-So-vs-Lindenwood-8-27