Tennessee State got off to a strong start, scoring on its first drive and taking a 10-7 lead in the latter portion of the first quarter. That time showing away was short-lived as Lindenwood would run off 28 unanswered points over the course of the second and third quarters, turning a 10-7 deficit into a 35-10 advantage.
The Tigers scored on their second play of the day when Byron McNair found DeVaughn Slaughter on an electrifying 70-yard touchdown pass that put TSU up 7-0 just 53 seconds into the contest.
Lindenwood responded with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended on Steve Hall’s 1-yard run, tying the game at 7 with 9:57 remaining in the opening period. A Freddy Perez 30-yard field goal on Tennessee State’s next offensive possession put them back in front 10-7 at the 4:53 mark of the quarter.
Lindenwood took its first lead of the afternoon when Nate Glantz scampered in from 3 yards, putting the Lions up 14-10 with 11:37 remaining in the second quarter. Later in the quarter, Jared Rhodes’ 32-yard scoring scamper pushed the Lions’ lead to 21-10. After a TSU drive that netted just 2 yards in 3 plays, the Lindenwood office took over and went right back to work needing just five plays before Hall scored his second touchdown of the day on a 9-yard run to extend the lead to 28 to 10 with 1:44 left in the half.
The Lions’ next score was gift-wrapped from the Tennessee State offense after McNair fumbled on their own 14-yard line which LU’s Eddie Becu recovered. Plays later Rhodes scored his second touchdown of the day on a 1-yard plunge that made the score 35 to 10 at the 10:06 mark of the third quarter.
Tennessee State tacked on a Perez 45-yard field goal to bring the contest to its final count of 35-13.
TSU finished the afternoon with just 168 yards of total offense (132 passing, 36 rushing) and 10 first downs on the day. Lindenwood was far more productive, totaling 371 yards of offense (222 rushing, 149 passing) and 22 first downs.
Tennessee State quarterback Byron McNair finished 11-22 for 132 yards and a touchdown. DeVaughn Slaughter hauled in a pair of passes for 76 yards and a score, while Zack Simmons-Brown led all Tigers ball carriers with 53 yards on 13 carries.
Up next for Tennessee State, (2-7, 0-5) is a road meeting Saturday with UT Martin. Last season the Skyhawks beat the Tigers 28-21 in an exciting matchup
