The Lindenwood football team (1-2, 1-0 OVC-Big South) completed a 21-point comeback and defeated Charleston Southern (0-3, 0-1 OVC-Big South) by a score of 35-28 on Saturday in Charleston, S.C.

GAME OVERVIEW
Charleston Southern got on the board first going up 7-0 just past the halfway point of the first quarter. The Buccaneers doubled their lead late in the opening frame and led 14-0 after one quarter of play.

CSU added another score to begin the second quarter, extending the lead to 21-0. The Lindenwood defense got its first stop of the day and the offense responded with a 10-play 80-yard drive, which was capped off by a eight-yard touchdown run by Nate Glantz, making the score 21-7 heading into halftime.

Lindenwood's defense continued the momentum into the second half when Sam Owens put an end to a Buccaneer drive with his first career interception. The Lions offense turned it into points, with Glantz using his legs once again from 10-yards out, cutting the deficit to 21-14, which would be the score heading to the fourth.

The Black and Gold opened the fourth quarter with another defensive stop and were set up with good field position after a good return by Christopher Bennett Jr. Lindenwood eventually ted the game after Glantz tallied his third rushing touchdown of the game, knotting the score at 21 apiece with 12:23 left in the final frame.

On the next Charleston Southern drive, the Buccaneers stalled out in the redzone and had to settle for a field goal, but it was pushed wide left, and the score remained tied. The Lions kept the offensive momentum going and would grab the lead on an eight-play 80 yard drive, finished off by a 12-yard strike from Glantz to Rico Bond, putting Lindenwood ahead for the first time in the game, 28-21.

On the ensuing kickoff, Andrew Baumgart recovered a fumble, giving Lindenwood the ball back. The Black and Gold capitalized on the turnover when Jared Rhodes found the end zone from one yard out, giving the Lions a 35-21 lead with just under two minutes to go.

Charleston Southern would add a late touchdown, but it wasn't enough. Lindenwood completed a 21-point comeback and earned its first win of the season, 35-28.

QUOTABLE
"No coach likes to go down that early, but I do believe adversity reveals character.  I'm incredibly proud of our guys fight today." Said head coach Jed Stugart. "It's not easy digging out of a 21-point deficit especially on the road, and they revealed a lot about themselves today.  Now we have to continue to build on it."
 
GAME LEADERS
Nate Glantz (20-34, 246 yards, one passing touchdown, three rushing touchdowns)
Jalen Smith (six catches, 96 yards)
Jacob Waller (17 tackles, one TFL)

UP NEXT
The Lions will return home for their home opener next Saturday, September 20 in a matchup with Stony Brook. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.