Complete Game Notes | 2023 Football Home Game Policies
Game 3: Washburn (0-2) at Lincoln (0-2)
Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 16 - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Jefferson City, Mo.
Stadium (Capacity): Dwight T. Reed Stadium (5,500)
Tickets: Available online at http://lubluetigers.com/tickets | Adults - $15 | Children Under the Age of Five - Free | Non-LU Students - $5 | LU Faculty, Staff & Students (With ID) - Free
Streaming: https://themiaanetwork.com/lubluetigers/
Radio: KJLU 88.9 FM - Jefferson City, Mo.
Audiocast: http://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/KJLU
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/football/
Series: WU leads, 9-0

THE KICKOFF 
For the third week in a row, the Blue Tigers are playing under the lights as the Lincoln football team hosts Washburn on Saturday night (Sept. 16). Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CDT for this contest between a pair of teams battling for their first win of 2023.

Lincoln played Emporia State tough in the first half of its season-opener, but fell dropped a 68-14 game decision to Missouri Western last Saturday (Sept. 9). Washburn, meanwhile, fell to Pittsburg State, 34-7, on the road in its first game of 2023, then lost its home opener to Missouri Southern, 30-23, last weekend.

Saturday's game kicks off Lincoln University's second HBCU Week, honoring LU's history as one of Missouri's only historically black universities. As part of the celebration, Lincoln students with a valid ID are invited to a tailgate party at The LINC parking lot starting at 3:00 p.m. CDT.

QUICK HITS 
- Lincoln and Washburn are renewing a relatively young rivalry that dates back to 1989, and are meeting for the 10th time on Saturday night. The Ichabods have won each of the previous nine meetings, with the last two victories coming in both teams' season-openers.

- Saturday marks the first time in Lincoln football history that the Blue Tigers are playing two-consecutive home games at night. This will be the eighth night game ever at Dwight T. Reed Stadium, where lights were first installed prior to the 2017 season.

- A victory on Saturday would be the first for Lincoln since defeating Northeastern State, 27-9, on Oct. 19, 2019.

- A win would also be the first in a night game for the Blue Tigers since defeating Southwest Baptist, 28-13, on Sept. 22, 2018.

- This is the third-straight night game for Lincoln, and the third of five night games on LU's schedule in 2023. Lincoln hosts Washburn this Saturday and Eastern New Mexico on Oct. 26, both under the lights. The Blue Tigers, who opened the season with a night game at Emporia State and played Missouri Western last week at night, also plays a night game at Fort Hays State on Sept. 30.

- The Blue Tigers enter this weekend with an all-time record of 261-487-25.

- Jermaine Gales was named the head coach of the Lincoln football team in 2021. In his second season leading the Blue Tigers, Gales enters the week with both an overall record and a record at LU of 0-13.

- For the first time since 2010, Lincoln will play a season as an independent. Lincoln, which played in the MIAA for 26 years (overall), is joining the GLVC in 2024-25. The Blue Tigers, who were an associate member of the GLVC from 2014-18, have played in five different conferences in their 92-year history: the Midwest Athletic Association, the Great Lakes Football Conference, the Central States Football League, the GLVC and the MIAA.

- This is the 92nd season of Lincoln football. The Blue Tigers first fielded a team in 1920 and played every year until 1943, when Lincoln took a year off due to World War II. LU then played each season from 1944-1989. The football program was disbanded at that point, but was brought back in 2000. Lincoln did not play a full schedule in 2020 or 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions.

BLUE TIGERS TO WATCH
OFFENSE - Xzavier Vaughn has been the offensive leader for LU through the first two weeks of the season, scoring three touchdowns overall while throwing for 424 yards. Vaughn has tossed a pair of touchdown passes, and also scored on an 85-yard touchdown run against Emporia State. He has 130 rushing yards, while LaMarco Yates (124), Omar Allen (54) and Dawan Lomax (50) are next on the rushing chart. Lincoln is gaining an average of 181 rushing yards per contest. Winston Ausmer has caught one of the touchdown passes and has made 13 receptions this season for 145 yards, giving him an average of 72.5 yards per game. Aderias Ealy has nine receptions for 156 yards and a touchdown, and leads LU with 78.0 receiving yards per game. Israel Tate is Lincoln's third-leading receiver with four catches.

