WEEK 10 SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, NOV. 2
TIME WATCH SERIES
GARDNER-WEBB at CHARLESTON SOUTHERN *
2:00pm ET ESPN+
GWU leads series, 12-9
LINDENWOOD at TENNESSEE TECH *
1:30pm CT ESPN+
Series tied, 1-1
WESTERN ILLINOIS at EASTERN ILLINOIS *
2:00pm CT ESPN+
WIU leads series, 42-24-4 UT
MARTIN at #25 TENNESSEE STATE *
5:00pm CT ESPN+
TSU leads series, 18-15
2-MINUTE OFFENSE
OPENING KICKOFF: Western Illinois QB NATHAN LAMB set Big South-OVC Association records this past week with 564 passing yards and 604 yards of offense at Lindenwood — the second-highest single-game totals in the FCS this season. Lamb also completed a league-record 42 passes. In addition, WIU WR MATTHEW HENRY set Big South-OVC marks with 15 receptions and 226 receiving yards against the Lions.
1st DOWN: Saturday’s Gardner-Webb at Charleston Southern match-up has been dubbed the “North-South BBQ Bowl” and resumes the GWU barbecue tradition the program started in 2021 with former Big South member Campbell. The winner of the North-South BBQ Bowl receives the official trophy, which features a hefty hog adorned with a placard engraved with the winning score.
2nd DOWN: Southeast Missouri’s 7-game win streak is a Big South-OVC Association record for the longest win streak in the young history of the league. SEMO is also the first team to open conference play 5-0 in Association’s existence. The Redhawks’ 8 overall wins ties the league single-season record for most victories.
3rd DOWN: Lindenwood RB STEVE HALL rushed for 259 yards and four TDs on just 13 carries (19.92 yards per rush) in the Lions’ win over Western Illinois last week. He tied the Big South-OVC single-game record for rushing scores, while his 259 is tied for second-most in a contest.
4th DOWN: SEMO QB PAXTON DeLAURENT and Eastern Illinois QB PIERCE HOLLEY have each thrown for 300 yards in four-straight games, tying the league record.
SLANT ROUTES
* CHARLESTON SOUTHERN: The Buccaneers are looking to avoid starting 0-6 in conference games for the first time since 2011 (0-6) … Charleston Southern last defeated Gardner-Webb in 2021 (W, 32-24 in 2OT).
* EASTERN ILLINOIS: The Panthers are looking to avoid starting 0-5 in conference games for the first time since 2019 (0-5) … EIU last defeated WIU in 1995 (W, 20-17) when the teams met annually from 1944-97.
* GARDNER-WEBB: The Runnin’ Bulldogs have won the last two meetings with Charleston Southern — 34-10 last season to clinch a share of the first Big South-OVC title, and 28-14 in 2022 as part of their 5-0 Big South run … Four of GWU’s six losses this season have been by one possession.
* LINDENWOOD: The Lions are looking to win back-to-back Association games for the first time this season … Lindenwood won last year’s meeting with Tech, 23-0, for its lone Big South-OVC victory of the season.
* SOUTHEAST MISSOURI: The Redhawks are idle this week and return to action Nov. 9 at Lindenwood.
* TENNESSEE STATE: The Tigers are seeking their first 3-game conference win streak since 2021 … TSU last defeated UT Martin during the 2021 Spring season (W, 26-24 at home).
* TENNESSEE TECH: The Golden Eagles are looking for their first 4-win conference season since the 2016 campaign (5-3) … TTU won the first-ever meeting with Lindenwood in 2022 (W, 35-34 at home).
* UT MARTIN: The Skyhawks have won the last three meetings with Tennessee State and have held the Tigers to 33 points in that span (11.0 average) … UTM is 5-1 in its last six games and is averaging 43.5 points in Big South-OVC Association games this season.
* WESTERN ILLINOIS: The Leathernecks are facing Eastern Illinois for the first time since 2016 (W, 38-21) and have won the last five meetings with the Panthers (1996, 1997, 2002, 2015, 2016) … WIU amassed a Big South-OVC Association single-game record 713 offensive yards last week.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK – OCT. 28
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nathan Lamb, Western Illinois, QB • 6-3, 230, Sr. • Tulare, Calif.
