Home opener moves to Midlothian

Football Lions to host Howard Payne

Fans can access free broadcast in three formats

WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- The home opener for the football team at Southwestern Assemblies of God University will have a slight ‘road game’ feel to it. Lumpkins Stadium, who serves as their home field, is not available this week due to construction issues related to their expansion project.

Athletic Director and Head Coach of the Lions, Jesse Godding, announced that Midlothian Stadium will host the Saturday night game against Howard Payne University. Kickoff is slated for 6:00pm.

With seating for 8,000 in the bowl-shaped M.I.S.D. All-Purpose Stadium, its official name, both SAGU (0-1) and HPU (0-1) will be seeking their first win of the young season. Southwestern is a Division I member in the NAIA, while Howard Payne is in the NCAA’s Division III.

“It's disappointing to have to move a home game away from the renovated Lumpkins Stadium,” Coach Godding said on Thursday. “However, the MISD stadium is a terrific venue in which to play. Fans will enjoy the experience of the stadium atmosphere including the video display board.”

Seatbacks, bleachers and seating on the grassy berms will be available. In 2010, Field Turf Duraspine Pro playing surface was installed.

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Fans can also view the game on the internet for free. SAGU SPORTS Live will livestream the broadcast in HD beginning with a pre-game show at 5:45pm. Clay Scarborough, a local middle school instructor and former Sports Information Director at SAGU, is the host and play-by-play announcer. Tim Roberts, a student on campus, will be the color analyst.

To see the game, log onto www.sagu.edu and click on Watch SAGU TV.

Howard Payne will offer the audio version of the game, by radio. Radio station KPSM-FM 99.3 will air the commercial broadcast. Dallas Huston handles play-by-play while Zach Tharp supplies the color.

Fan can also access it through the web along with the live stats at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/hpu.portal#. Livestats is a written account of each play on-line, complete with field graphics and up-to-the minute statistics. Abram Choate will be at the controls of LiveStats.

SAGU On the Road

The Lions will be on the road for the next two weekends. They are in Sherman, Texas on September 17 to play Austin College at 1:00pm. The following game pits them against Haskell Indian Nations Institute on Sept. 24 at 2pm in Lawrence, Kansas.

SAGU returns home to face Southern Nazarene University at Lumpkins Stadium on October 1. Kickoff will take place at 6:00pm.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.