DEFENSE - Bryant Coley led the Blue Tigers in tackling in each of their first two games and has 20 total takedowns in 2023, 11 of which have been solo. Ian Hackney has made 16 tackles, followed by TJ Jasper with 14 and Elijah Juarez with 13. Juarez and Michael Harrison, who has 12 tackles, each have broken up passes. Cory Macon additionally has 12 tackles this season. Donte Moore has notched two tackles for loss, and David Kinard has one while Adrian Hopper and Zenin Hall combined on a fourth. Kinard also has a sack. Rounding out LU's defensive leaders are Wes Hollie (eight tackles), CJ Douglas (five tackles) and Jamahreon Smith (five tackles).

SPECIAL TEAMS - Mo Alwaely successfully made the longest field goal by a Blue Tiger since 2018 when he connected on a 43-yard attempt in Lincoln's season-opening game at Emporia State. Alwaely's kickoffs have been very sharp, as he is averaging 61.3 yards with a touchback. Clayton Winkler is averaging 35.2 yards per punt with three kicks landing inside the opponent's 20-yard line and four resulting in a fair catch. Winston Ausmer leads the Blue Tigers with a 36.5 average on kickoff returns, highlighted by a 50-yard return against Missouri Western. The other primary kick returners are Aderias Ealy and Dawan Lomax.

WASHBURN AT A GLANCE
The Ichabods enter week three averaging 15.0 points, 119.0 rushing yards and 152.5 passing yards per game. Washburn has scored three touchdowns while allowing eight, is 3-for-3 on field goals and has gone 10-for-28 on third downs (.357). Defensively, however, the Ichabods have allowed just 190.0 passing yards per contest and have an interception to go with eight tackles for loss and four sacks.

Braylon Alexander and Patrick Altenor are leading WU with 13 tackles apiece, Brent Peavler has 11 and Jordan Finnesy and Caeden Spencer each have nine. Alexander and Jaquez White have both broken up two passes, and CJ Callaghan has the interception while Phoenix Smith and Chase McCoy each have a pair of hurries. Smith also leads Washburn with two sacks.

The Ichabods have thrown three interceptions compared to one touchdown pass, which was by Kellen Simoncic, who has completed 34 passes for 244 yards. This week's projected starter at quarterback is Sam Van Dyne, who has completed nine passes for 61 yards through the first two games of 2023. Taylon Peters leads the rushing attack with 179 yards, with Tyler Bowden next at 46. DJ Bell caught the touchdown pass and is leading Washburn with 42.0 receiving yards per night.

Trenton Brehm is perfect on field goals with a long of 32 and Gavin Wilhelm averages 61.9 yards on kickoffs. Bell has a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown.

THE COACHES
Jermaine Gales is now in his second season as the head coach of the Blue Tigers after beginning Lincoln's rebuild in 2022. Gales is no stranger to developing programs, as he was part of a staff at Bluefield State that went 4-3 in its first football season in 40 years in 2021. Gales has more than 20 years of experience as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I and Division II levels, and has helped programs like Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Mars Hill and North Carolina Central achieve winning seasons.

Craig Schurig is in his 21st season as the head coach at Washburn, and has guided the Ichabods to three NCAA Division II playoff appearances and the 2005 MIAA championship. Schurig, who enters the season with 137 career victories, has also directed Washburn to four bowl appearances with three wins in those games. Schurig is only the fifth MIAA coach with 100-plus wins.

GOING THE DISTANCE:  On the first offensive play of 2023, Lincoln quarterback Xzavier Vaughn  kept the ball and ran straight to the house for an 85-yard touchdown score. Entering the third week of the season, that ranks as the second-longest run by an NCAA Division II player, trailing a 95-yard rush by Ron Craten of Mississippi College.

