This weekend, the Tigers of Tennessee State University head to St. Charles, Missouri to take on Lindenwood. Last season In the first-ever meeting between the two teams, Tennessee State claimed a comfortable 43-20 victory.
Tennessee State
Tennessee State (3-2, 1-1), is coming off a gutsy, come from behind win over Charleston Southern 13-9. Despite only possessing the football for just 18:39, when it was needed the most, the TSU offense buckled down and was able to craft the go-ahead possession, via an 11-play, 92-yard drive that ended when Jordan Gant scampered in from 19 yards to put the Tigers up 13-9 with just 46 seconds remaining in the contest. Time was not on the Buccaneers’ side, as it ran out on their potential game-winning drive. The Tennessee State defense was on the field for 70 offensive plays and 41:39 but only surrendered just three field goals and held them to just 2-for-13 on third down conversions. Sanders Ellis and Ahmad Nelson led the TSU defense with 11 total tackles each.
Lindenwood
Lindenwood (2-3, 1-0) is coming off a hard-fought 28-25 win over Eastern Illinois. LU did not claim the lead until Jeff Caldwell hauled in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Nate Glantz that pulled Lindenwood ahead 21-17 with 9:15 left in the contest. Glantz and Caldwell connected on a 74-yard strike that pushed their lead to 28-17. Eastern responded with a 25-yard pass from quarterback Eli Mirza to Pierce Holley that drew the Panthers to within three at 28-25. A potential EIU game-tying field goal with 0:13 left in the game sailed wide right, securing the Lindenwood victory.
Prediction
The Tennessee State defense will have to demonstrate gap integrity and execute their assignments, particularly in defending the run. Led by senior running back, The Lions feature the second most prolific rushing attack in the Big South-OVC, averaging 145.0 yards per game. The Murray State transfer has picked it up, with back-to-back 100+ yard performances in his last two games- 152 against St. Thomas and 104 against Eastern Illinois.
That’s not to imply the Lions’ offense is a one-trick pony, Lindenwood averages 211.4 yards through the air per game, which is the fifth most in the Big South-OVC. A major component of that pass attack is wide receiver Jeff Caldwell. The junior wideout leads the conference with 508 yards and 7 touchdowns. He has topped 100 yards in three of the team’s five games on the season, with one of the non-100-yard performances being a 6-reception, 99-yard performer against Central Arkansas on September 7.
The Tennessee State defense has not allowed a touchdown in seven quarters and they will be tested against the the big play threat of Caldwell and the Lindenwood passing game. Although Lindenwood Wood will break that streak, the Tigers’ defense will be stout enough to hold the Lions’ offense in check.
Tennessee State’s offense will need to help their defense by keeping them off the field. The TSU defense was on the field for 70 snaps last week against Charleston Southern and to greatly reduce that workload, the offense will have possessed the ball for far more than the 18:39 of a week ago. That will be achieved with a steady and healthy diet for their run game. Tennessee State features four running backs that average 3.6 yards per carry or better.
Using last week’s game as a springboard, Tennessee State will come out focused and avoid the slow starts that have plagued them in 4 of their last 5 conference game. Getting ahead early will allow the Tigers to utilize their run attack to wear down the Lindenwood defense but keep their defense off the field. Draylen Ellis will largely mistake free football and Tennessee State will win their second consecutive conference game.
Final Score Tennessee State: 28 Lindenwood: 16
