Lindenwood readies for ‘Game Ball Brawl’ rivalry against SEMO with emphasis on balancing effort, discipline

When the Lindenwood football team joined the Ohio Valley Conference four years ago, opposing teams did not welcome the Lions with a plate of cookies and a gift basket – especially in-state rival Southeast Missouri State.  

In their first meeting with Lindenwood in 2022, SEMO could have lined up in victory formation and kneeled out the remainder of the clock. Instead, the Redhawks powered in for a seventh touchdown in a 49-28 victory.

The following year, Southeast Missouri State put up 335 yards in the first two quarters and led Lindenwood 38-0 at halftime.

“They got on us and we don’t forget about that,” Lindenwood coach Jed Stugart said. “I remember telling our team after the first two years that it wasn’t a rivalry because we haven’t won one. It was just another game.”

It’s a rivalry now.

Two consecutive wins by Lindenwood – a shocking upset when SEMO was ranked No. 6 in the nation and a complete, 30-13 victory at Cape Girardeau last season – has set the stage for a rivalry renewal when Southeast Missouri State (2-3, 0-0 OVC) faces Lindenwood (1-3, 1-0) in the Game Ball Brawl at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles.

“It’s a big deal. It’s not just another game.” Stugart said. “It’s special for college football, it’s special for our state, it’s special for the players and the fans.”

In addition to in-state bragging rights, the winner will receive the coveted Game Ball Brawl trophy.

“College football is not like any other sport. It’s an event, not just a game, and this is an event we get to celebrate with both communities. I’m glad we have this rival and this trophy,” Southeast Missouri State coach Tom Matukewicz said.

The team that hoists the trophy Saturday afternoon will most likely be the one that limits the mistakes that plagued them in previous weeks.

Southeast Missouri State has been bitten by the turnover bug. The Redhawks have committed 13 turnovers through five games, including six in a 20-17 loss to West Florida last Saturday.

Lindenwood accrued 154 yards in penalty yardage during two losses to FBS opponents Missouri State and Eastern Michigan. The infractions negated several big plays on offense and gifted eight first downs on defense.  

“The frustrating thing the last two games have been the holding penalties – offensive and defensive,” Stugart said. “We’re in good position, but a lot of it is not trusting our technique. We have to clean those things up.”

The Lions may have to polish up their game without starting quarterback Robert ‘Pops’ Battle, who left the game due to injury against Eastern Michigan and is listed as questionable. North Point alum Hoyt Gregory stepped in and performed admirably against the Eagles, going 8-of-12 for 46 yards through the air while running the ball 13 times for 52 yards.

“He did a bunch of really good things and battled his tail off,” Stugart said of Gregory’s performance.

Gregory showed a strong throwing arm and an ability to gain first downs with his legs. On several plays, he dropped back, saw his primary receiver covered and quickly looked for a running lane.

“When your first college football game is against a Division 1 FBS opponent, your eyes can go a lot of places,” Stugart said. “There are a few times where he took off and ran, when, if he stood in (the pocket) one more second, he would see someone open. It’s really cool what he learned from that game. He recognized, ‘If I’m just a little bit more patient in the pocket, this was there, and that was there.’”

The Lindenwood defense recovered from a frustrating, penalty-ridden night at Missouri State. After yielding 249 yards rushing and six rushing touchdowns to the Bears, Lindenwood surrendered just 139 yards and one rushing touchdown against Eastern Michigan.

“I love the strides we made from one week to the next in cleaning up a lot of that stuff. We spent two weeks emphasizing the discipline in our play, trusting our technique and trusting our jobs.”

Meanwhile, the offense continued to find running lanes while limiting negative plays. Through four games, Lindenwood has averaged 144.8 yards rushing while only committing two turnovers.  

“We challenged our team to win some battles in the trenches coming out of the Missouri State game and our offensive and defensive lines took that to heart. They played with great effort,” Stugart said.

It will be 44 days between home games for the Lions. Since a 20-17 victory over Charleston Southern on August 27, Lindenwood played three road games, two against FBS opponents, and had two bye weeks.

“Everybody is really excited to get back into conference play and FCS play. It feels like we’re in a regular rhythm right now, which feels really good,” Stugart said.  

And the Lions hope to use home field vibes and rivalry excitement in a way that leads to heightened effort rather than over-exuberance as they try to retain the Game Ball Brawl trophy.

“I remind them, if you stare at the trophy too much, it can disappear on you,” Stugart said. “You have to remember what went in place to get that trophy.”  

Homecoming for several Redhawks:

Hillsboro alum Payton Brown in the second leading rusher for SEMO with 120 yards and three touchdowns. Seckman alum Cole Ruble also has received carries in the SEMO backfield. Defensive back LJ Minner, a Westminster alum, has 22 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception and a forced fumble.

Other St. Louis-area players playing for Southeast Missouri State include: