The # 6 Lambuth Eagles will travel to Chicago to meet # 4 St. Xavier Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. It will be the third time the two programs have met on the gridiron.

Last Week

Lambuth won a first round play-off game for the first time since 1999 with a convincing win over # 10 The University of the Cumberlands. The Eagles led 24-7 at the half and won their 12^th straight game with a 38-7 victory. Adam Wiese threw for 372 yards and two touchdowns on a 22-of-32 passing day. Jesse Ferrell and Brandon Okechukwu caught TD passes. The pass to B.O. was Wiese 31^ST TD pass of the year. It broke the record of Rashad Smith of 30 back in 1999. Wiese was voted the Offensive Player of the Game. B.A. Davis, Kelvin Martin and Marquis Williams had rushing touchdowns as the Eagles prevailed over the fourth best defense in the nation. Lambuth out gained the Patriots 480 yards to 200. Jamie Payton led Lambuth on defense with eight tackles. He was voted the Defensive Player of the Game.

The Cougars beat McKendree University 52-28 Saturday in Chicago. Receiver Bill McKeon scored four touchdowns and was voted the Offensive Player of the Game. St. Xavier took control of the contest with a 24 unanswered point second quarter. Quarterback Anthony Kropp had another impressive day with three touchdown passes. He was 30-of-44 for 315 yards on the day. Cougar strong safety Joe Nee was voted Defensive Player of the Game.

The Season

Both of these squads are unbeaten on the year with 12-0 marks. It is the first time both programs went unbeaten in regular season play. Both can put points on the board. Lambuth averages 40.4 points per game while the Cougars average 48.8 points per contest. Both have been tough on the defensive side of the ball as well. Lambuth gives up just 14.9 points per game while St. Xavier gives up just 17.1 points per game.

The Eagles won the Mid-South Conference West Division while SXU won the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League.

Play-off History

Lambuth is in the play-offs for the eighth time while the Cougars are making their fifth postseason appearance. This is Lambuth's second straight appearance while St. Xavier has been in the play-offs four of the last five years. Last week's win at home snapped a three game first round losing streak for the Eagles. Lambuth reached the semi-finals in 94 and 95. They reached the quarterfinals in 1996 and 99. The other appearances where in 2000, 2003 and 2008. St. Xavier reached the semi-finals in 2006.

Series

This will be the third meeting between the two programs. Lambuth lost in Chicago 48-0 in 2006. The Cougars won 44-0 in Jackson in 2007.

Coaches

Coach Hugh Freeze is in his second season as head coach of the Eagles. His record is 20-4. Eagle squads are 11-3 in road games and 9 -1at home under his leadership. Freeze is only the fourth coach to lead the program since it was reinstated in 1985. Lambuth is 141-117-1 during that time. Freeze was an assistant at Ole Miss before arriving at Lambuth. Prior to Ole Miss he was a very successful football and basketball coach at Memphis Briarcrest High School. His girl's basketball squads won four state titles.

SXU head coach Mike Feminis enters the contest with an 88-38-career record in his 11^th year at the school. He has had only one losing season during his tenure with the Cougars.

National Ranking

Both teams enter the contest ranked in the Top Ten.

The Eagles enter the contest ranked # 6 in the nation. St. Xavier is # 4 in the country. The two are among six unbeaten squads in the nation. The amount is the most since six NAIA teams were undefeated during the regular season in 1995.

Road Warriors

Lambuth played only four regular season home games this year. That is the fewest home games in any given season in Lambuth football history. Through last week's win over Cumberlands, Coach Freeze coached squads are 11-3 in road games and 9-1 at home. The only home loss was to Union College in week two of 2008.

More Than Their Share of Adversity

Lambuth has dedicated the season to teammates, Fletcher Cleaves and Dayne Mullins. Both players continue to recover from an early September car accident. Dayne is back in school while Fletcher continues to show great progress at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.

Fans are asked to remember other players in their thoughts and prayers. Jason Ware lost his mother, Joyce, to cancer this season. Ben Aigamaua and Sunday Meaole, both of American Samoa, lost their homes to the recent tsunami in the South Pacific.

Several players were lost to injuries this season. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Hugh's Hints

" At this level all teams are great. This Cougar squad is loaded on both sides of the ball. They have a fearless QB who has thrown over 40 TD's on the year. He has a group of receivers who run great routes and catch anything near them. Their defense is as solid as a rock. We will need to be at the top of our game and play with confidence. We cannot turn the ball over. They are very good at forcing turnovers. It should be a super game."

Radio & TV

Eagle action can be heard on WIGH, 88.7, and at www.wigh.afr.net. The Town and Country Countdown to Kick-off Show begins thirty minutes prior to kick-off each week. This week the pre-game airs at 12:30 p. m. (CST). Dave McCulley and Hal Freeman will call the action. This is McCulley's 17th season as the voice of the Eagles.

Did You Know ?

• Lambuth's Josh Profit is the son of former Atlanta Falcon star Joe Profit.
• Lambuth's Jason Ware is the son of professional and Hall-of-Fame wrestler Ko Ko B. Ware.
• Lambuth's Bobby Ingalls is the son of Jim Ingalls who was at one time an Irish National Heavyweight Boxing Champion
• Lambuth has two players who have been named Mid-South Conference Player of the Week this season. Adam Wiese won the offensive award while Jamie Payton won on the defensive side.
• Lambuth has outscored their opponents 263-92 in the first half in the six wins this season.
• The Eagles have a 213-81 advantage over their opponents in second half action thus far. They outscored one opponent (Bethel) 9-6 in overtime action.
• The Eagles are 17-of-18 on fourth down conversions this season. The Eagles are # 1 in the nation in 4th down conversions.
• The Eagles have 22 defensive players with 10 or more tackles on the season.
• Coach Ron Dickerson was a member of the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins. He was the first African American head coach of a NCAA Division I program while at Temple University.
• Former Eagles have received 35 professional opportunities after wearing the Blue and White.
• Coach Freeze appears in the movie 'The Blind Side'. It is the story of former Ole Miss and current Baltimore player Michael Oher. Sandra Bullock stars in the movie with Kathy Bates and Tim McGraw. The movie is currently playing in the theaters around the nation.
• You can locate former Eagle players and keep up with current players by visiting www.lambuthfootball.com. The site is dedicated to Lambuth football and run by former Eagles, Toby Taylor and T.C. Miller.
• The Eagles currently ranks 13th in the NAIA in sacks (2.8 /game), 6th in passing efficiency (165.3 0) 8^th in scoring offense (485).
• Nathan O'Jibway ranks 7th in kicking (scoring) per game (7.3), 5th in total kicking scoring (87).
• Adam Wiese ranks 7th in pass efficiency (165.00), 6th in passing yards per game (276.300) and 5th in total passing (3315 yards).
• Rodrick Jefferson ranks 16th in total receptions (66).
• Lambuth ranks 7^th in first downs per game (23.8)
• The Eagles rank # 4 in Scoring Defense per Game (14.7)
• Lambuth is # 5 in Pass Offense per Game (315.300)
• SXU is # 1 in Total Offense per Game (524.800)
• The Cougars are # 3 Pass Offense per Game (324.600)
• Anthony Kropp is # 3 in Total Passing (3842)
• Kropp is # 3 in Passing Yards per Game (320.200)
• Mike Lally ranks # 3 in Tackles for Loss (24.000)
• The 54^th Annual Russell Athletic-NAIA Football National Championship will take place on Saturday, December 19^th in Rome, Georgia. Kick-off is slated for 11a.m. Central time in Barron Stadium.
• Coach Grant Heard ranks third on the Ole Miss career reception list.

• Two former Eagle players are serving as student assistant coaches this season. Martino Theus and Michael Ragan are members of the staff.
• Three Eagles made the All-Academic MSC squad. Congratulations to Clint Rogers, Clint Anderson and Joel Essenberg. For a complete look at all of the Eagles who were named to the MSC All-Conference squads, visit www.lambutheagles.com

For Daily Updates on all Lambuth Athletics visit www.lambutheagles.com