Gardner-Webb’s Jordan Bly catches a deep pass behind Lindenwood’s Kendric Bailey during last Saturday’s Big South-OVC football game. (Photo courtesy: GWU Athletics)
DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer
Week 8 of the Big South-OVC Football Association season was a light week, with just four games. But it turned out to still be a pretty exciting week of action, led by the barnburner shootout between Gardner-Webb and Lindenwood, which ended with the Bulldogs picking up their first conference win of the season.
Southeast Missouri State remained undefeated in league play and in control of first place with a victory at Charleston Southern, while Western Illinois won on its Hall of Fame weekend, topping Tennessee Tech, and Tennessee State continued its hot run and improved to 6-2 for the second straight season, with a win at Howard. The Tigers have equaled their best start since 2013.
Here’s a recap of what went down in the Big South-OVC last weekend:
GARDNER-WEBB 42, LINDENWOOD 35 | BOX SCORE
Gardner-Webb used a potent offense to pick up its first Big South-OVC win of the season after taking down visiting Lindenwood by the final of 42-35.
For the second time on the year, the Runnin’ Bulldogs had two players rush for more than 100 yards each. Senior Quasean Holmes led the way with 26 carries and 156 yards while pushing one score across the goal line. Grad student Edward Saydee also crossed the century mark with 119 yards on 16 carries and one score.
Redshirt quarterback Tyler Riddell completed 16-of-21 passes for 185 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. His favorite target being senior Jordan Bly, who hauled in four passes and two touchdowns.
Lindenwood junior wide receiver Jeff Caldwell caught six passes for 174 yards and a touchdown. He now leads the league with 779 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches this season.
#8 SEMO 26, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 13 | BOX SCORE
DC Pippin scored a career-high 14 points on four field goals and two extra points to lead #8 Southeast Missouri (7-1, 4-0) to a 26-13 win over Charleston Southern (1-6, 0-4) Saturday at Buccaneer Field.
SEMO recorded its sixth win in a row and claimed its fourth winning season under Head Coach Tom Matukewicz. QB Paxton DeLaurent threw his Big South-OVC high 21st touchdown pass of the season and completed passes to nine different receivers.
WESTERN ILLINOIS 37, TENNESSEE TECH 21 | BOX SCORE
Western Illinois scored a convincing home victory on Saturday, topping Tennessee Tech, 37-21. The offense had 446 total yards, the defense forced three turnovers, had five sacks, and held the Golden Eagles offense in check most of the day improving the Leathernecks to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
TENNESSEE STATE 27, HOWARD 14 | BOX SCORE
Tennessee State improved its record to 6-2 on the season (for the second-straight season) with a road win at Howard. Draylen Ellis led TSU’s passing attack with 289 yards through the air.
WEEK 9 BIG SOUTH-OVC FOOTBALL — OCTOBER 26, 2024
| Away | Home | Time | Location | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Charleston Southern |  Tennessee Tech | 1:30 P.M. | Cookeville, Tenn. | TV: ESPN+ Stats |
 Gardner-Webb |  Southeast Missouri | 2:00 P.M. | Cape Girardeau, Mo. | TV: ESPN+ Stats |
 Western Illinois |  Lindenwood | 2:00 P.M. | St. Charles, Mo. | TV: ESPN+ Stats |
 Eastern Illinois |  Tennessee-Martin | 2:00 P.M. | Martin, Tenn. | TV: ESPN+ Stats |