Photo by David Snyder
The Lindenwood football team went on the road searching for the winning formula after consecutive home losses by double-digit margins.
They brought along their hard hats and lunch pails.
In a game defined by high-effort plays, Lindenwood scored five rushing touchdowns, forced six consecutive three-and-outs, and earned a 35-13 victory at Tennessee State in an OVC-Big South clash Saturday at Nissan Stadium.
Lindenwood (4-5; 3-2) will travel to face Western Illinois (2-7; 1-4) for a 1 p.m. Saturday kickoff. The Leathernecks, who are coming off a bye week, have played four conference games decided by one-score. The game will be televised on ESPN-Plus.
The top-notch, effort plays began on the first offensive drive. A Drew Krobath full-extension, diving catch over the middle was deemed incomplete after discussion by the officials, but it foreshadowed the level of effort about to be exerted by the Lions.
One play later, on third-and-10, quarterback Nate Glantz threw a pass near the sideline. Jalen Smith rose, snatched the ball over the helmet of a Tennessee State defender and tapped his toe inbounds for a first down.
Steve Hall finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
On the second drive, it was Darrin Fugitt’s turn. On third-and 2, he caught a pass in the flat near the line of scrimmage and dove full-extension for the first down sticks while being knocked out-of-bounds. Fugitt’s high-effort play prolonged the possession and Glantz finished it with a 3-yard touchdown run.
Later in the game, both Hall and Jared Rhodes dove full extension for the goal line and tapped the front right pylon with the football for touchdowns.
“The guys who made those (effort) plays, you see the same things happen at practice. They are great practice guys, and they create those kind of habits,” Lindenwood coach Jed Stugart said. “We executed Saturday because our guys did their job and had that kind of effort in all three phases.”
Defense flips script
While the offense still performed at a high level during the Lions’ previous two losses, the defense struggled mightily, yielding a combined 100 points and more than 1,000 yards of total offense in losses to Tennessee Tech and Gardner-Webb.
The game against Tennessee State (2-7; 0-5) had a similar feel at the outset, when DeVaughn Slaughter caught a short pass, avoided a Lindenwood tackler, and raced for a 70-yard touchdown on the second play of the game.
“We didn’t trust our assignments, we didn’t leverage the ball carrier, and then we didn’t have pursuit. When you don’t do those things, you’re going to get bit,” Stugart said.
Tennessee State embarked on a 14-play, 74-yard drive during their second possession, but cornerback Jayden Patrick made a key tackle-for-loss on third-and-1 to force a field goal.
After that second drive, the Lindenwood defense was impenetrable, forcing Tennessee State into six consecutive three-and-outs and yielding only 19 total yards for the remainder of the game.
“Our defense really responded. I think that’s what I’m most proud of. They lacked some confidence the last couple weeks, and they played outstanding,” Stugart said.
Sanjay Strickland led the way with seven solo tackles, three tackles-for-loss, a sack and a fumble recovery and earned OVC-Big South Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors.
“It wasn’t a schematic change, it was just great effort and pursuit, and it flipped,” Stugart said of the defense. “We saw a hungry team Saturday that wanted to get back to the way they are capable of playing.”
Bennett comes up big
The Lindenwood special teams unit also struggled in recent weeks, including a fumbled kickoff return against Gardner-Webb and a pair of punting miscues that twice set up Tennessee Tech inside the red zone. Against Tennessee State on Saturday, the special teams unit continually gave the Lions great field position.
Freshman Christopher Bennett Jr. followed great blocking for 114 return yards, including a 31-yard punt return that placed the Lions deep in Tennessee territory and two kickoff returns of 34 and 35 yards that infused energy into the sideline.
The 5-foot-5 East St. Louis alum earned Freshman of the Week honors in the OVC-Big South.
“He is so shifty and quick and he gives great effort all the time,” Stugart said of Bennett. “I love his work ethic, and he’s gained a lot of respect from his teammates and the coaching staff.”
Bennett’s work ethic has earned him snaps on an offensive side of the ball that is much more balanced in recent weeks. The running game, which rushed for 165 yards against Gardner-Webb the previous game, churned up 222 yards on the ground Saturday, with both Hall and Rhodes eclipsing the century mark.
“This was probably our best, four quarter game where we put all three phases together. We challenged them to be more consistent, and this week, our guys did that,” Stugart said.
On Western Illinois
Cason Carswell is completing 65 percent of his passes with 10 touchdown passes and just two interceptions.
Markell Holman has 636 yards rushing and five touchdowns.
Christian Anaya and Demari Davis both have exactly 458 yards receiving and four touchdowns.
The Leathernecks are yielding 38.9 points and 440 total yards per game.
Place kicker Antonio Chahda wears No. 53 and has converted 11 of 14 field goal attempts, including a 51-yarder that became the final points in a 17-16 victory over Tennessee State on Oct. 25.
Edwardsville High alum Dorian Arguelles is a starter on the Leathernecks’ offensive line. Cardinal Ritter alum Antwan McKay Jr. has appeared in three games as a redshirt freshman and has thrown a touchdown pass.