The Lindenwood football team (4-5, 3-2 BS/OVC) picked up a big 49-38 win over Western Illinois (3-5, 2-2 BS.OVC) on Homecoming. Steve Hall rushed for 259 yards and four touchdowns and was 13 yards shy of breaking the single-game rushing record.
GAME OVERVIEW
Lindenwood used the ground game to get on the board first as Steve Hall found the endzone from nine yards out to give Lindenwood an early 7-0 lead with 11:05 remaining in the quarter. WIU responded quickly, tying the game at 7-7 with just under 9 minutes to go in the opening quarter. The back-and-forth start continued with Lindenwood answering back on a 12-play 75-yard drive which was capped off by a 12-yard strike from Nate Glantz to John Anthony, putting the Black and Gold up 14-7 near the end of the first frame, and that would be the score after one.
Western capped off a drive to start the second quarter, tying the score 14-14 less than two minutes into the middle frame. After back-to-back punts, Lindenwood took the lead once again, with Glantz using his legs from 30 yards out to put Lindenwood up 21-14 with 1:02 to go in the half. The Leathernecks were able to drill a field goal to close out the half, making the score 21-17 at the break.
The Leathernecks opened the third quarter with a near six-minute drive to regain the lead once again, going up 24-21. It took the Lions just 13 seconds to respond as Hall broke off a 75-yard run on the first play of the drive as the score moved to 28-24. The seesaw battle continued with WIU responding once again by regaining the lead 31-24 with 3:44 remaining in the quarter. On the ensuing offensive drive Lindenwood converted a big third down with a 57-yard completion to Abe Haerr. Hall would find the endzone for the third time on the next play, putting the Lions up 35-31, an advantage they’d take to the fourth.
In the fourth, Western struck first, regaining a 38-35 lead with just under 13 minutes to play. The lead didn’t last long as Glantz continued to find his tight ends, this time it was Darrin Fuggit who caught the ball over the middle and got into the end zone. Putting Lindenwood up 42-38 with 9:43 to go.
In this back-and forth game, the defense finally made a stop. With Western driving, Taylen Blaylock forced and recovered a fumble at the Lindenwood 16-yard line to give the Lions the ball back with just over seven minutes to play. The Lions had to punt on the next drive, but the defense came up big once again late as Kobe McClendon forced a fumble that was recovered by Eric Gant. Hall was not done with his big day, however. On the first play, Hall rushed 93 yards to the end zone, capping a 49-38 victory. It tied the longest offensive play in program history.
Earl Austin Jr. on X (formerly Twitter): “An incredible 93-yard TD run by Steve Hall to give @LindenwoodFB a 49-38 lead with 1:31 left. Hall has 259 yards on just 13 carries and four TDs. Great call by @RammerSTL on ESPN+ #stlballers @MICDSAthletics pic.twitter.com/3ah5qH0kgb / X”
An incredible 93-yard TD run by Steve Hall to give @LindenwoodFB a 49-38 lead with 1:31 left. Hall has 259 yards on just 13 carries and four TDs. Great call by @RammerSTL on ESPN+ #stlballers @MICDSAthletics pic.twitter.com/3ah5qH0kgb
GAME LEADERS
Steve Hall (13 carries, 259 yards, four touchdowns)
Nate Glantz (11-of-16, 183 yards, two passing touchdowns, nine carries 47 yards one touchdown)
Vincent King (11 tackles, one quarterback hurry)
QUOTABLE
“In a 12-game season, we are blessed to have three guys in a rotation,” said head coach Jed Stugart. “In my career we have never had a featured back. Steve Hall had a heck of a game averaging almost 20 yards a carry.”
UP NEXT
The Lions will head to Cookeville, Tenn. for a matchup with Tennessee Tech next Saturday, November 2nd. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