VAUGHN-TED OFFENSE:  Thanks in part to that run, as well as big passing day against Missouri Western, Xzavier Vaughn is averaging 275.0 yards of total offense per game. That average is the 41st-best in Division II and, if LU was in the MIAA this season, it would also be the fourth-highest average in the conference. Vaughn is completing 18 passes per game, which is the 45th-most in DII, and he has thrown for 424 yards, a total that ranks 60th in the nation.

RUNDOWN:  Lincoln's run offense was one of its strengths in the season opener, as the Blue Tigers gained 237 yards on the ground against Emporia State. The Blue Tigers followed that with a 125 yards vs. Missouri Western, and currently rank 38th in NCAA Division II in rushing yards gained (179.0).

NOTABLE NATIONAL NOTES:  Despite a 0-2 start to the year, Lincoln ranks among the top half of NCAA Division II in several categories. LU"s highest mark is in punt return defense, where the Blue Tigers rate third in the nation, as they have allowed just -1.0 yard. Clayton Winkler is 51st in the country in punting (38.5) while Bryant Coley is 20th in total tackles (10.0) and 40th in solo tackles (5.5). Lincoln is averaging 391.0 yards of offense to rate 57th in that stat.

NEARLY A DOUBLE CENTURY:  Lincoln came close to having a pair of 100-yard receivers against Missouri Western, with Winston Ausmer, who had a 51-yard reception, gaining 124 yards. Aderias Ealy came close to the century mark, as he finished with 95 yards on six catches.

OUR TIME:  In each of the first two games, LU led in time of possession, and would rank sixth in the MIAA if the Blue Tigers weren't independent this season. Lincoln is averaging 30:31 minutes per game, ranking 72nd in Division II.

TICKETS:  Like in the past two years, fans can purchase their tickets to Lincoln's home football games online. Head to http://lubluetigers.com/tickets to purchase both season and individual game tickets for the 2023 season. The season ticket package also includes parking passes for all six of Lincoln's home games.

THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE DWIGHT:  For the first time since 2018, when Lincoln played football in the GLVC, the Blue Tigers will play a non-MIAA opponent when LU hosts Eastern New Mexico on Oct. 26. That Thursday night showdown under the lights at Dwight T. Reed Stadium will pit Lincoln against a non-MIAA or GLVC team, LU's first such game since a Nov. 3, 2018 game at Tarleton State.

JOIN THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM:  The Blue Tiger Athletics Club is a great way to engage with other LU fans while supporting Lincoln student-athletes. Every dollar raised by the club goes towards scholarships for students, improving campus facilities and purchasing and maintaining equipment. To become a member of the BTAC, or to learn more about the club, please visit www.LUBlueTigers.com/BTAC.

LU PLAYS ON KJLU:  Veteran play-by-play announcer James Stanley returns to the airwaves to provide Lincoln fans the action on the field in 2023. Stanley will call all six of LU's home games, and fans can listen to him live on 88.9 FM KJLU. Those not in the Jefferson City area can also listen to the games on KJLU's website, http://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/KJLU.

...AND ONLINE:  While the Blue Tigers are competing as an independent team in 2023, all 11 of Lincoln's games will still stream online at www.themiaanetwork.com/lubluetigers. The six home games will include a simulcast of the KJLU broadcast, while the five road games will be called by the home team's radio broadcasting crew. All-season viewing packages are now available.

GEAR UP FOR THE GAME:  LU fans can get everything they need for the game at www.BlueTigersStore.com, the official online store for LU athletics. Everything from jerseys to office supplies can be found on the site, with a portion of all sales going to benefit Lincoln athletics.

UP NEXT:  The Blue Tigers are back on the road to take on Northwest Missouri next Saturday (Sept. 23) in a 1:30 p.m. CDT contest in Maryville, Mo.