The Lindenwood football team (1-3, 1-0 OVC) fell to FBS Eastern Michigan (2-3, 1-0 MAC) by a score of 29-3 on Saturday afternoon from Ypsilanti, Mich.
GAME OVERVIEW
After a Lindenwood three and out to begin the game, Eastern Michigan went on a eight-play 64-yard drive to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead with 9:58 to play in the first. EMU added one more score before the end of the quarter and led 13-0 after one.
On the first possession of the second quarter, the Eagles drilled a 51-yard field goal to extend the lead to 16-0. The Lindenwood defense would go on to settle in, limiting EMU to 86 yards in the second quarter, but the offense struggled to get anything going and Lindenwood trailed 19-0 at the break.
Eastern Michigan missed a field goal on its opening possession of the second quarter to remain in front by the same score. The Lions were able to get some offensive momentum going after that as
Hoyt Gregory connected with
Aiden Grote for a big play to get into EMU territory, Gregory used his legs multiple times on the drive, but the Black and Gold had to settle for a 44-yard field goal from
Will Graham to get on the board and cut the deficit to 19-3 with just under seven minutes to play in the third. EMU answered back with a field goal of their own late in the third to regain a 22-3 lead which would be the score after three.
Lindenwood held the ball for the first five minutes of the fourth quarter but were denied on a fourth down in EMU territory and the eagles took over. On the ensuing drive Eastern Michigan found the end zone to go up 29-3 with 5:19 remaining in the fourth. The Lions went on to put one of its best drives of the game together, getting the running game going with Robert Giamio who got Lindenwood inside the redzone. However, the Black and Gold ran out of time and fell by a score of 29-3.
GAME LEADERS
Jared Rhodes (10 carries, 48 yards)
Hoyt Gregory (8-12, 46 yards, 38 rushing yards)
Brayon Crawford (eight tackles)
QUOTABLE
" We've seen and believe this is a team that will fight and scratch to the end, they don't quit," said head coach
Jed Stugart. "But we keep learning the same lessons the last couple games and that is you can't continue to make the same mistakes and commit the same penalties and beat teams like that. So, the opportunity is there and I'm confident they'll make the best of that opportunity."
UP NEXT
Following a bye week, Lindenwood returns home for the fifth-annual Game Ball Brawl against SEMO on Saturday October 10. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. in St. Charles, Mo. Tickets can be purchased at lindenwoodlions.com/tickets.
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