Lamb tallied 604 yards of total offense and five touchdowns in a road loss at Lindenwood. The 604 yards are the second-most by a FCS player this season. The senior completed 42-of-55 passes for 564 yards and five touchdowns (without an interception) and carried the ball 11 times for 40 yards. The 564 passing yards and 42 completions were both program records and the 42 completions are the most by an FCS player in 2024. His passing yards are the second-most nationally this season while touchdowns are tied for fi fth. His passing touchdowns went for 14, 6, 2, 5 and 15 yards, with three of them coming in the second half. Nationally for the season, Lamb ranks 10th in total offense (276.1 yards/game), 12th in passing yards (1,954), 16th in passing yards/game (244.3) and completions/game (20.25), 18th in points responsible for (102) and 19th in completion percentage (66.9%).
Others Nominated: Chris Rhone (Charleston Southern), Pierce Holley (Eastern Illinois), Steve Hall (Lindenwood), Cole Ruble (Southeast Missouri), D.J. Linkins (Tennessee Tech), Kinkead Dent (UT Martin)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jaylon Sharpe, UT Martin, LB • 6-3, 240, Gr. • Charlotte, N.C.
Sharpe keyed a UT Martin defense as the Skyhawks won their fourth-straight game, knocking off Eastern Illinois 52-17. The linebacker tallied eight tackles (1 solo, 7 assists), returned an interception 72 yards for a touchdown and added a pass breakup and quarterback hurry. The pick-six came midway through the fourth quarter and was the first of his career. Sharpe leads the Association and ranks 16th nationally in tackles for loss (1.6/game)
Others Nominated: Darrius Bell (Charleston Southern), Wendall McClain (Gardner-Webb), Bryce Norman (Southeast Missouri), Aaron Swafford (Tennessee Tech)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
DC Pippin, Southeast Missouri, K • 6-0, 195, Sr. • Springfield, Ill.
Pippin earned his third Special Teams Player of the Week award of the season after tallying 12 points as Southeast Missouri won its seventh-straight game to improve to 8-1 on the season, knocking off Gardner-Webb 30-24. Southeast Missouri led 21-14 at halftime and Pippin scored all nine second half points, converting fi eld goals from 45, 28 and 37 yards, the final coming with 5:09 to play. The senior also kicked off six times for an average of 63.2 yards. Pippin ranks first nationally in fi eld goals made per game (2.22) and 10th in scoring (9.7 points/game).
Others Nominated: Gilbert Brown (Charleston Southern), Jacob Horvath (Eastern Illinois), Nick Bigelow (Gardner-Webb), Dom LeBlanc (Tennessee Tech), Jaren Van Winkle (UT Martin), Antonio Chadha (Western Illinois)
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Steve Hall, Lindenwood, RB • 5-9, 195, R-Fr. • St. Louis, Mo.
Hall rushed for 259 yards on just 13 carries (19.9 ypc) and scored four touchdowns in Lindenwood’s 49-38 win over Western Illinois. The freshman had touchdown runs of 9, 12, 75 and 93 yards, with the final coming with 1:31 to play in the game to ice the victory. The 93-yarder tied the longest offensive play in Lions history and was the fourth-longest run in the FCS this season. His 259 yards on the ground are the third-most by a FCS player this season. Hall, who came up just 13 yards shy of breaking the Lindenwood single-game rushing mark, also added a catch for eight yards. His 675 rushing yards on the season is second-most among all players in the Big South-OVC and the most by a freshman at the FCS level in 2024.
Others Nominated: Tyson Greenwade (Charleston Southern), Quenton Rogers (Eastern Illinois), Dom LeBlanc (Tennessee Tech)
BIG SOUTH/OVC NOTEBOOK
RACK OF LAMB
Western Illinois QB NATHAN LAMB threw for a Big South-OVC Association single-game record 564 yards in the Leathernecks’ setback at Lindenwood last week. He was 42-of-55 passing (76.4 percent) to establish the league record for completions in a game and finished the day with 604 total yards of offense for another conference record. He is the first player in Association history to pass for 500 yards and gain 600 total offensive yards in a contest. Lamb’s previous highs this season were 269 passing yards (at Illinois State in Week 3), 24 completions (vs. ISU) and 350 yards of offense (vs. Tennessee Tech in Week 8). Meanwhile, Lamb’s five rushing touchdowns this season are tied for the most by a quarterback in Association single-season history.
