MACOMB, Ill. – Mistakes proved costly to Western Illinois on Saturday (Oct. 12) as the Fighting Leathernecks dropped a 38-14 decision to 13th-ranked South Dakota State at Hanson Field. Western lost at home for the first time this season, and in the process slipped below .500 for the first time this year (3-4 overall, 1-2 Missouri Valley Football Conference), while the Jackrabbits picked up their first MVFC win (4-3, 1-2).

Western committed four turnovers, which SDSU turned into three touchdowns, and gave up a long touchdown run to Zach Zenner after pulling to within 10 points late in the third quarter.

Trenton Norvell threw an interception on consecutive pass attempts early in the first quarter, and SDSU took advantage, needing just five plays on each drive to score for a 14-0 lead.

Justin Syrovatka kicked a 48-yard field goal later in the quarter for a 17-0 lead. Western's defense held the Jackrabbits in check and finally got on the scoreboard in the second.

J.C. Baker rushed six times on a drive, including a 34-yarder to get inside the five, and capped it off with a 3-yard TD run. Western covered the 80 yards in 12 plays to make it 17-7.

Antoine Ford picked off a pass on SDSU's opening drive of the third quarter, but the offense could not capitalize. On the ensuing drive, Western caught a break when Syrovatka missed a 23-yard field goal. However, after Western had another 3-and-out drive in the quarter, the Jackrabbits scored on a five yard TD pass to make it 24-7.

The offense began to get back on track during the next possession. Norvell covered 58 yards on two passes – 25 yards to Fredson Salomon and 33 to Joey Borsellino. Baker rushed for 11 yards to get to the 10. Norvell scrambled and got to the one, then Baker finished off the drive with his second touchdown to make it a 10-point game again.

Western's momentum quickly went away as on the next play Zenner got around the left edge, broke a tackle and went 80 yards for a touchdown. He added a 1-yard TD early in the fourth quarter for the final margin.

“We're disappointed. South Dakota State played better than we did today; outplayed us, outcoached us, out-executed us. We're disappointed that we played the way we did but when it comes down to it we can't turn the ball over,” said head coach Bob Nielson. “A good football team, you maybe get 11 possessions and when you turn the ball over on four of them it's hard to win. They're a very good football team. They're battle tested in this league. They've played a tough schedule.

“We felt we had to make them throw the football. I thought we played really well against the rush. You take away that 80-yard run today and that really represents how we played against the rush.”

Baker picked up his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season, totaling 112 yards on 27 attempts. He matched a season high of two touchdowns.

Norvell went 9-of-23 for 118 yards and four interceptions. Borsellino led the receivers with three catches totaling 40 yards.

J.J. Raffelson matched a career-high with 13 tackles. It marks the fourth time in the sophomore linebacker's career he finished with 13 stops. Eddy Holtschlag set a career high with two sacks.

Spurred by the 80-yard run, Zenner finished with 133 yards on 21 attempts. Austin Sumner completed 21-of-35 passes for 265 yards and three TDs to two interceptions. R.C. Kilgore led the defense with 15 tackles.

The Leathernecks travel to 16th-ranked Youngstown State next Saturday, kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. central. Of the five remaining games, all conference contests, three are on the road.

“We have five games left. I told them in the locker room that these five games we have remaining our going to put a stamp on the kind of year it is. We're struggling in some ways right now and we need to find ways to be more consistent.”

GAME NOTES: Sophomore defensive lineman Gavin Ricketts made his first collegiate start… Junior Chip Holtschlag registered his first career sack as he and his twin brother Eddy finished with three sacks on the day. Western finished with five sacks and six tackles for a loss. Gino Durley and Devon Butler also had sacks… David McDaniel recorded his first interception of the season and fifth of his career… Western went 6-of-15 on third down conversions, a better percentage than the Jackrabbits' 4-of-14… SDSU finished with 374 yards to Western's 262… Norvell's streak of five straight games with a touchdown pass came to an end… Junior Martinez Davis recorded a career-high seven tackles, all solos... The Leathernecks have now lost six consecutive to ranked teams, but have a chance to end that streak next weekend… The announced Homecoming crowd was a season-high 10,232 in attendance.

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