Members of the Lindenwood defense celebrate recovering a fumble during Saturday’s 23-0 win over Tennessee Tech. (Photo: Cedric Williams)

Terrance Williams
Staff Writer

Eight of the 10 Big South-OVC Association teams were in action last Saturday, including three conference games at Lindenwood, at Eastern Illinois, and at Gardner-Webb.

Gardner-Webb, Lindenwood, and Tennessee-Martin won those games, while Tennessee State picked up a non-conference win at Kennesaw State.

Lindenwood’s victory, a 23-0 shutout over Tennessee Tech, was the program’s first shutout since 2005. Senior wide receiver/kick returner Spencer Redd scored both touchdowns for the Lions.

He ran back the opening kickoff for a 99-yard score. Then later in the game, caught a 52-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Carter Davis to help Lindenwood salt away its third victory of the season.

LINDENWOOD 23, TENNESSEE TECH 0 | BOX SCORE
Lindenwood netted its first shutout since the 2005 season in topping Tennessee Tech on Saturday. It marked the first league win of the season for the Lions. Spencer Redd took the opening kickoff 99 yards to the end zone to give Lindenwood a quick 7-0 lead and the team would not look back

Along with Redd’s big day on offense and special teams, Lindenwood got a huge day from defensive lineman Kobe McClendon. The sophomore from St. Louis had a team-high seven tackles, four for loss, three quarterback sacks, a quarterback hurry, and a fumble recovery.

#18/23 UT MARTIN 28, #25 EASTERN ILLINOIS 27 (OT) | BOX SCORE
UT Martin knocked down a two-point conversion pass in overtime to knock off nationally-ranked Eastern Illinois and improve to 2-0 in Big South-OVC Association games. The game was tight throughout as it was tied at 0, 7, 14 and 21 before the extra period. Kinkead Dent threw two touchdowns and the Skyhawks combined to rush for 163 yards. Pierce Holley had four passing scores for the Panthers.

GARDNER-WEBB 31, ROBERT MORRIS 16 | BOX SCORE
Gardner-Webb scored 21 first quarter points on its way to a victory over Robert Morris. Matthew Caldwell threw for two touchdowns and ran for another while Jayden Brown hauled in three passes, two of which went for scores. Chaese Jackson caught a game-high 10 passes for RMU.

TENNESSEE STATE 27, KENNESAW STATE 20 | BOX SCORE
Tennessee State got on the scoreboard first and never trailed on the way to a 27-20 win over Kennesaw State Saturday afternoon on the road at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The victory improved Tennessee State’s record to 3-2 on the season.

#23 CENTRAL ARKANSAS 38, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 33 | BOX SCORE
No. 23 Central Arkansas (4-2) scored 32 fourth-quarter points to wipe out a 24-point deficit in a 38-33 win over Southeast Missouri (1-4) Saturday at Estes Stadium. SEMO led, 30-6, with 53 seconds left to play in the third quarter before UCA put together its ferocious comeback. Geno Hess broke free for his 57th career rushing touchdown when his 19-yard burst capped SEMO’s longest drive of the game. He finished the game with 122 rushing yards and caught four passes for 27 yards.

Big South-OVC Football Association — Week 8 Schedule

AwayHomeGametimeLocationLinks
Gardner-WebbGardner-WebbAustin PeayAustin Peay1:00 PMClarksville, Tenn. (Conf.)TV: ESPN+ Stats Video
Tennessee TechTennessee TechSouth Carolina StateSouth Carolina State1:30 PMOrangeburg, S.C.TV: ESPN+ Stats Video
Eastern Illinois Eastern IllinoisSoutheast MissouriSoutheast Missouri2:00 PMCape Girardeau, Mo. (Conf.)TV: ESPN+ Stats Video
Robert MorrisRobert MorrisBryantBryant3:00 PMSmithfield, R.I. (Conf.)TV: ESPN+ Stats Video
LindenwoodLindenwoodCharleston SouthernCharleston Southern3:00 PMCharleston, S.C. (Conf.)TV: ESPN+ Stats Video
Norfolk StateNorfolk StateTennessee StateTennessee State5:00 PMNashville, Tenn.TV: ESPN+ Stats Video