Lindenwood’s Logan Seibert kicks a field goal in the Lions’ 48-3 loss to Kansas, last Thursday. (Photo courtesy: KU Athletics)
The opening weekend of the 2024 NCAA football season proved to be a tough one for the Big South-OVC Football Association. Only one of the league’s nine teams won last week and three of the losses came in the final minute.
Three of the other losses were in blowouts, including Lindenwood’s 48-3 loss to Kansas. The Lions kept that game close through the first quarter — the score was 7-0 heading into the second. But then the Jayhawks scored four touchdowns in the second quarter to turn that game on its head.
New quarterback Nate Glantz completed 18 passes for 127 yards to lead the offense, which also got a nice effort from junior tight end Abe Haerr, who had four catches for 58 yards. And the defense forced two turnovers and held Kansas to just 199 yards passing, but the Lions just couldn’t overcome what proved to be a brutal second quarter against the No. 22-ranked FBS team in the country.
Here’s a recap of what went on all around the league last weekend:
#22 KANSAS 48, LINDENWOOD 3 | BOX SCORE
Lindenwood play its first-ever game against a FBS opponent, falling 48-3 to nationally-ranked Kansas at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City. Logan Seibert had the lone points of the night for the Lions on a 34-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Abe Haerr had four catches for 58 yards while Steve Hall added five receptions for 25 yards for Lindenwood.
WOFFORD 21, GARDNER-WEBB 20 | BOX SCORE
Gardner-Webb came up just short in its season debut and first game under head coach Cris Reisert. The Runnin’ Bulldogs led 20-11 in the third quarter when Edward Saydee scored on a 32-yard run. But Wofford would score the final 10 points, its final score coming on a 45-yard field goal with 5:50 to play. Tyler Riddell passed for 238 yards and a touchdown for GWU.
ILLINOIS 45, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0 | BOX SCORE
Eastern Illinois was shutout by in-state FBS foe Illinois on Thursday. The Panthers were led by Big South-OVC Football Association Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Pierce Holley, who completed 16-of-32 passes for 147 yards. Elijawah Tolbert and Anthony Shockey led the Panthers in tackles from the linebacker position. Tolbert had 12 stops and Shockey finished with nine tackles.
TENNESSEE STATE 41, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 21 | BOX SCORE
Five different players reached the end zone as Tennessee State easily defeated Mississippi Valley State 41-21 on Saturday night at Nissan Stadium in the John A. Merritt Classic. Draylen Ellis led Tennessee State’s passing attack with 356 yards through the air, tossing three touchdowns and one interception. Boogie Trotter showed out for the Tennessee State defense, totaling one interception. Micah Gay added three tackles, 0.5 TFL, and one recovered fumble and Tyler Moore had 2.0 TFL, one sack, and one forced fumble in the win. Tennessee State outgained Mississippi Valley State — 495-264 — including a 357-195 advantage through the air.
THE CITADEL 22, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 21 | BOX SCORE
The Citadel and Charleston Southern opened their 2024 seasons on Saturday evening under the lights of Buccaneer Field to crown the inaugural winner of rivalry game between the squads, the “Lowcountry Boil Bowl.” The Bulldogs won by a final score of 22-21, overcoming a 21-3 deficit to take the initial “Battle for the Shrimp.” Transfer QB Rob McCoy had a tremendous debut game leading the Buccaneers offense with fresh faces all around. He went 20-of-25 throwing for 290 yards and a touchdown. He also added 40 yards on the ground. His 290 through the air mark the most by a CSU quarterback since the season opener of the 2022 season.
#17 KANSAS STATE 41, UT MARTIN 6 | BOX SCORE
UT Martin lost to No. 17 ranked Kansas State, 41-6. The Skyhawks won the turnover margin, forcing a pair of Wildcat mistakes while not turning the ball over. Chris Hunter, Jr. (third career interception), Lanard Harris (forced fumble) and Steven Ballard (fumble recovery) each helped force turnovers for the Skyhawks.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 32, TENNESSEE TECH 25 | BOX SCORE
Tennessee Tech scored 14 points in the final 4:38 to take a lead over rival Middle Tennessee, but saw the Blue Raiders march 75 yards in 44 seconds to score the game-winning touchdown with 16 seconds left. It marked the first meeting between the former OVC rivals since the 2006 season.
NEW MEXICO STATE 23, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 16 | BOX SCORE
Dorian Anderson had a career-high 115 receiving yards and scored a touchdown and DC Pippin kicked three field goals, but Southeast Missouri (1-1) came up short in the final minutes of a 23-16 loss to New Mexico State (1-0) Saturday. SEMO led until the last two minutes before falling to the Conference USA and Football Bowl Subdivision Aggies. Paxton DeLaurent completed 27-of-45 passes for 295 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, Khalani Riddick paved the way with a game and career-high 11 tackles. Bryce Norman followed close behind with nine stops, while McCoy Casey added eight.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 54, WESTERN ILLINOIS 15 | BOX SCORE
The Western Illinois University football team kicked off the season on Saturday, falling on the road at in-state foe, Northern Illinois, 54-15. The Leathernecks (0-1) were able to hang tough for the first 15 minutes, trailing 6-3 after a quarter. Nathan Lamb went 17-29 for 204 yards and a touchdown at quarterback. Tristan Duncan led the receivers with five catches for 68 yards. On the ground, Cam Smith led the way with 51 yards on 14 carries. As a team, WIU rushed 29 times for 94 yards. Defensively, Willie Jones led Western Illinois with a career-high 13 tackles. Jones had eight solo and five assists. Ryan Crandall added six tackles and Noah Epley had five.
Week 2 – Big South-OVC Football Association Schedule
| Away | Home | Time | Location | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tennessee Tech |  Georgia | 1 P.M. | Athens, Ga. | TV: SEC Network+ Stats Video |
 Tennessee State |  North Dakota State | 2:30 P.M. | Fargo, N.D. | TV: ESPN+ Stats Video |
 Charleston Southern |  Furman | 5:00 P.M. | Greenville, S.C. | TV: ESPN+ Stats Video |
 Gardner-Webb |  James Madison | 5:00 P.M. | Harrisonburg, Va. | TV: ESPN+ Stats Video |
 Indiana State |  Eastern Illinois | 6:00 P.M. | Charleston, Ill. | TV: ESPN+ Stats Video |
 Central Arkansas |  Lindenwood | 6:00 P.M. | St. Charles, Mo. | TV: ESPN+ Stats Video |
 UT Martin |  Southeast Missouri State | 6:00 P.M. | Cape Girardeau, Mo. (Conf.) | TV: ESPN+ Stats Video |
BigSouth-OVCFootball.com contributed to this story.