BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. (Interstat) — Pops Battle threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and Lindenwood defeated Gardner-Webb 34-21 in an NCAA Football Championship Division game Saturday at Ernest W. Spangler Stadium. The Lions, the visiting team, improved to 5-4, while the Runnin Bulldogs fell to 3-7 before an announced attendance of 4,034. Lindenwood combined timely offense with a defensive effort that produced two interceptions and a sack.

Battle completed 11 of 19 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns and added 20 rushing attempts for 40 yards and one score. The Lindenwood quarterback directed an offense that also received steady production from Steve Hall, who ran 20 times for 66 yards, and Jared Rhodes, who carried 16 times for 58 yards, caught two passes for 11 yards and scored once. Drew Krobath caught two passes for 56 yards and a touchdown, Elijah Roy had two receptions for 39 yards and a score, CJ Reese finished with three catches for 21 yards, and Jalen Smith added two receptions for 10 yards.

Gardner-Webb quarterback Cole Pennington completed 18 of 34 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 212-pound Pennington, from Versailles, Ky., helped the Runnin Bulldogs remain competitive, and Gardner-Webb found the end zone through the air late when Pennington connected with S. Brady on a 35-yard touchdown pass. A two-point rush attempt after that score failed. The Runnin Bulldogs moved the ball effectively at times but could not keep pace after Lindenwood’s second-half surge.

Will Graham handled Lindenwood’s kicking duties and missed a 36-yard field-goal attempt in the first quarter before making a 21-yard attempt in the second quarter and a 47-yard attempt in the third quarter. Battle scored on an 11-yard run in the second quarter, and he later found Krobath for a 38-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Rhodes added a 13-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Lindenwood also got a touchdown catch from Roy as part of Battle’s two scoring throws.

Lindenwood’s defense received contributions across the secondary and linebacker corps. DeVonta Owens recorded three tackles and an interception, while Jalon Jones had one tackle and one interception. Reece Satterwhite registered one tackle and one sack, and Zach Lewis made four tackles with a quarterback hurry. Mason Burke added three tackles and a quarterback hurry, and Jesse Smith had one tackle and a quarterback hurry. Caleb Jacobmeier led the Lions with six tackles. Andrew Baumgart, Caelum Jones and King Smith each recorded two tackles.

Sam Owens, Omarion Gooden, Brayon Crawford and Nolan O’Hara each finished with two tackles for Lindenwood. Luke Zook, Zech Pratt, Jacob Waller, Ashtin Rustemeyer, Christopher Bennett Jr., Carter Johnson, Mason Van Der Brink, Aiden Knapke, Mac Busteed and Elijah Thomas each had one tackle. DeVonta Owens and Jalon Jones supplied the interceptions, while the Lions’ defensive front generated pressure through Satterwhite’s sack and quarterback hurries from Lewis, Burke and Jesse Smith.

Gardner-Webb’s defense was led by Tre Yanez, who made 19 tackles, and Cahari Haynes, who added 13 tackles. Trey Weems recorded six tackles and 2.5 sacks, while Preston Hamilton had five tackles and one sack. Sabin McLaughlin made five tackles, David Williams had four, and Renardo Lewis finished with three. Bryce Marcus returned three punts for 2 yards. Aidan Bonde punted twice for 90 yards. The Runnin Bulldogs pressured Lindenwood in the backfield but could not prevent the Lions from producing the decisive plays.

Lindenwood punter Liam Corley finished with six punts for 182 yards. The Lions’ special teams also included Graham’s two made field goals and the missed attempt. Lindenwood finished with a balanced offensive approach that included contributions from Hall, Rhodes and Battle in the running game. The Lions’ receivers shared the load, with Krobath and Roy each finding the end zone and Reese and Smith adding receptions.

The game was played at Ernest W. Spangler Stadium, where Lindenwood secured the road victory. Attendance was announced as 4,034. The Lions improved to 5-4 with the win, and Gardner-Webb moved to 3-7. Lindenwood scored 10 points in the first quarter, 3 in the second quarter and 14 in the third quarter. Gardner-Webb scored 3 in the first, 6 in the second and 6 in the third. Both teams added fourth-quarter scoring as the Lions closed out the win.

For Lindenwood, Battle’s performance stood out as the top offensive effort. He accounted for three touchdowns and helped the Lions control possession. The defense added two interceptions and a sack, while the special teams produced two field goals. Gardner-Webb’s Pennington threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns, and Yanez’s 19 tackles highlighted the Runnin Bulldogs’ defensive effort. The loss dropped Gardner-Webb to 3-7. Lindenwood entered after a shutout win over Tennessee State, while Gardner-Webb had won at Southeast Missouri State in its previous game.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Gardner-Webb 33, Lindenwood 26. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Gardner-Webb with a 72.6 percent probability to win. Lindenwood’s victory ran counter to those projections.