The Skyhawks fell 30-14 to the Lindenwood Lions and moved to 1-1 in the OVC-Big South. 

The Skyhawks and Lions were in a tight contest for a majority of the game, with the score at halftime being 7-7. However, coming out of halftime, the Lions would score 24 unanswered points with some big passing plays to secure a decisive win over the Skyhawks. 

The Lions and senior quarterback Nate Glantz set the tone early, moving downfield quickly with big pass after big pass to go up 7-0. The Skyhawks responded accordingly with a strong drive of their own that finished with senior quarterback Jase Bauer rushing into the endzone from 17 yards out. 

It felt like the Skyhawk offense had some momentum early after that 11-play, 67-yard drive in the first half, but a lack of explosive offensive plays kept them at bay for the remainder of the game. 

Both teams would go the remainder of the half scoreless in what looked like a defensive chess match. However, Lindenwood would come out of halftime: touchdown, touchdown, field goal and touchdown to go up 30-7. 

Bauer played a clean game with 17 completions for 124 yards along with a rushing touchdown. However, Bauer was unable to find any explosives in the Skyhawk offense. His longest throw of the game went for just 17 yards.  

Defensively, the Skyhawk defensive backfield struggled again after showing out the week before against SEMO. The defense allowed Glantz to have his best game of the season through the air with 12 completions for 227 yards and three touchdowns on just 17 attempts. 

A big part of Glantz’s big day was two wide-open passes to sophomore receiver Jalen Smith that went for 62 and 42 yards, respectively. The first came on a double move, resulting in a touchdown, and the other was a result of busted coverage by the Skyhawks, who got lucky that the ball was underthrown, or else Smith would have had two touchdowns on the day.  

After the game was out of control, head coach Jason Simpson handed the keys to senior quarterback Julian Calvez, who put together a really nice 74-yard drive to make the score look respectable.  

Calvez even finished with the play of the game for the Skyhawks with a perfectly placed ball in the back of the endzone to junior receiver Shawn Hardy II, who miraculously got his foot in bounds to secure his first touchdown of the season. 

Next week, the Skyhawks return home for homecoming to take on the 1-5 Western Illinois Leathernecks on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m.