STUDY HALL
In Lindenwood’s 49-38 win over Western Illinois this past week, RB STEVE HALL rushed for 259 yards and four touchdowns on just 13 carries for a Big South-OVC single-game record 19.92 yards per carry. He tied the league’s single-game rushing touchdown record and reeled off the longest rush from scrimmage in the conference record book with a 93-yard scoring run that sealed the victory over the Leathernecks. Hall also had a 75-yard dash for a touchdown, becoming the first player in conference annals with two TD runs of 75-yards or longer in a game.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS FROM THE LINDENWOOD-WESTERN ILLINOIS GAME
Lindenwood’s 49-38 victory over Western Illinois this past week featured several Association record-breaking performances. The Lions rushed for 389 yards on 38 carries for a Big South-OVC Association record 10.24 yards per carry. It was the second-highest single-game rushing total in Association history, and the most in a conference game. Western’s 564 passing yards was also a single-game record, as was its 713 yards of offense. The teams combined for a record 1,285 yards of offense (Western – 713, Lindenwood – 572), as well as a record 747 combined passing yards (Western – 564, Lindenwood – 183). The 87 combined points tied for the second-most in a conference game in Association annals.
QUARTER POUNDERS
No. 6/6 Southeast Missouri has scored in 34 of 36 quarters in regulation this year, as well as both overtime periods. The two times SEMO failed to score in a quarter have been in the opening 15 minutes (vs. Tennessee Tech in Week 7 and vs. Gardner-Webb in Week 9). The Redhawks opened the season with a scoring streak of 24-straight quarters. SEMO’s quarter-by-quarter scoring breakdown this season stands at 67 points (first), 70 (second), 56 (third) and 80 (fourth). SEMO has reached 30+ points in six of nine contests this season.
THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN
Through 20 Association-conference games played, the home team has won 13 times (65.00 winning percentage), while the overall average margin of victory is 14.30 points. Seven contests have been one possession decisions. The 20 games have had a combined point total of 1,120, for a per game average of 56.00 points. Last season, the 30 Big South-OVC Association-conference games were decided by 16.10 points and averaged 48.83 combined points (1,465 point scored).
HENRY THE XV
Western Illinois WR MATTHEW HENRY set Big South-OVC Association single-game records this past week at Lindenwood with 15 receptions and 226 receiving yards. His catch total bettered Southeast Missouri WR CAM PEDRO’s total of 12 the same day vs. Gardner-Webb, while the 226 receiving yards surpassed the old Association record of 204, set by Charleston Southern’s NOAH JENNINGS last season vs. Robert Morris. Henry’s teammate ELI ARAGON finished the Lindenwood game with 132 yards receiving, marking the first time in Association history that a member had a 200-yard and 100-yard receiver in the same contest.
KICKIN’ PIPPIN
Southeast Missouri K DC PIPPIN has made a Big South-OVC Association single-season record 20 fi eld goals, which leads all of FCS. He has five 10-point kicking games this season, as well as four games with at least three field goals made. Pippin’s 87 points scored kicking to date has shattered the old Association single-season mark of 73 (UT Martin’s AIDAN LAROS in 2023).
TIGERS DEN
Tennessee State leads the FCS with 66 tackles-for-loss and 8.3 TFL per game. Based on that average, the Tigers are on pace to finish the regular-season with 99.2 TFL, which would surpass the Big South-OVC Association single-season record of 97, set by Gardner-Webb in 2023. TSU has recorded at least 10 stops behind the line of scrimmage three times this season, including a season-high 13 in the opener against Mississippi Valley State.
PASSIN’ PAXTON
Southeast Missouri QB PAXTON DeLAURENT is first nationally with 23 touchdown passes (tied), 28.00 completions per game, and 2,738 passing yards, and is sixth with 304.2 passing yards per game. He is 169 yards away from breaking the Big South-OVC Association single-season record of 2,907, is the Association season record holder with 252 completions, and six TD strikes from eclipsing the conference mark of 28. DeLaurent, who became the first Big South-OVC Association quarterback to throw for 400 yards in a game as he netted a then-Association single-game record 418 passing yards in Week 8 against Tennessee Tech, is just the second quarterback in Association history to throw 10 TD passes in a 2-game span, as he had six in Week 2 and four in Week 4. In Week 2 against UT Martin, he set Association single-game records for plays (69) and pass attempts (63) and tied the single-game mark for touchdown passes (6). DeLaurent is the only Association quarterback to throw a TD pass in every game this season, while his six 300- yard passing games in 2024 are a Big South-OVC season mark.
