Tennessee Tech improved to 10-0 overall and 7-0 in OVC-Big South play with a win at Eastern Illinois; the victory guarantees the Golden Eagles at least a share of the Association Title for the second-straight season. The home team was victorious in the other three games with UT Martin topping Tennessee State, Western Illinois scoring 14 points in the final seven minutes to beat Lindenwood and Gardner-Webb besting Southeast Missouri.
SCORES
#5/5 Tennessee Tech 21, @Eastern Illinois 9
@UT Martin 26, Tennessee State 7
@Western Illinois 24, Lindenwood 21
@Gardner-Webb 27, Southeast Missouri 24
#5/5 TENNESSEE TECH 21, EASTERN ILLINOIS 9 | BOX SCORE
Tennessee Tech improved to 10-0 on the season for the first time in program history with a win at Eastern Illinois on Saturday. The team also locked up at least a share of the OVC-Big South Championship with the win. The Golden Eagles have won 15 straight games, which continues to be the longest active winning streak in the nation and the longest winning streak in program history. The Golden Eagles' defense held EIU to nine points, allowing one touchdown in an effort where they allowed 137 yards rushing and just 189 yards through the air for 326 total yards. EIU didn't score until 5:03, a field goal, and the Panthers didn't put six on the board until 1:16 remained in the fourth quarter. QB Kekoa Visperas did it with his arm and his leg once again, throwing for his 22nd touchdown of the season, a single-season program record, and rushing for 57 yards to lead the team. Theron Gaines not only scored his second touchdown on the scoop and score from a fumbled snap, but also led the team with 11 tackles (6 solo, 5 asts), including 2.0 sacks, 2.0 TFL, and one quarterback hurry. Gaines compiled his second defensive touchdown, a 10-yard fumble return to put the Golden Eagles in front for good, 21-9.
UT MARTIN 26, TENNESSEE STATE 7 | BOX SCORE
Jase Bauer ran for two touchdowns, Chris Franklin had a 51-yard touchdown run and UT Martin cruised past Tennessee State 26-7 on Saturday. UT Martin (5-5, 5-1 OVC-Big South) scored in each quarter before Tennessee State's Taveon Porter's 1-yard touchdown run ended the scoring with 9:59 to play. Thomas Ansely ran 17 times for 118 yards for the Skyhawks. Franklin finished with 111 yards on 18 carries. Bauer completed 8 of 14 passes for 47 yards and added 60 yards rushing on 14 carries. He broke loose for an 18-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter to cap a 94-yard drive. His 1-yard run in the second quarter made it 14-0. Franklin had his long TD run midway through the third quarter and Cade Hechter kicked a 26-yard field goal in the fourth. Jonathan Palmer and Byron McNair combined for 24-of-38 passing for 165 yards for Tennessee State (2-8, 0-6). The Tigers were held to minus-12 yards rushing and finished with 153 yards of offense.
WESTERN ILLINOIS 24, LINDENWOOD 21 | BOX SCORE
Western Illinois kept its momentum rolling on Saturday afternoon at Hanson Field, earning its second straight win with a thrilling 24–21 comeback victory over Lindenwood. The Leathernecks (3–7, 2–4 OVC-Big South) showed grit and composure, rallying from a 14-point deficit to secure back-to-back victories for the first time this season. Freshman quarterback Cason Carswell led the way through the air, throwing for 175 yards and two touchdowns, while Markell Holman powered the ground attack with a dominant 172-yard performance on 25 carries, including a key fourth-quarter touchdown. Lindenwood (4–6, 3–3 OVC-Big South) came out firing early, taking a 14–0 lead after two first-quarter touchdowns. After Lindenwood stretched the lead to 21–7 in the third, Western Illinois began its comeback. With just over a minute remaining, Western Illinois completed the rally when Carswell found Alex Williams for an eight-yard touchdown pass. Holman ran in the two-point conversion to give WIU its first and final lead of the game, 24–21.
GARDNER-WEBB 27, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 24 | BOX SCORE
Senior defensive lineman Robert Holtz tallied a season-high three sacks while the Gardner-Webb (6-4, 4-2) defense recorded a program-record 11 sacks while taking down visiting Southeast Missouri State (3-7, 2-4) by the final of 27-24 on Saturday afternoon at Spangler Stadium. In addition, the 11 sacks are the most by a FCS team this season. Redshirt junior quarterback Cole Pennington went 15-of-32 for 279 yards and a score while also using his legs to score a touchdown. Redshirt sophomore Chris Lofton was on the receiving end of six catches and 125 yards while graduate back Quasean Holmes racked up 70 yards on 20 carries. Defensively, nine different players recorded at least half a sack with sophomore linebacker Cahari Haynes leading the way with seven total tackles and one sack.