Despite putting up 20 points in the first half, the Lindenwood Lions football team dropped their game to Tennesse State 24-20 on Saturday, Oct. 5.
The game got off to a fast start for the Lions, with quarterback Nate Glantz finding Jeff Caldwell open for a 34-yard touchdown within the first two minutes of play. Just two minutes later, it was the Lions defense who struck, as Frank Caldwell returned an interception in the Tigers endzone for a 15-yard touchdown.
The Lions would allow Tennessee State to score in the opening quarter, however, as Tevin Carter found the endzone on a three-yard run with six minutes left to play.
Entering the second quarter, scoring was hard to come by. However, every point put up in the quarter were put up by Lindenwood, and more specifically, by kicker Logan Seibert. With six minutes left in the half, Seibert drained a 23-yard field goal and would land another 21-yarder as the clocks winded down into halftime. As the Lions headed into the locker room for their 20-minute break, the score was 20-7 in their favor.
The Lions would appear much of the same in the first minutes of play in the third quarter. However, the momentum seemed to shift towards the Tigers with one quick play. Just as the opposition began a drive at the eight-minute mark in the third, they scored on a 74-yard touchdown pass. Tennessee State quarterback Draylen Ellis found receiver CJ Evans open, and the drive ended in a score almost as quickly as it began, 13 seconds later. In the closing seconds of the quarter, the Tigers added three more on a seven-play drive, capped off by a 40-yard field goal by kicker James Lowery. This sent the game to the final quarter with a score of 20-17 in favor of the Lions.
The final quarter of play only saw one score, but it was the decisive blow of the game. Carter found the endzone once more for Tennessee State, on a one-yard running play. After a successful extra point attempt, the Lions were down 24-20, the score in which they lost.
Statistically, Glantz put up 99 yards in the game, successfully making 11 of his 20 passing attempts. The Lions put up 223 yards in the rushing game, with Steve Hall leading the team with 67. Robert Giaimo and Cortezz Jones put up 53 yards and 45 yards respectively, with Glantz himself rushing for 40 yards, though he lost 34 in the game as well. In the air, Jeff Caldwell led the team with three receptions for 45 yards. Both Reece Thomas and Jalen Smith put up over 10 yards in their own rights, with 18 and 11 respectively.
Defensively, the Lions were able to record four sacks in the game. Kobe McClendon led the way with two, for a loss of 12 yards total. Vincent King recorded a sack for a loss of three yards, and Donnie Wingate notched a sack for a loss of 10. King was also able to record a forced fumble in the loss, and was among the team leaders in total tackles with 11, one behind Jacob Waller.
Next week, the Lions remain at home to face Charleston Southern University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Oct. 12, and the game will act as Community Day at Hunter Stadium.
