The Lindenwood football team (4-4, 3-1 OVC) picked up a 27-0 shutout win over Tennessee State (2-6, 0-4 OVC) on Saturday afternoon from Steward Field at Hunter Stadium.
GAME OVERVIEW
It was a defensive battle early as both teams combined for just seven first downs across the opening 15 minutes of play, and the game was scoreless after one.
Lindenwood struck first to begin the second when
Pops Battle connected with
Drew Krobath over the middle from 27-yards out, giving the Lions a 7-0 lead. On its next offensive possession, the Black and Gold took advantage of good field position but had to settle for a field goal from
Will Graham, extending the lead to 10-0. Lindenwood kept up its stout play defensively, forcing a pair of turnovers.
DeVonta Owens picked off a pass and a few minutes later,
Mason Burke forced a fumble on a sack. However, both turnovers did not result in points, and the Lions took a 10-0 lead into halftime.
The Lions opened the third quarter with a stop and were set up in TSU territory after a good return by
Christopher Bennett Jr. However, the Lions had to settle for three and took a 13-0 lead after another field goal from Graham. On the ensuing possession, an interception by
Zech Pratt gave Lindenwood good field position. It took the offense two plays to find the end zone with Battle finding
Jalen Smith over the middle for a 29-yard strike, growing the lead to 20-0 which would be the score after three.
In the fourth, Lindenwood put together a 13-play 98-yard drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock, capped off by a
Jared Rhodes score, making it 27-0. The defense kept their dominant day going, closing out the game with a sack by
Andrew Baumgart, his third of the day.
It was Lindenwood's first shutout since 2024 and the first time winning three games in a row since the 2022 season.
GAME LEADERS
Andrew Baumgart (six tackles, three sacks, 3.5 TFL)
Pops Battle (24-of-32, two touchdowns, 336 total yards)
Jalen Smith (five catches, 69 yards, one touchdown)
UP NEXT
The Lions hit the road to take on Gardner-Webb next Saturday, November 7 in Boiling Springs, N.C. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. CT.
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