Lindenwood Football Retools After Loss of Starters

ST. CHARLES - The point-a-minute offense that the football team perfected last season is all but gone.     

The days of 90-point explosions and thrilling 80-plus-yard scoring plays are history.     

Yet the Lions may not miss a beat in 2011.     

Several key players from the high-octane fireworks display have graduated. But, most importantly, the playbook remains the same. And the brains behind the Greatest Show on Enviroturf, coach Patrick Ross, is set to re-tool his scoring machine.     

Lindenwood averaged 52.5 points and 551.5 yards per game last season in rolling to a 9-2 record. The Lions scored 67 or more points in four games including a 90-point outburst against Culver Stockton College and a 77-point eruption against Graceland University.     

"Basically, we had the best offense in the world last year," said Ross. "It's hard to compare that to any other offense."     

Ross realizes those totals are impossible to duplicate. Especially since a host of skill-position players, including quarterback Philip Staback, have departed. All told, the Lions lost seven starters from that group. 

Yet there are a few key weapons coming back. And there are a host of younger players, who should fit in perfectly to Ross' thrilling wide open offense.    

"We're still a spread team that likes to run the football," said Ross. "Our guys are going to be a lot of fun to watch. And from a play-calling standpoint, it's a lot of fun too."    

Junior running back Denodus O'Bryant is a key returnee. A dual threat, the 5-foot-9-inch 189 pound O'Bryant scored 15 touchdowns last season. He ran for 694 yards and eight scores and caught 22 passes, seven for touchdowns.    

O'Bryant, from Washington, MO, played a huge role in the offense each of the past two seasons and was selected Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010.    

He feels this year's group has the ability to keep up the Lions' high-scoring tradition.    

"We lost a lot," O'Bryant said. "But hopefully, it won't be much of a difference. We've got a lot of good young players."     

Senior Chance Iott (6-3, 309) and junior Matt Atley (6-2, 301) return to anchor the offensive line.  Both were first team all-league choices last fall. Senior wide out Mike Bunton is also back. He caught 23 passes and had four touchdowns in 2010.     

The biggest hole to fill will be at quarterback where Staback threw for 3,339 yards and 34 TD's.     

Junior John Uribe and senior David Ortega are in an intense battle for the top spot. Uribe, a transfer from Santa Barbara City College, shined in the spring game hitting on an estimated 22 of 32 passes. Ortega, who started one game last season, hit on 30 of 48 passes for 410 yards and eight scores.    

"David knows the offense better and John probably has a better arm," said Ross.    

O'Bryant feels either quarterback can be successful.    

"It's just a fun offense to be a part of," notes O'Bryant. "No matter, who's playing, we feel like we're capable of scoring a touchdown on every single play."    

The Lindenwood defense, with six starters returning, is expected to make big strides. Junior Cody Fogle (5-9, 195) and sophomore Donald Collier (5-8, 178) are back to anchor the secondary. Junior linebacker Brock Reed (6-2,187) was a first-team all-league choice along with Fogle and Collier.    

First-year defensive coordinator Deion Melvin could make a difference as well.    

Lindenwood, a former National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics school, is in its transition year before moving up to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II level. That means the Lions will face a schedule loaded with teams from all different levels including games against NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision teams Northern Colorado and South Dakota State. South Dakota State upset Big Conference 10 school Minnesota 41-38 last fall. 

The extra-tough slate should prepare the Lions for 2012, their first campaign at the NCAA level.    

Ross promises another season of exciting football although he says keeping up with last year's 52-point per game crew is going to difficult.    

"Scoring points like that, it's probably not realistic to expect that again," he said, "But we are sure going to give it a try."    

Lindenwood opens the season Sept. 3 at Northern Colorado.