In Saturday's action, Tennessee Tech ran its winning streak to 13 games, Charleston Southern blocked a field goal with 10 seconds remaining to top Eastern Illinois by a point, Western Illinois kicked a 51-yard field goal to edge Tennessee State and Gardner-Webb racked up 509 yards of total offense in a win at Lindenwood.
SCORES
@#8/9 Tennessee Tech 42, Southeast Missouri 23
@Charleston Southern 17, Eastern Illinois 16
Gardner-Webb 48, @Lindenwood 20
Western Illinois 17, @Tennessee State 16
#8/9 TENNESSEE TECH 42, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 23 | BOX SCORE
The No. 8 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles continue a historic run to 8-0 and 5-0 in conference with a 42-23 victory over Southeast Missouri Saturday at Tucker Stadium. It is the second time in OVC-Big South Association history that a football team has begun conference play 5-0. Tennessee Tech has won 13 consecutive games, marking the longest active winning streak in FCS, and remains the only undefeated team left in the OVC-Big South Conference. It marks the first time this season that the Golden Eagles were outgained in total offense (401-299) by an opponent. Tech came through with big defensive plays, including an interception by Andrew Smith and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in the end zone by Chima Iwuagwu helped spur 21 fourth-quarter points to pull away. The Golden Eagles played solid defense once again, holding SEMO to 20 yards rushing with four sacks for a loss of 19 yards alongside 10 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles (1 recovery), and one interception. Kekoa Visperas threw two touchdowns on 12-23 completions for 163 yards in a game that began as a defensive battle through the first half. The Golden Eagles led just 7-0 through one quarter and limited SEMO to only two field goals in the entire half, leading 21-6 at the break.
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 17, EASTERN ILLINOIS 16 | BOX SCORE
Charleston Southern defended their home field on Homecoming against Eastern Illinois on Saturday afternoon. The Bucs used a furious fourth quarter comeback and David Portu blocked a potential game-winning field goal to get the 17-16 victory, marking back-to-back victories for CSU for the first time since 2023. After this, the Buccaneer offense woke up, with Osborne leading the Bucs on an eight play, 80-yard drive that was capped off with a passing touchdown to Rashawn Cunningham from five yards out for their first time in the endzone of the day. The Panthers offense then went three-and-out for just the second time of the day, setting up the chance for another Buccaneer scoring drive. Osborne found Hakeem Watters for a big 43-yard gain in the middle of the field that put them into the redzone. Watters punched it in from a yard out to tie the game at 16-16 and following the made PAT, CSU got their first lead of the day at 17-16. Osborne finished the day going 26-38 through the air for 280 passing yards along with one touchdown.
GARDNER-WEBB 48, LINDENWOOD 20 | BOX SCORE
Redshirt junior Carson Gresock rushed for four touchdowns and graduate Quasean Holmes added a 67-yard score as the Gardner-Webb (5-3, 3-1) football team dominated Lindenwood (3-5, 2-2) 48-20 on Saturday afternoon. Gresock found the endzone twice in the first quarter after runs of three and 20 yards while setting the tone for a Runnin' Bulldogs offense that racked up more than 500 yards of total offense. He added short touchdown runs in the second and third quarters, finishing with 119 yards on 21 carries. In his second start of the season, redshirt junior Cole Pennington put together a stellar performance, completing 18 of 21 passes for 252 yards and a score. Redshirt sophomore Chris Lofton was on the receiving end of a 38-yard strike from Pennington that gave GWU a 45-20 lead late in the fourth quarter. Lindenwood kept things interesting with two field goals of its own and a late first half touchdown but could not stop Gardner-Webb from scoring at will over the course of four quarters. This marks the second straight week the Lions defense has allowed 48 points or more.
WESTERN ILLINOIS 17, TENNESSEE STATE 16 | BOX SCORE
Antonio Chadha kicked a 51-yard field goal with 47 seconds remaing in the third quarter as Western Illinois edged Tennessee State. The Leathernecks led 14-13 but fell behind 16-14 after a pair of field goals by TSU. Malini Ti'a had a 20-yard interception return for a score in the first quarter to begin the scoring while Demari Davis hauled in a 40-yard score in the second quarter.