YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Western Illinois football fell behind early and lost a 56-14 decision at Youngstown State on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 29). The Fighting Leathernecks dropped to 2-6 overall and 1-4 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
True-freshman Nikko Watson, making his collegiate debut at running back due to injuries, rushed for a team season-high 149 yards and a touchdown for the Leathernecks. Watson scored on a 5-yard run in the third quarter and averaged 5.0 yards per carry in his debut.
Josh Hudson found Terriun Crump on a 4-yard TD early in the fourth quarter for the final margin. Crump caught five passes for 47 yards and the score.
Tim Franken led the defense with a career-high 10 tackles. Kevin Palermo and Theon Dixon added seven each.
Youngstown (5-3, 3-2) scored on the first play of the game and had six TD drives that needed four plays or less.
The Fighting Leathernecks continue the road swing next Saturday (Nov. 5) at Illinois State. Kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
GAME NOTES: Terriun Crump caught his 120th career pass and his 10th career touchdown in the game... Tim Franken's career-high tackles surpassed his previous best of nine stops... Wil Lunt left the game with an injury. Cody Reardon entered late in the game when Josh Hudson hurt his hand. Reardon completed a 25-yard pass to Justin Morgan and another 7-yard completion. He had not completed a pass in his career until that drive. On the last play of the game he rushed for 12 yards but was held four yards shy of scoring a touchdown... Michael Shroble punted eight times, averaging 37.5 yards per punt... Larry Patterson totaled 174 yards on a season-high eight kickoff returns. In the last two games Patterson has totaled 359 yards on 13 returns... Tyler West recorded a personal-best 44-yard kickoff return... Western committed four turnovers in the game, two coming on a fumble during a punt return... Ryan Demming and Mike Garoppolo each recorded a tackle for loss... Maurice Hood was credited with a forced fumble and Garoppolo recovered the ball. It was the first for one in each respective statistic category for the two Leathernecks... Patterson jumped all the way to second on the season 'Top 10' for kickoff returns. His 748 return yards place him third in that category.
