Tennessee Tech Stays Perfect, SEMO’s 500th Win, and UT Martin Dominates Gardner-Webb

McKenzie Nelson / The Southeast Arrow

SEMO (3-4) beats Eastern Illinois (3-4) 42-13

The Redhawks saw a series of highs in their beatdown of Eastern Illinois on Saturday, the 500 th win for SEMO football. SEMO got on the board early when DB DJ Delmore picked off Panther QB Cole Lacrue, running it back 95 yards for a pick-six, the first of five interceptions on the day. Redhawk QB Johnny Weber had a career-high four touchdown passes, going 21 for 31 with 283 yards and one interception in his second career start. Two of those touchdown passes were to WR Donnie Cheers, who had a career-high 165 receiving yards on 7 receptions. The other two touchdowns went to WR Kalvin Gilbert in his only two catches of the game, totaling 48 yards. For the Panthers, LaCrue went five for 15 with 73 yards and three interceptions. Backup QBs Connor Wolf and Brady Ford each threw a pick as well. Redhawk DB Justus Johnson was responsible for two of those picks. SEMO had 394 total yards to EIU’s 320. The Panthers had 6 turnovers, plus two turnovers on downs.

UT Martin Athletics

UT Martin (3-5) beats Gardner-Webb (4-3) 37-7

Chaos in Boiling Springs after Gardner-Webb got dominated by UT Martin at home. This is the most commanding win for the Skyhawks so far this season, and the Runnin’ Bulldogs first loss to an FCS team this season. GWEB Couldn’t get anything going on offense, punting three times, throwing three interceptions, failing to convert on fourth down twice, and fumbling once. Their only score came early in the fourth quarter after RB Carson Gresock ran in a two-yard touchdown. UT Martin, on the other hand, got started early and never let up, scoring on six drives and only punting twice. Kicker Cade Hechter sank a field goal on the opening drive after an 18-play, 56-yard drive that ate up 9:35 off the clock. They scored again on the next drive, taking a 10-0 lead after

the first. Another field goal and touchdown put them up 20-0 at half. Two more touchdowns in the fourth and one more field goal in the third set the final score. Skyhawk QB Jase Bauer went 15 for 16 with 164 yards and a touchdown to WR Dazalin Worsham, plus 31 yards and a touchdown on the ground from six rushes. RB John

Gentry led the team in rushing with 18 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown. For the Runnin’ Bulldogs, QB Cole Pennington went 18 for 33 with 236 yards and three interceptions. Gresock had 21 yards on 7 carries and the team’s lone touchdown. UTM had 408 total yards while GWEB had 319.

Thomas Corhern / TTU Media Relations

Tennessee Tech (7-0) beats Lindenwood (3-4) 52-28

The Golden Eagles stay undefeated after a dominant second half performance in a game plagued by heavy rain and two weather delays. TN Tech has now won 12 in a row, the longest in the FCS. The game started off competitive, with Lindenwood getting on the board first in the first quarter, when QB Nate Glantz found WR Jared Rhodes on a screen pass with a line of blockers in front of him, letting him run it in 35 yards for the

touchdown. The Golden Eagles answered back with a field goal and a 11-yard run from QB Kekoa Visperas, who lowered his shoulder to muscle his way into the endzone. The Lions fired back with a 11-play, 90 yard drive capped off with Glantz hitting Darrin Fugitt for a 17-yard touchdown pass. Golden Eagle RB Q’Daryius Jennings ran in a 14-yard touchdown to put TN Tech up 17-14 going into the half. From there, they never looked

back, scoring 14 points in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth. Visperas went 16 for 22 with 173 passing yards and three touchdowns. Glantz went 19 for 38 with 294 yards and all four of the teams touchdowns. The Lions only had 17 rushing yards. TN Tech had 484 total yards to Lindenwood’s 311.

Michael Causey / CSU Sports

Charleston Southern (2-6) beats Western Illinois (1-7) 29-24

The Buccaneers overcame the Leathernecks in a close matchup Saturday. WIU has now lost five in a row. CHSO QB Zolten Osborne went 14 for 26 with 262 yards and four touchdowns in the win. He found WR Jamil Bishop in the endzone twice, once for 42 yards in the third quarter to give them the lead, and again in the fourth for 30-yards to secure the win. Bishop had 3 catches for 80 yards. WR Rashawn Cunningham had

four catches for 95 yards and 2 more touchdowns. Leatherneck QB Carson Carswell went 34 for 51 with 375 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. RB Markell Holman had 18 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown, plus 10 catches for 84 yards. WIU had 463 total yards while CHSO had 339.

Tennessee State Athletics

Tennessee State (2-5) beats Howard (3-4) 24-7

The Tigers cruised past their non-conference opponent, giving them their first win since week 1. TSU scored on their opening drive when QB Byron McNair found WR Snap Reed for a 10-yard touchdown. The Bison tied it up in the second quarter, when RB Anthony Reagan Jr. ran in a two-yard touchdown. DB Micah Gay snagged a pick to set up a touchdown pass to Connor Ruth, putting the tigers up 14-7 to end the half. McNair found WR Devaughn Slaughter in the third quarter for his third touchdown pass. He went 18 for 22 with 174 yards, plus a game-high 47 rushing yards on eight carries. Howard QB Tyriq Starks went 14 for 27 with 116 yards and two interceptions. The Tigers had 262 total yards while the Bison had 183.