There was hope that the Lindenwood special teams unit had turned a corner.
During a season scarred by missed field goals, punting mishaps and fumbled returns, the Lions’ special teams unit played brilliantly in a victory at Tennessee State on Nov. 1, earning recognition by the OVC-Big South conference in its weekly award announcements.
But the inconsistencies returned last Saturday during a mistake-filled second half that turned a two-touchdown lead into a stunning 24-21 loss at Western Illinois.
Lindenwood (4-6; 3-3) will try to put that difficult loss in the rearview mirror when it faces Eastern Illinois (3-7; 2-5) in its final home game of the season at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles. The game will be televised on ESPN-Plus.
“Our team was pretty bummed out how it ended,” Stugart said of the loss to the Leathernecks. “It slipped away quickly and those are hard ones to get over, but the reality is, we can’t let this team beat us twice.”
Leading 14-7 early in the third quarter, Lindenwood lined up in punt formation at midfield. The Lions had held the Leathernecks to 33 total yards over their previous four possessions and were poised to pin Western Illinois deep in its own territory.
But on fourth-and-9, punter AJ Vinatieri caught the snap and began moving upfield before he was sacked for a four-yard loss.
“We put AJ in a tough spot there through a lack of communication,” Stugart said. “That’s kind of an option for a rugby-style punter as an adjustment or check, but at that time of the game, we don’t need a fake punt. Field position was a big deal there.”
The misread did not directly lead to points for Western Illinois, but it became the first snowball in an avalanche of second half Lindenwood errors that eventually led to defeat.
Later in the third quarter, Lindenwood lined up for a 39-yard field goal with a chance to take a 17-point lead. While placekicker Will Graham got into position and holder AJ Vinatieri looked back at him, the ball was snapped prematurely and struck an unsuspecting Vinatieri in the side of the helmet.
Vinatieri recovered the loose ball and prevented a Western Illinois scoop and score, but the train of missed scoring opportunities for Lindenwood had left the station for good.
“A head-scratcher. We’re not sure why he snapped it when he did. I was told he heard something from the defense, but he has to be clear that the call comes from our holder,” Stugart said. “That was another crucial mistake that ended up biting us because we could have used those three points.”
Early in the fourth quarter, the Lions faced a fourth-and-7 from the Western Illinois 24-yard line and elected not to bring out the field goal unit. Nate Glantz’s pass attempt fell incomplete and another lengthy drive resulted in no points.
Western Illinois began to take advantage of the Lions’ miscues and sliced the deficit to 21-16 midway through the fourth quarter before Lindenwood seemed on the precipice of a clinching score. Aided by an electric 45-yard run by Steve Hall, the Lions moved the ball inside the Leathernecks 15-yard line, but on third down, Glantz forced the ball into coverage and was intercepted in the end zone.
During a three-possession span in the second half, the Lions gained 149 yards and did not score.
“We got up (14-0) quick and had a chance to really stay in control, but we presented way too many opportunities for them to stay in that game,” Stugart said.
Still clinging to a 21-16 lead with under three minutes remaining, the Lindenwood defense forced a punt, but freshman Christopher Bennett muffed it and Western Illinois recovered at the Lions’ 37 yard-line. Four plays later, the Leathernecks took their first lead of the game on an 8-yard pass from Cason Carswell to Alex Williams.
“We had a really bad special teams day, and that’s just the reality,” Stugart said. “Mistakes made in special teams kept them in the football game. A lot of those things were self-inflicted and they just can’t happen.”
It was only fitting that the final gasp for the Lindenwood offense ended in a turnover – an interception by Western Illinois safety Nick Bucaro with 33 seconds remaining. All six Lindenwood drives in the second half entered Western Illinois territory. Only one resulted in points, the rest ended in misfortune.
The disheartening 24-21 defeat spoiled an outstanding performance from Lindenwood sophomore Steve Hall, who rushed for a season high 148 yards on 21 carries. Hall has played through an ankle injury suffered in Week 1 and seems to have regained his cutting ability and explosion.
“What he’s been pushing through, I’m proud of his toughness. He’s just so consistent and hard-working, and he’s always a threat when he gets his hands on the ball,” Stugart said.
Rico Bond had seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown and earned Co-Freshman of the Week in the OVC-Big South Conference, the third time he has been recognized this season.
Lindenwood endured a disappointing home loss on Oct. 18 to No. 5 ranked Tennessee Tech in which the Lions cut the deficit to 38-28 before a second lightning delay zapped their momentum. The Lions allowed the ill-taste of that loss to linger and were beaten soundly the following week by Gardner-Webb, 48-20.
Stugart hopes the Lions rebound more quickly from the difficult loss to Western Illinois and play inspired football when Eastern Illinois visits Hunter Stadium Saturday.
“It has to start with the coaches’ attitudes and the way we practice this week, but the players have to make the choice to move on,” Stugart said. “This was a tough loss to get over, just how it went down, but I liked our spirits (Monday) in the weight room and in team meetings. They had their personalities back again. I think we’ll bounce back well this week.”
On Eastern Illinois:
- Lindenwood and Eastern Illinois have played three nail-biters over the past three seasons, each decided by six points or less. Last season, the Lions won 28-25 with the help of four Nate Glantz to Jeff Caldwell touchdown passes.
- Linebacker Ju’Wuan Nickson ranks second in the conference with 89 tackles and has five games in which he has earned double-digit tackles.
- The Panthers defense has recovered 11 fumbles, ranking fourth in all of FCS.
- Running back Charles Kellom, an Akron transfer, has 628 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
- De Smet alums, defensive back Christopher Sharp (2023) and defensive lineman Trevon Piggee (2023), are both starters for the Panthers. Tight end Alex Ginnever is a graduate of Holt High School in Wentzville.