LIVE STATS | VIDEO | AUDIO | GAME NOTES
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Tennessee Tech entered its open date last week with some momentum after the Golden Eagles picked up a victory over Kennesaw State. Now, with Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association play opening on their schedule this week at Lindenwood, Tech (1-3) looks to start the important part of the slate on a high note.
Kickoff for the game Saturday is 1 p.m. Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano will have the call on 98.5 KISS FM, while the game will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).
The series is still a new one for the Golden Eagles and their 102 seasons of play, facing Lindenwood for the first time last season. Tech narrowly edged the Lions 35-34 in Cookeville last season as Josh Reliford broke up a potential go-ahead two-point conversion with just 14 seconds remaining in the contest, then the Golden Eagles spoiled Lindenwood's onside kick try to go into victory formation.
This time around, there are a lot of missing faces from both sides as Tech lost David Gist, Jeremiah Oatsvall, Seth Carlisle and Reliford – who all had big games in the last meeting – while Lindenwood no longer has the services of Cade Brister, Kobe Smith, Peyton Rose or Chase Giorgi.
This time, it's an opportunity for new players to get some time in the spotlight as both teams are looking to claw their way up in the combined league's standings. The Lions have already seen one game in Big South-OVC play with a 45-7 loss to Southeast Missouri on Sept. 9, sandwiched with their two wins on the season with a 77-9 victory over lower-division foe Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a preview win over Western Illinois, a 43-40 triumph before the Leathernecks join the OVC ranks in football next season.
Since then, Lindenwood (2-3) has dropped a 48-17 decision at Illinois State, then was routed at home last week against Austin Peay with the Governors putting on a 52-10 showing at Hunter Stadium.
With Brister gone, Lindenwood has still had an arm behind center as quarterback Cole Dugger has 1,027 yards and 10 touchdowns through the Lions' first five games, averaging 204.2 yards per game. He can also run, collecting 125 yards on the ground on 28 carries. However, he has been intercepted seven times – the most by any quarterback in the Big South/OVC.
Both Tech and Lindenwood come into the game tied for ninth in the league in turnover margin with a minus-7 mark. The Golden Eagles have eight interceptions, the Lions seven, while Tech has lost six fumbles to Lindenwood's three. Conversely, Tech has forced seven turnovers, while Lindenwood has picked off one pass and recovered two fumbles.
Dugger has weapons though as receiver Jeff Caldwell has caught six touchdown passes and averages 84 receiving yards per game with 420 on the year on 20 catches. Eleven different receivers have caught at least one pass this season.
The Lions are led on the ground by Robert Giaimo, who has picked up 440 yards on 81 carries with three of the team's nine rushing scores. Lindenwood averages 202.2 yards per game rushing, but opponents are a shade lower, averaging 165.6 yards with 11 total rushing scores.
The passing game has worked well against Lindenwood as the Lions have allowed an average of 300.4 yards per game through the air with 1,502 total yards and 14 touchdowns on the aerial assault.
For Tech, injuries have created a revolving door at quarterback. Ethan Roberts leads the season tally thus far with 424 passing yards and both receiving touchdowns. Willie Miller got the starting nod in the victory over Kennesaw State, while Hayes Gibson has also seen significant time at the QB slot. Six different Golden Eagles have thrown a pass this season, with the team collecting 736 yards on 71-of-132 passing.
On the ground, Tech has rushed for 500 yards in four games, led by Montana transfer Marcus Knight, who has 170 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries – an average of 4.5 yards per tote. Justin Pegues (143 yds., 4.9 per carry) and Jayvian Allen (121 yds., 4.3 per carry) are also among Tech's leaders there.
Brad Clark leads the Golden Eagles in receiving with 258 yards, an average of 64.5 per game.
As a team, Tech is averaging 125.0 yards on the ground and 184.0 through the air. The Golden Eagle defense is patrolling the airspace well, holding opponents to a league-best 159.5 passing yard average. Tech is allowing an average of 191.0 rushing yards, but those numbers are skewed by 194 rushing yards by Furman and 296 by Football Bowl Subdivision foe New Mexico. The Golden Eagles held North Alabama under average with 178, then kept Kennesaw State to 96 yards – the fewest in program history.
Aaron Swafford continues to be in the top five in the league in tackles with 30, while Jacquez McGowan (26), Tim Coutras (24), Jackson Price (19), Daniel Rickert (18) and Okachi Emmanwori (17) are all in the top 50.
Hayden Olsen kicked a 50-yard field goal against Kennesaw State – the third-longest in his career. He also extended his PAT kicking streak to 71 made against the Owls.
Following Saturday's matinee, the Golden Eagles will remain on the road next week as they travel to South Carolina State for the final non-conference outing of the year. Tech's next home game is October 21 as the Golden Eagles host Southeast Missouri.
Tickets for Tennessee Tech football are on sale – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | David Ogenekaro
