MACOMB, Ill. – J.C. Baker and Nikko Watson combined for 200 rushing yards and the Western Illinois defense recorded another touchdown as the Leathernecks defeated South Dakota 24-10 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference opener for both teams on Saturday (Sept. 28). Western improved to 3-2 overall (1-0 MVFC).

Baker turned in the third 100-yard rushing game of his brief Leatherneck career, 104 as he averaged 8.0 yards per attempt, while Watson finished with 96 yards and a touchdown. The victory also ended Western's seven-game home losing streak in MVFC play and the team already matched last year's win total.

On South Dakota's (1-3, 0-1) opening drive, Miles Bergner missed a 50-yard field goal as Western's defense wound up holding the Coyotes scoreless in the first quarter. That marked the third straight home game Western kept the opponent off the scoreboard in the opening 15 minutes.

Western took over late in the first and just over a minute in the second quarter, scored first on Nathan Knuffman's first collegiate field goal, good from 28 yards.

Two drives later, USD was stopped on 3rd-and-3 from midfield. As Bergner was back to punt, the snap sailed over his head. Kevin Kintzel scooped up the loose ball at the 11 and scored his second defensive touchdown this year (and defense's fourth) to make it 10-0.

The Coyotes then took up half the quarter on a 17-play drive. USD converted twice on 4th-and-long inside Western territory but had to settle for a 27-yard field goal from Bergner.

Midway through the third quarter, Western took over on its own five-yard line following a Bergner punt. Watson broke through the middle for a season-long 26-yard run, Trenton Norvell hit Hi-C Scott for 32 yards and the 11-play drive was capped by Watson's 1-yard plunge.

The Coyotes brought in reserve quarterback Kevin Earl on their first drive of the fourth quarter, and he promptly marched USD right down the field. Earl was 3-of-5 passing and rushed for 12 yards on his own. Jordan Roberts scored from six yards out to make it 17-10 with just over 12 minutes remaining. However, the Leathernecks had an answer of their own.

Norvell hit Joey Borsellino on third down for a 15-yard completion, then on the very next play Baker broke through the left side for a 54-yard run, getting down to the five. Two plays later, Norvell found Borsellino in the back corner of the endzone to make it a two-possession game again.

USD could not convert on 4th-and-2 from midfield, then on its next possession Dallas Nichols forced a fumble and recovered the turnover as the Coyotes would not get any closer.

First-year head coach Bob Nielson not only earned his first-ever MVFC win, but it also came on his 54th birthday.

“It's a great way to celebrate your birthday. I've been coaching a long time and I guess it's once every seven years that you actually end up with your birthday on a Saturday. I didn't want to tell the guys this before the game but it seems that the actual game, when it falls on your birthday, it hasn't been good,” stated Nielson. “We're proud of our team. I thought we showed a lot of character today and that's what you want to see when building programs. You want to see them show character after coming off of two losses.

“I think the best example I can give, when they scored to get within a touchdown, we marched the ball down the field, had a big play then put the ball into the endzone and got back to a two-score lead. That's what football teams that win games and win on a consistent basis are able to do,” said Nielson. “That, and we've talked about the fact that we have to win the kicking game. If you look at that we did a good job of winning the kicking game, controlled field position and had a couple of big returns.”

Baker also caught a career-high five passes totaling 33 yards to go with his 104 on the ground. Norvell was 11-of-23 passing for 102 yards and an interception along with his touchdown pass.

The defense stifled South Dakota on third down conversions, holding the Coyotes to 1-of-16, and allowed just 242 total yards. Western compiled 221 on the ground and 323 yards overall.

J.J. Raffelson recorded 12 tackles to lead Western and Devon Butler added a career-high 10 stops. Kintzel finished with six tackles, including 2.5 for a loss, and broke up two passes.

Josh Vander Maten rushed for a team-high 48 yards but was only 8-of-21 passing for 26 yards. Earl threw for 88 yards and the punter Bergner completed a 29-yard pass on a fake. Devin Taverna recorded a game-high 13 tackles.

Western travels to in-state rival Illinois State next Saturday (Oct. 5), kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m.

GAME NOTES: Sophomore offensive lineman Sean Sullivan made his first collegiate start, as did sophomore Larry Harris also on offense (F-back)… For the fourth time this year, Western won the turnover battle going +1. The Leathernecks are now +10 on the season… Kintzel had an interception return for a TD in the season-opener, giving him two scores this season. That ties him for third place among the season 'Top 10' defensive scoring leaders with 12 points and now tied for fourth all-time in Western history… USD held a four-minute edge in time of possession… For the third straight game, an opponent was not called for a penalty in the first half… Kyle Hammonds recorded a team-high 44-yard kickoff return and averaged 33 yards on his two returns… Knuffman placed three of his seven punts inside the 20-yard line and had two touchbacks on his five kickoffs… Borsellino now leads the team with two touchdown catches… Following the victory, the players sang Happy Birthday to coach Nielson at midfield.

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