Week 6 in the Big South-OVC

Thomas Corhern, TTU Media Relations

Tennessee Tech (5-0) beats Western Illinois (1-5) 66-20

The Golden Eagles continued their campaign of dominance over the weekend, cruising past Western Illinois. TN Tech settled for a field goal on their opening drive, the first time this season they’ve failed to score a touchdown, and only the third time in school history they opened the game with a field goal. From there, the Golden Eagles took off, scoring on six of their next eight possessions, complemented by a 16-yard pick-six by DB Andrew Smith. QB Kekoa Visperas went 24 for 38 with 358 yards and four TDs, three of which went to WR Noah Robinson, who had 7 catches for 126 yards. Backup QB Jace Wilson found Luke Shields for a 94-yard TD in both players’ only touches of the game. For the Leathernecks, QB Carson Carswell went 34 for 48 with 343 yards, two TDs and an interception. They were held to 32 rushing yards, totaling 375 total yards to the Golden Eagles 618. WIU was two for 15 on third down, while TN Tech was eight for 13.

Gardner-Webb Athletics

Gardner-Webb (3-2) beats Charleston Southern (1-5) 30-27

The Runnin’ Bulldogs are back in the win column after a close battle with Charleston Southern, keeping the BBQ Bowl trophy in North Carolina. Gardner-Webb led by three entering the fourth quarter, and a 22-yard run by RB Carson Gresock put them up 17-7. Charleston Southern answered back with an eight-play, 70 yard drive

ending with RB Isaiah Gordon punching it in for the Buccaneers. GWEB QB Nate Hampton quickly found WR Caleb Borders to give them back the lead. The shootout continued on the very next play from scrimmage, when CHSO RB Ke’Marion Baldwin ran for 89 yards into the endzone, but a missed PAT brought the score to 20-24. GWEB sunk a field goal to extend their lead to seven. The Buccaneers marched down the field again and Baldwin had a 14-yard TD run to tie it up with 1:53 left in the game. The Runnin’ Bulldogs quickly moved downfield and Kicker Charlie Viorel sunk a 48-yard field goal to secure the win. Hampton went 19 for 31 with 247 yards and a TD. Buccaneer QB Zolten Osborne went 13 for 22 with 216 yards. Baldwin had 175 yards on 19 carries with three TDs. CHSO had 434 total yards while GWEB had 490.

Don Adams Jr., Lindenwood Athletics

Lindenwood (3-3) beats UT Martin (1-5) 30-14

The Lions are back to .500 after handling UT Martin with ease. QB Nate Glantz went 12 for 17 with 227 yards and 3 TDs, plus 91 yards on the ground from 11 carries. RB Steve Hall punched in a touchdown to cap off an 11-play, 85-yard drive to put Lindenwood up 30-7. For the Skyhawks, QBs Jase Bauer and Julian Calves combined

for 168 total passing yards. Calves found WR Shawn Hardy II for a TD and Bauer ran the team’s other score in himself. UT Martin had 298 total yards while Lindenwood had 383.

Eastern Illinois (3-2) beats Tennessee State (1-4) 31-7

The Panthers are now 2-0 in the conference for the first time since 2017 after a rout over Tennessee State. The Panther’s first offensive drive lasted 16 plays and went 58 yards, ending with backup QB Cole LaCrue running it in 3 yards to score. He later had another one-yard TD run in the third quarter. Starting QB Connor Wolf went 13 for 20 with 134 yards and two TDs. Tiger QB Byron McNair went 16 for 20 with 205 yards and a 28-yard TD pass to WR Snap Reed. He also threw an interception to EIU S Brandon Worsley for the Panthers’ first pick of the season. TNST finished with 235 total yards while EIU had 339.