Lindenwood QB Cooper Justice attempts to make a pass over Bryant’s Darnel Shillingford during Saturday’s Big South-OVC football game at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Mo. (Photo: Cedric Williams)

DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer

The next-to-last weekend of the regular season saw a full slate of Big South-OVC Football Association games. Lindenwood lost its finale, 38-3, to Bryant University. The Bulldogs got 367 passing yards and four touchdowns from QB Zevi Eckhaus. Lindenwood’s Cooper Justice threw for 191 yards, but also had two interceptions.

Around the league, Tennessee-Martin clinched at least a share of the inaugural Big South-OVC championship with a win over Southeast Missouri. Gardner-Webb, who shutout Tennessee Tech, can grab a share of the crown with a win next week. In other action Eastern Illinois and Robert Morris also won key games.

#16/21 TENNESSEE-MARTIN 41, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 14 | BOX SCORE
Tennessee-Martin clinched at least a share of the inaugural Big South-OVC Championship with a convincing 41-14 victory over Southeast Missouri. It marks the third-straight Conference crown for the Skyhawks. UTM rushed for 314 yards with Narkel Leflore (147 yards and 2 touchdowns) and Sam Franklin (123 yards) leading the way.

GARDNER-WEBB 35, TENNESSEE TECH 0 | BOX SCORE
Big plays in the first half pushed Gardner-Webb over Tennessee Tech 35-0 on Saturday.  Jaylen King threw three first half touchdowns and the Runnin’ Bulldogs had two pick sixes to account for all the scoring in the first 30 minutes.  On the third play of the game, Jamari Brown picked off a pass from Jordyn Potts, scoring from 33 yards out to give Gardner-Webb an early lead. Later in the half Ja’Kai Young picked off a pass and returned the ball 23 yards for a touchdown. GWU can clinch a share of the Big South-OVC title and earn the AQ to the FCS Playoffs with a victory next week.

ROBERT MORRIS 14, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 12 | BOX SCORE
The RMU football team picked up their second straight win of the season as they slipped past the Charleston Southern Buccaneers, 14-12. It marked the first back-to-back wins for the team since the 2019 season. The Colonials defense was the unsung hero in the second half as they held the Buccaneers scoreless on four separate possessions to help the RMU offense work their way back and take the lead. The home defense held Charleston Southern to 59 total yards in the third quarter as these stops were critical in order for the Colonials to come back in the game.

EASTERN ILLINOIS 30, TENNESSEE STATE 17 | BOX SCORE
For the second time this season MJ Flowers cracked the 200-yard mark in a game as the redshirt freshman running back rushed for 201 yards and four touchdowns during Eastern Illinois 30-17 win over Tennessee State on Saturday afternoon. Flowers scored a pair of touchdowns in the opening quarter before breaking loose for the other two scores in the second half helping EIU improve to 7-3 overall, 3-2 in the Big South-OVC.

BigSouthOVCFootball.com contributed to this story.

Week 12 Big South-OVC Football Schedule — Saturday, November 1

AwayHomeTimeLocationLinks
Eastern Illinois Eastern IllinoisRobert MorrisRobert Morris11:00 amMoon Township, Pa.TV: ESPN+ Stats
UT MartinTennessee-MartinSamfordSamford12:00 pmBirmingham, Ala.TV: ESPN+ Stats
Charleston SouthernCharleston SouthernGardner-WebbGardner-Webb12:00 pmBoiling Springs, N.C.TV: ESPN+ Stats
Southeast MissouriSoutheast MissouriBryantBryant12:00 pmSmithfield, R.I.TV: ESPN+ Stats
Tennessee TechTennessee TechTennessee StateTennessee State2:00 pmNashville, Tenn.TV: ESPN+ Stats