The Lindenwood Lions football team lost an away game to Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina on Saturday by a score of 42-35.
From the start of the game it was going to be a very back-and-forth game and ultimately about who could score more points than the other, as neither defense was able to get many stops, and unfortunately for the Lions the combined efforts of Nate Glantz, Steve Hall, and Jeff Caldwell weren’t enough as the Lions dropped the game. Glantz finished his day 12 for 27 for 244 yards, three touchdowns, and 1 interception. Hall led the Lions’ rushing attack with 78 yards on 11 carries and a score. On the day the Lions ran for 213 yards on 38 carries but it wasn’t enough as the Runnin’ Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb rushed for 306 yards on 53 carries. Caldwell hauled in six passes for 174 yards and a score, including a nice 49-yard touchdown for the Lions on the opening drive of the second half.
The game opened seeing Gardner-Webb march 75 yards in 12 plays to get the scoring started capped off by a Tyler Riddell three-yard pass to Anthony Lowe. Riddell would finish with 185 yards and four passing touchdowns on the day for Gardner Webb. Lindenwood would respond on their opening drive of the game using a nice mix of Hall runs and Glantz passes before Glantz found Reese Thomas for a 21-yard touchdown to tie the game at seven. Gardner-Webb would have another long drive to retake the lead at 14-7 before the Lions went on their own conquest down the field, aided by a nice 44-yard pass to Caldwell before Cortezz Jones punched in a two-yard score to bring the game to 14-14. Jones would finish the game with only five carries for 25 yards, and a score. The Bulldogs would yet again answer Lindenwood’s score with one of their own to grow their lead back to 21-14. Shortly after, it looked like Lindenwood was poised to tie the game back at 21 when they had the ball at the Gardner-Webb eight-yard line after a 52-yard run from Robert Giaimo. However, on 3rd and 6, Glantz fired a pass into the end zone that was intercepted and turned the ball back over the Gardner-Webb. The Lions’ defense would step up though, and force a punt giving the ball back to their offense, though they wouldn’t be able to do much with it and punt it back to the Bulldogs would go down and score another touchdown to take a 28-14 lead into the half.
Coming out of halftime, Lindenwood would go 87 yards in seven plays before Glantz found Caldwell for a 49-yard touchdown to bring the game back to a one-score game. Caldwell on the drive hauled in three passes for 92 yards, as the Lions made it an emphasis to get him the ball. Gardner-Webb would respond yet again with a touchdown of their own to keep their lead at two scores. Both teams would then trade punts before Gardner-Webb again marched down the field to expand their lead to 42-21. Lindenwood would respond following this, as they went 75 yards in six plays capped off by a Hall 17-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 42-28. The Lions’ defense would then force a missed field goal, giving the ball back to Glantz and the offense but on 4th and 1 from the Lindenwood 49-yard line Steve Hall would be stuffed turning the ball over on downs. Lindenwood’s offense would have one more chance as they got the ball back at their 9-yard line with 1:54 left. Glantz would use his legs to get down into scoring position, before finding Drew Krobath open for a 23-yard touchdown to bring the game back to a one score game. However, Lindenwood would fail to recover the ensuing onside kick and that would do it as they would lose 42-35 and fall to 3-5 and 2-2 in the OVC/Big Sky conference.
Lindenwood will return home next week on Oct. 26 to play Western Illinois on Homecoming weekend looking to get their fourth win of the season game time a 2 pm.