THE DEFENSE NEVER RESTS
Big South-OVC Association members have combined for 13 defensive touchdowns after nine weeks of the season (9 interception returns and 4 fumble returns) — with UT Martin leading the way with three (all Pick-6’s). Last year, the 10-team Association membership combined for 19 defensive TDs (12 INT, 6 FUM). Martin has a league-best 10 interceptions this season for an Association single-season record 264 return yards, and the Skyhawks’ three INT touchdowns match the league record set by Gardner-Webb last season.
BOOGIE FEVER
Tennessee State’s BOOGIE TROTTER has amassed a Big South-OVC Association single-season record 151 interception return yards on his three picks this season. The old return yardage mark was 85 (Tennessee Tech’s JACQUEZ McGOWAN in 2023). Trotter is tied for the league-lead with his three INTs, which includes a 69-yard pick-six in Week 4 against Tennessee Tech — the fifth-longest interception return in Association history.
LOGAN’S KICK
Lindenwood K LOGAN SEIBERT broke his own Big South-OVC Association single-game record for kick scoring with 17 points in the Lions’ 29-14 win over Charleston Southern in Week 7. He converted an Association single-game record five field goals along with two PATs to surpass his previous mark of 16 points vs. St. Thomas in Week 4.
RETURN TO SENDER
Southeast Missouri PR KHALANI RIDDICK is the Big South-OVC Association single-season recordholder for punt return yards, as his current total of 204 surpassed the previous mark of 196 (Gardner-Webb’s MALEEK HUGGINS last year). Riddick’s 10.74 punt return average — which ranks 17th nationally — is just behind the league-record of 11.54 yards per return (SEMO’s DALYN McDONALD), while his 19 punt returns trail Higgins’ season-record of 22.
BLOOMING
Eastern Illinois RB MJ FLOWERS has 38 receptions out of the backfield this season, a Big SouthOVC Association single-season record for a running back. He ranks sixth in the league and surpassed his own conference record of 35 that he set last season. In Week 6, Flowers tied the then-Big South-OVC single-game record with his 11 receptions against SEMO. That total is the most-ever by an Association running back.
WEBB SPINNERS
Gardner-Webb is the first Big South-OVC member to have two 100-yard rushers in a game twice in the same season. In Week 8, QUASEAN HOLMES (156) and EDWARD SAYDEE (119) each eclipsed the century mark on the ground in GWU’s win over Lindenwood — the fifth-highest combined rushing yards by two teammates in league annals (275). In Week 4 at Presbyterian, CARSON GRESOCK (134 yards) and Holmes (132) each surpassed 100 rush yards in the contest. The duo also combined for five rushing touchdowns in the victory over the Blue Hose, as Gresock had three scores followed by Holmes’ two.
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?
Charleston Southern P GILBERT BROWN posted an Association single-game record 61.0 punting average, based on 3-4 punts, at Tennessee State in Week 5. He booted kicks of 72, 68, 51 and 53, with the 72-yarder the second-longest in Big South-OVC history. He ranks third in the nation with his league-leading 47.41 season punting average, which is pacing ahead of the single-season league record of 47.27 yards, set last year by UT Martin’s AIDAN LAROS.
AROUND THE ASSOCIATION…
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
The Buccaneers averaged 5.3 yards per play in their setback at Tennessee Tech. RB TYSON GREENWADE led the squad in rushing for the first time this season with 95 yards, which included a 12-yard scoring run. QB KALEB JACKSON was 14-of-29 passing for 213 yards and a touchdown, which was a 70-yard connection to CHRIS RHONE. Rhone finished the day with three catches for 129 yards and has three receiving TDs in the last two games.
