LINDENWOOD GAME NOTES | TENNESSEE TECH GAME NOTES
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Homecoming is a deep-rooted college football tradition as alumni come back to campus at an idyllic time of year, celebrating their years past and the future ahead.
As the Tennessee Tech football team celebrates its centennial this season, the 91st Homecoming game for the Golden Eagles is a fitting one as the program is doing just that, honoring its history and making strides toward the future.
For the 91st Homecoming game, Tech will be bringing in Ohio Valley Conference newcomer Lindenwood in its first season on the Division I level. The Lions have had a pretty good showing so far, posting a 6-2 record, despite a 1-2 mark in the OVC. That 1-2 mark is a little bit of a misnomer as they do have an additional double-overtime victory over Eastern Illinois – one that was pre-determined to be a non-conference matchup before the season started to fill out their schedule.
Kickoff for Saturday's contest is slated for 1:30 p.m. Roger Ealey and a collection of some of the "Golden Voices of Tech Football" over the years will broadcast the game on 98.5 KISS FM, while Dylan Vazzano and Mike Lehman will have the call on ESPN+ (subscription required).
History has gone well for the Golden Eagles on Homecoming, posting a 49-40-1 record on the annual event and winning six of the last seven. There have been Homecoming football games almost every year since 1930 at Tech with 1944 and 2020 being the lone misses since then.
Tech enters the contest with a 2-6 mark, 1-3 in the OVC after the Golden Eagles broke a five-game losing streak at Eastern Illinois, shutting down the Panthers in the second half and scoring 17 unanswered points en route to a 20-17 victory in Charleston. Tech held EIU to 42 rushing and 55 passing yards in the second half with two drives ending in fumbles, two on downs and a punt.
Lindenwood, meanwhile, has a four-game winning streak following its two OVC losses, dropping Central Arkansas, Eastern Illinois, Murray State and William Jewell in succession.
Just like the Golden Eagles, Lindenwood's two OVC losses this season have come to the hands of UT Martin and Southeast Missouri. Their lone conference win thus far was against then-winless Murray State (who picked up its first win of the season last week against Tennessee State). Tech will not see the Racers this season. Tech, however, had a tough outing against the Tigers, a team Lindenwood will not face, as both the Golden Eagles and the Lions complete their OVC slates this weekend.
But with Lindenwood's schedule, as the team is still transitioning into Division I, there are still three non-Division I opponents on their schedule as the Lions took on NAIA Keiser (W, 37-3) and Division II William Jewell (W, 64-23) and will take on Division II McKendree next week in their season finale.
That said, Lindenwood's offense is still putting together incredible numbers. While they are still reclassifying into the FCS, their numbers aren't ranked on the NCAA charts, but if they were, they'd be among some of the nation's leaders. The Lions are averaging 37.3 points per game (which would be between UT Martin with 37.6 and Davidson with 36.1 at 11th and 12th), 336.3 passing yards a game (between Incarnate Word with 380.8 and Cal Poly with 320.0 at second and third) and 506.4 yards of total offense a game (between Incarnate Word with 566.7 and Western Carolina with 504.1 at second and third).
The Lions have 17 Division I transfers on their roster.
Lindenwood quarterback Cade Brister leads the conference in passing, throwing for 2,493 yards and 19 touchdowns, and also ranks ninth in the OVC in rushing with 422 yards and eight more touchdowns. Payton Rose, who holds the program's career-best marks in receptions (178), receiving (3,133) and receiving touchdowns (33), leads the conference in receiving yardage, while leading the conference with teammate Kobe Smith and SEMO receiver Ryan Flournoy for touchdown catches with seven each.
Brister, in his fourth campaign under center, has thrown for 10,277 yards in his career with 89 touchdown passes.
Lindenwood leads the OVC in total offense and passing offense, while ranking third in rushing offense. Tech is fourth in total offense (372.0), fifth in rushing (147.9) and fourth in passing (224.1).
Defensively, Lindenwood ranks sixth in total defense (460.5), seventh in rushing defense (221.4) and third in pass defense (239.1). Tech is fifth in total defense (437.0), fifth in rushing defense (202.8) and second in pass defense (234.2).
Jeremiah Oatsvall has 1,705 yards passing for the Golden Eagles with 16 touchdown passes, while also rushing for 297 yards and another score. David Gist is Tech's leading rusher with 457 yards and three touchdowns, while Willie Miller is the Golden Eagles' top receiver with 255 yards on 21 catches. Miller, Brad Clark, Gist and Heath Price each have a team-best three receiving scores.
Kicker Hayden Olsen tied Zach Sharp for the second-longest consecutive PAT streak last week as he hit his 59th straight extra point and trails Tech record-holder Nick Madonia by seven. Olsen is 59-for-59 in his Tech career.
Defensively, Seth Carlisle leads the way with 71 stops with three for-loss, while also breaking three passes and hurrying the quarterback once. Josh Reliford has 56 tackles with 5.5 for-loss for 25 yards, including a 14-yard sack. He also has a forced fumble.
The Homecoming festivities start with the Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday night in the Roaden University Center, then continue Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. as the Homecoming Parade goes down Dixie Avenue.
Tickets for the game are on sale. Call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or visit TTUsports.com.
Photo | Emily Armstrong
