The Lindenwood football team (5-7, 4-4 BS/OVC) suffered a tough overtime loss at No. 24 UT Martin 33-26 on Saturday in Martin, Tenn. in what was the final game of the 2024 season for the Lions.

GAME OVERVIEW
After getting an opening stop, Lindenwood wasted no time finding the end zone. A 40yard connection between Nate Glantz and Darrin Fugitt set up a pop pass from Glantz to Jeff Caldwell from 21-yards out, putting the Lions up 6-0 less than five minutes into the game. On the first play of the next drive for the Skyhawks, Jayden Patrick picked off a pass giving Lindenwood the ball back quickly. The defense kept up the strong play in the frame as Tajay Passmore forced a fumble for the second turnover of the quarter. Lindenwood held UT Martin to just 27 yards in the first and led 6-0 after 15 minutes.

The Lions extended their lead to 13-0 three minutes into the second quarter when Glantz capped off a 13-play 90-yard drive with a two-yard rush. The Skyhawks got on the board just before the half to cut the deficit to 13-7. Lindenwood moved the ball before halftime but was unable to score and took a six-point lead into the break.

Lindenwood added to its lead coming out of halftime when Logan Seibert nailed a 50-yard field goal, putting the Lions up 16-7. The Skyhawks answered with a touchdown on its first possession of the third quarter, moving within three. Mason Burke got a hand on the PAT attempt, which was scooped up by Tre Bell and returned to the endzone for two points, making the score 18-13. Martin took its first lead of the day with a touchdown late in the third, going up 20-18.

In the fourth, UT Martin extended its lead to 26-18 less than five minutes into the frame. Each team traded stops as the clock continued to wind down. With the Lions down eight and four minutes to go, the Black and Gold had the ball at their own seven. A bug completion to Caldwell on fourth down kept the drive alive. Eight plays later, Jared Rhodes found the end zone from 13-yards out, making the score 26-24 with 32 seconds to go. Lindenwood converted the two-point try, finding Caldwell once again, tying the score late.

Martin had a chance to win the game with a last second field goal, but it hit the right upright and we headed to overtime.

The Skyhawks scored on the first possession of the extra period and stopped the Lions to earn the 33-26 win.

GAME LEADERS
Jeff Caldwell (eight catches, 99 yards, one touchdown)
Jayden Patrick (five tackles, one interception, two pass break ups)
Drew Krobath (three catches, 58 yards)

QUOTABLE 
"I couldn't be more proud of our guys and the fight they had today,"  said head coach Jed Stugart. "They battled through adversity and never quit.  I'm sure we'll look back at missed opportunities as coaches always do, but right now we asked them all week to give their best effort and leave it all on the field and that's exactly what they did."