WEEK 4 SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, SEPT. 21 TIME WATCH SERIES
St. Thomas at LINDENWOOD ………………………………………………………………………………… 1:00pm CT ESPN+ 1st meeting
TENNESSEE STATE at TENNESSEE TECH * …………………………………………….. 1:30pm CT ESPN+ TSU leads series, 22-15
Missouri State at UT MARTIN …………………………………………………………………………….. 6:00pm CT ESPN+ MSU leads series, 7-2
21/21 SOUTHEAST MISSOURI at #7/7 Southern Illinois …… 6:00pm CT ESPN+ SEMO leads series, 43-40-8
EASTERN ILLINOIS at #15/17 Illinois State …………………………………………… 6:00pm CT ESPN+ ISU leads series, 59-43-9
GARDNER-WEBB at Presbyterian ………………………………………………………………….. 7:00pm ET ESPN+ GWU leads series, 23-20
All Times subject to change
2-MINUTE OFFENS
OPENING KICKOFF: The second all-time meeting between a ranked Big South-OVC member and a ranked non-conference FCS squad is this Saturday, as No. 21/21 Southeast Missouri visits No. 7/7 Southern Illinois. The teams also squared off last year as nationally-ranked foes, which was won by the #15/18 Salukis, 26-25, over the #13/15 Redhawks.
1st DOWN: Three Big South-OVC Football members have thrown only one interception thus far in the 2024 season — Southeast Missouri, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech. SEMO has thrown its INT in 140 attempts, while TSU’s pick has come in 92 passing attempts. TTU’s single interception is among its 53 attempts. Tech leads the Association in completion percentage at 64.15, just ahead of its opponent this week — Tennessee State (64.13).
2nd DOWN: Tennessee State is ranked No. 3 in the HBCU Coaches Poll (one first-place vote), and No. 5 in the HBCU Media Poll. The Tigers are averaging 41.0 points in their two wins this season, and are looking to snap a three-game losing skid in Association games this Saturday.
3rd DOWN: Western Illinois QB NATHAN LAMB tied the Big South-OVC Association single-game record for rushing TDs by a quarterback with three this past week at Illinois State. He shares the mark with EIU’s PIERCE HOLLEY, who had three rush TDs last season against Bryant.
4th DOWN: UT Martin has scored 40 points in each of its last two contests, and four times in its last six games dating back to last season. UTM last scored 40 points in three consecutive games in 2022 (56-45-45).
SLANT ROUTES
- CHARLESTON SOUTHERN: The Buccaneers are idle this week, and return to action Sept. 28 in their Association opener at Tennessee State … CSU’s second home game of the year is Oct. 5.
- EASTERN ILLINOIS: The Panthers are facing Illinois State for the 112th time on Saturday, and defeated the Redbirds last year, 14-13, when ISU was ranked No. 25.
- GARDNER-WEBB: The Runnin’ Bulldogs are looking to avoid starting 0-4 for the first time since 2017 (0-4) … GWU won the last meeting with Presbyterian during the 2021 Spring season (W, 31-24 in 2OT).
- LINDENWOOD: The Lions are looking to avoid starting 0-4 for the first time since 2002 (0-5) … Lindenwood is facing its third first-time opponent in four weeks this Saturday.
- SOUTHEAST MISSOURI: The Redhawks dropped last year’s “War For The Wheel” game against SIU by one point (L, 26-25) … Saturday’s contest is the 92nd meeting between the squads, and SEMO’s last win in the series was 2022 (W, 34-31 in Carbondale).
- TENNESSEE STATE: The Tigers have started 2-1 for the second-straight year, and last opened a season 3-1 in 2017 … TSU is seeking its third consecutive 1-0 conference start, and its first win over TTU since 2022 (W, 30-14).
- TENNESSEE TECH: The Golden Eagles are looking to avoid starting 0-3 for the second consecutive year … Tennessee Tech won last year’s meeting with TSU, 35-0, in the regular-season finale.
- UT MARTIN: The Skyhawks won last year’s meeting with Missouri State, 38-31, and have won two of the last three match-ups … UTM is looking to avoid a 1-3 start to the season for the first time since 2018.
- WESTERN ILLINOIS: Western Illinois is idle this week, and returns to action next Saturday in its home opener against McKendree, which will also mark the Leathernecks’ final non-conference game of the year.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK – SEPT. 16
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Draylen Ellis, Tennessee State, QB • 6-1, 175, Gr. • Olive Branch, Miss.
Ellis was named the MVP of the Southern Heritage Classic after leading Tennessee State to a 41-28 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. The graduate completed 20-of-33 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns without an interception and also rushed for 25 yards. Ellis had touchdown passes of 22, 12 and 4 all in the second quarter as the Tigers built a 31-14 halftime advantage. Nationally Ellis ranks ninth in passing touchdowns (6), 11th in passing yards (712), 15th in total offense (257.0 yards/game), 17th in passing efficiency (149.0) and 22nd in points responsible for per game (12.0).
Nathan Lamb, Western Illinois, QB • 6-3, 230, Sr. • Tulare, Calif.
Lamb accounted for 328 yards of total offense and four touchdown passes in Western Illinois’ game at nationally-ranked Illinois State. The senior completed 24-of-34 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown and carried the ball 15 times for 59 yards and three additional scores (the first Leatherneck player with three rushing touchdowns since 2015).
Others Nominated: Tyler Riddell (Gardner-Webb), Jeff Caldwell (Lindenwood), Patrick Smith (UT Martin)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Vincent King, Lindenwood, LB • 6-0, 231, Sr. • Denver, Colo.
King had a career-high 17 tackles (11 solo), including 2.0 tackles for loss, in Lindenwood’s game at Missouri State. The 17 tackles are the second-most by a FCS player this season and the most by a Big South-OVC Football Association player.
Others Nominated: Nicholas Oliveira-Chace (Eastern Illinois), Trevor Moffi tt (Gardner-Webb), Keandre Booker
(Tennessee State), Tevin Shipp (UT Martin), Mike Newman (Western Illinois)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jaren Van Winkle, UT Martin, K/P • 6-3, 200, R-Jr. • Clay, Ala.
Van Winkle scored 11 points kicking and averaged 39.5 yards on six punts as UT Martin knocked off North Alabama 43-28 in the Skyhawks’ home opener. The junior made 2-of-2 field goals (38 and 46 yards) and 5-of5 PATs. His 46-yarder in the second quarter was a career-long. Of his six punts, three of them were downed inside the UNA 20-yard line and he had a long punt of 54 yards. Van Winkle ranks 13th nationally in field goals per game (1.33).
Others Nominated: Gilbert Brown (Charleston Southern), Jacob Horvath (Eastern Illinois), Jay Billingsley (Gardner-Webb), James Lowery (Tennessee State), Jared Campbell (Western Illinois)
CO-FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Steve Hall, Lindenwood, RB • 5-9, 195, R-Fr. • St. Louis, Mo.
Hall carried the ball 13 times for a career-high 100 yards in Lindenwood’s game at Missouri State. The redshirt freshman averaged 7.7 yards per carry and had a long run of 32 yards on the Lions’ first offensive play of the game. Hall also caught a pair of passes.
Sanders Ellis, Tennessee State, LB • 6-2, 225, Fr. • Nashville, Tenn.
Ellis tallied five tackles (3 solo), including 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, as Tennessee State topped Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis. The linebacker helped rack up minus-21 yards with his sacks on the evening. He now ranks 28th nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.3). Others Nominated: Jordan Anderson (Western Illinois)
