Complete Game Notes
Game 2: Missouri Western (0-1) at Lincoln (0-1)
Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 9 - 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 - $10 | 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: MWSU leads, 6-0

THE KICKOFF 
The Blue Tigers are back in Jefferson City for their first home game of 2023, as the Lincoln football team hosts Missouri Western on Saturday night (Sept. 9) at Dwight T. Reed Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. CST for the first non-league game between LU and MWSU since 2010.

Lincoln ran the ball well in its first game, gaining 237 yards while averaging 6.4 yards per carry in a 56-10 loss at Emporia State on Thursday, Aug. 31. The Blue Tigers scored on an 85-yard touchdown run by Xzavier Vaughn on their first offensive play of the night, but passed for just 133 yards on the evening.

Missouri Western is also trying to rebound from a season-opening loss, as the Griffons fell at home to Central Missouri, 45-38, on Aug. 31.

Saturday is LU Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night, and all Lincoln employees get free admission.

QUICK HITS 
- Lincoln and Missouri Western meet for the seventh time on Saturday night, with the Griffons leading the series, 6-0. The teams last met in 2022 in St. Joseph, Mo., with MWSU winning, 41-0. The last meeting in Jefferson City came in 2021, with the Griffons winning, 41-12.

- The Blue Tigers are playing at home for the first time in 2023 on Saturday, and are attempting to win their first home game of a season for the first time since Sept. 9, 2017, when LU won the Battle of the Lincolns, beating Lincoln University (PA), 49-19.

- 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 for Lincoln against a team based in Missouri since defeating William Jewell on the road in 2018.

- This is the second-straight night game for Lincoln, and the second of five night games on LU's schedule in 2023. Lincoln hosts Washburn next 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, will also play a night game in Hays, Kan. against Fort Hays State on Sept. 30.

- The Blue Tigers enter this weekend with an all-time record of 261-486-25.

- 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 0-12.

- 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 gained 85 yards on a touchdown-scoring keeper on Lincoln's first play on offense in 2023, and led LU with 125 rushing yards in the season-opener at Emporia State. He also threw for 133 yards, with 61 of those gained by Aderias Ealy on three catches. Winston Ausmer led the Blue Tigers with eight receptions, while Israel Tate also made three catches. Lincoln had a huge day on the ground against the Hornets, rushing for 237 yards for an average of 6.4 yards per carry. LaMarco Yates and Dawan Lomax combined to gain 114 yards on 26 attempts, with Yates averaging 5.3 yards per rush.

DEFENSE - Lincoln not only dominated in the run game on offense, but also on defense, holding ESU to just 91 total yards on the ground. LU allowed Emporia State to score only one touchdown on a carry, though the Hornets did average 9.5 yards per pass completion. Bryant Coley and Michael Harrison tied for the team-lead with nine tackles apiece, Ian Hackney made eight tackles and Elijah Juarez and TJ Jasper each finished with seven tackles. Donte Moore had six tackles, including one tackle for loss. Five other Blue Tigers each made five tackles: Jamahreon Smith, Cory Macon and Wes Hollie. David Kinard had sack, tying Noah Osayande with two total tackles on the night. Adrian Hopper and Isiah McKenzie finished with three tackles apiece, and Hackney and Jasper both led LU with five solo tackles on the evening.

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 were also sharp, traveling an average 60.3 yards with one touchback. Clayton Winkler had two punts pin the Hornets inside their 20 with three total punts resulting in a fair catch. Winkler averaged 33.9 yards per punt. In the return game, Winston Ausmer served as LU's primary punt returner, while Aderias Ealy gained 34 yards on a pair of kickoff returns.

MISSOURI WESTERN AT A GLANCE
Missouri Western used three quarterbacks during its loss to Central Missouri, led by Armani Edden, who threw for 190 yards and a touchdown while being intercepted twice. Reagan Jones completed six of his nine attempts for 67 yards and a score while Jonas Bennett was incomplete in his only attempt of the game. Bennett was MWSU's top receiver with 10 grabs for 116 yards and a score while the other touchdown pass was caught by Caleb Martin. In the running game, Jared Scott gained 68 yards on nine tries, and he and Seth Cromwell both had rushing touchdowns.

The Griffon defense forced 15 tackles for loss, led by CJ Ravenell with 2.5 and Desmond Green with 2.0. Kienen Gaskin was the top tackler with 10 overall and had 1.5 tackles for loss while Dakari Streeter, who made three tackles, had 1.5 sacks. As a team, the Griffons totaled three sacks, including one for an 11-yard loss by Khalid Sereal. Lamont Washington, who made nine tackles, and Taylor Williams each broke up passes while Kameron Langford and Sam Taylor each forced fumbles.

Cody Watson went 1-for-2 on field goals in Missouri Western's season opener, connecting on a 29-yard try. On two kickoffs, Watson averaged 58 yards, while Spencer Sprenger averaged 55.8 yards on four kickoffs. On three punts, Evan Williams averaged 47.0 yards with one falling inside the 20. The Griffons did not record a punt return attempt, but four MWSU players returned kickoffs, with Jalen Lampley gaining 77 yards on three returns.

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.

Tyler Fenwick is in his first season as the head coach at Missouri Western, having been hired last December. He previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Griffon from 2007-12, helping the team average 35.1 points per game en route to an overall record of 53-18. For the last three seasons, Fenwick served as the head coach at Southeastern Oklahoma State, leading the Savage Storm to a pair of postseason appearances.

LEADING DIVISION II:  It's still early on the year, but Lincoln currently is leading NCAA DII in three statistics. The Blue Tigers tackled Emporia State for a one-yard loss on its only punt return try of the opening game, putting Lincoln in a four-way tie for the national lead in punt defense. The Blue Tigers did not lose a fumble against ESU, and are one of 74 teams tied for first in Division II. LU also converted its only fourth down attempt, and have a perfect 1.000 percentage that leads DII.

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 last Thursday. Lincoln currently ranks 17th in NCAA Division II in rushing yards gained, and, if the Blue Tigers were playing in the MIAA this season, they would rank second in the conference.

UNDER THE CENTURY MARK:  The Blue Tigers were also successful at defending against the run, holding Emporia State to only 91 yards in the first game of the season. Lincoln is currently 48th in the nation in run defense. That, combined with LU's strong performance running the ball on offense, gave Lincoln 31:59 minutes of possession, which is the 51st-most in NCAA Division II.

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. After the first week of the season, that touchdown run was the longest by an NCAA Division II player, surpassing an 82-yard gain by Wesley Kennedy of West Georgia.

RUN IT BACK:  Thanks in part to that long run, Xzavier Vaughn finished the opener with 125 yards on the ground, the 15th-most in the country. Vaughn provided 258 yards of total offense, the 45th-most in DII, and he currently rates 79th in the nation in all-purpose yards.

OTHER NOTABLE RANKINGS:  After making eight receptions against Emporia State, Winston Ausmer ranks 19th in the country in receptions per game. Mo Alwaely is 26th in field goals made, and Clayton Winkler is 56th with a punting average of 37.4 yards. David Kinard is 30th in sacks (1.0) while Ausmer is 40th in punt return yards.

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 at home to take on Washburn next Saturday (Sept. 16) in a 6:00 p.m. CDT contest at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.