EASTERN ILLINOIS
QB PIERCE HOLLEY has thrown for 300 yards in four consecutive games, tied for the longest 300-yard passing streak in Association history. Holley has thrown for 326-366-338-348 in that span (1,378) for an average of 344.5. He is second in the Association this season with 2,032 passing yards and 254.0 passing yards per game … WR COOPER WILLMAN caught 11 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown this past week at UT Martin. In his last two outings, Willman has 19 receptions for 284 yards (14.95 yards per catch).
GARDNER-WEBB
RB EDWARD SAYDEE has been GWU’s top rusher in six of eight games this season following his team-high 52 rushing yards at Southeast Missouri last week. He also caught four passes for 84 yards against the Redhawks — the most receiving yards by a Big South-OVC running back in a single-game in the Association record book … Following this Saturday’s contest at Charleston Southern, the Runnin’ Bulldogs will play their next two games at home.
LINDENWOOD
Lindenwood is averaging 37.5 points in its last six games (4-2 record) and is averaging 449.17 yards of offense in that span, which includes a season-high 572 yards this past week in the Lions’ win over Western Illinois … The Lions’ three conference wins are their most since finishing 7-0 in 2021 as members of the GLVC … Lindenwood has rushed for more than 200 yards in the last three games, gaining 842 in that span (280.67) … Lindenwood has scored 20+ points in every Association game this season, and is averaging 32.2 points against league foes … LB VINCENT KING posted his league-leading sixth 10-tackle game with 11 stops against Western Illinois, establishing a Big South-OVC Association single-season record for most double-digit tackle efforts.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
SEMO’s No. 6 national ranking is the program’s highest ever (previous best was No. 7 in 2010) … QB PAXTON DELAURENT had recorded four-straight 300-yard passing games, as he has thrown for 364-418-335-312 in that span (1,429 / 357.25 average). His six 300-yard passing games this season have come in his last seven outings … The Redhawks allowed just 274 yards of offense in last week’s win over Gardner-Webb — the fifth game holding 2024 opponents below 300 offensive yards. SEMO leads the Big South-OVC in total defense at 305.11 and its 109.56 rushing defense is 12th nationally.
TENNESSEE STATE
Tennessee State is averaging 26.3 points during its current 4-game win streak, while allowing just 15.0 points and 308.3 yards in that span … TSU’s 6-2 record is the program’s best start to a season since 2013 when the Big Blue opened 7-1 en route to a 10-4 final mark. TSU has won six games in back-to-back seasons for the first time under fourth-year Head Coach EDDIE GEORGE, and the first such streak since 2016-17. Meanwhile, the Tigers are ranked No. 25 in the Stats Perform poll for the second consecutive week and are a nationally-ranked program for the first time since 2017. TSU was rated No. 3 in both HBCU polls (Coaches and Media) last week.
TENNESSEE TECH
QB DYLAN LAIBLE was 9-of-16 passing for 175 yards and two touchdowns in the Golden Eagles’ win over Charleston Southern this past week. His top target was D.J. LINKINS, who caught three passes for 106 yards, including a 69-yard scoring strike … JALEN MITCHELL rushed for a season-high 94 yards in the CSU win, and has gained 180 on the ground in his last two games.
UT MARTIN
Head coach JASON SIMPSON tallied his 120th career victory, which ranks third in Ohio Valley Conference history for coaching wins … The Skyhawks improved to 10-3 against conference foes coming off a bye week during the Simpson Era … UTM extended its home winning streak against conference foes to 13 games — a stretch which dates back to the 2020 season … RB PATRICK SMITH rushed for two TDs in the victory over Eastern Illinois, bringing his season touchdown total up to 12 — tied for sixth in school history. He has scored a touchdown in 7-straight games … TE MAX DOWLING tallied a pair of receiving touchdowns for the second straight week. In three games against Illinois schools over the past two years, Dowling has tallied multi-touchdown performances in all three games … The Skyhawks’ offensive line posted another clean sheet in the sack department — posting its third shutout in the last four games.
WESTERN ILLINOIS
The Leathernecks rank second in the Big South-OVC in total offense at 399.88 yards and have surpassed 400 yards in a game four times this season … WIU converted a Big South-OVC single-game record 37 first downs at Lindenwood this past week, including a conference single-game record 28 passing first downs … Five players totaled at least four receptions and more than 50 receiving yards at Lindenwood.
