Lindenwood football (4-5, 3-2 OVC/Big South) cruised to a 35-13 win over Tennessee State (2-7, 0-5 OVC/Big South) on Saturday, behind the work of their two workhorse running backs, Jared Rhodes and Steve Hall.
Lindenwood fell behind 10-7 at the end of the first quarter but rattled off four touchdown drives over their next six possessions to grab a 35-10 lead and would cruise the rest of the second half to a 35-13 win.
Each rushed for over 100 yards and two touchdowns as Rhodes led the way with 15 carries for 113 yards and a pair of rushing scores, while Hall rushed it 19 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns of his own.
As a team, Lindenwood rushed for 222 yards and five total touchdowns, outrushing Tennessee State 222-36 and averaging five yards a carry while holding the Tigers to just 1.2 yards per carry.
“Last week we had to get back on the horse,” said head coach Jed Stugart. “Getting back to basics and playing consistently on all 3 phases of the game. Not focused on the other team, but rather focusing on us and the things we needed to do. So, I was so proud of their response last week at practice and felt like that carried over to the game. Just an outstanding team win all around.”
Nate Glantz finished the game 16/23 for 149 yards and an interception, but also had a rushing touchdown, his sixth of the season. Glantz is currently second in the OVC/Big South in rushing touchdowns for quarterbacks behind Jase Bauer and Cole LaCrue.
Defense Plays Big
The Lindenwood defense was flying around all game as they held Tennessee State quarterback Byron McNair to 11/20 passing for 132 yards and a touchdown. That touchdown was a 70-yard catch and run by Devaughn Slaughter on the second play of the game, as McNair had only 62 yards the rest of the game.
The Lions’ defense recorded eight tackles for loss and four sacks, holding the Tigers’ offense to just 3/13 on third down conversions, 168 total yards, and forcing a fumble.
Sanjay Strickland led the way with seven total tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack en route to OVC/Big South Co-Defensive Player of the Week, along with Maurice LaPierre. It was Strickland’s second honor of the season and the first since week two.
Alex Dawkins, Tajay Passmore, and Nolan O’Hara all tallied sacks as the Lions’ front seven harassed McNair all game en route to victory.
Lindenwood is back out on the road as they travel up to Macomb, Illinois, to take on the Western Illinois Leathernecks on Saturday, Nov. 8, with the opening kickoff coming at 1 p.m. from Hanson Field. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ or can be listened to on 89.1 KCLC.
